However, the old adage that says “learn from the experience of others” can also be very helpful before closing the deal on your prospective property. Talking with the neighbors and knowing their first-hand experience while living in the area can be crucial for you to make sure that your chosen home and neighborhood are absolutely perfect.
After looking up the area’s demographics, its latest crime rates, local events and school districts online, talking to the current residents can validate your research and will help you get an accurate feel of the neighborhood. Neighbors can also potentially share solid facts that the seller might have forgotten to mention, or purposely didn’t disclose. Your conversation with them may help you avoid making a big buying mistake and move into a neighborhood that can make you miserable in the future. Because aside from your local real estate agent, no one probably knows the area better than they do.
So do your mini-survey: take the time to walk through the street, approach some of the residents, and ask if they won’t mind answering a few questions. It’s also a great start if you want to know more about your potential neighbors and whether you can get along.
If the positive things they say outnumbered those they least like about the area, then it can be a good indication that you’re on the right track. Because despite the physical signs that could suggest the neighborhood is thriving, some things are not what they seem and the residents surely know better.
Inquire about what really goes on in the neighborhood and if there are recent problems with loitering, vandalism, frequent fights, or incidences of stray dogs running down the street. Ask if they have security systems installed in their homes — which could tell you whether you’ll also need to install one. Find out how the neighborhood responds to crimes; if they have a neighborhood watch and how active it is. It may also help to ask if people feel safe to go out late at night or if they let their children play outside with minimal supervision. Those little details can actually make a big difference if you want to live peacefully in the area.
You can research about particular schools and their reputation online, but hearing the personal experience of residents whose kids were enrolled in the local schools is more valuable. You can also find out what it’s really like learning from a specific school, or if there are great after-school programs or individualized education programs available for children.
However, there’s always a chance that personal relations with the seller could affect the neighbor’s response if you tell them which house you’re considering. Still, people have different opinions, so make sure to chat with several neighbors and ask the same questions so you can have a more accurate picture.
