If it's a question of advising them to visit the Record Office I usually have a look to see if they live anywhere near it. I've sometimes replied to posts thinking that because of their local knowledge, the person lives locally. Not always so! They often have that knowledge because it's about the area they originated from but now live miles away.
I don't have any objection to stating the area in which I live in, even if it's as vague as Northern or Southern England, Wales or Scotland, I find it helpful.