Your dream Coppell home has it all: the quaint, picket fence, the brick fireplace, the wooded backyard. All seems well and you’re ready to put in an offer.
But wait! You almost forgot an important part of the home buying process - checking out the neighborhood and the neighbors!
Many home buyers will scout the neighborhood, of course, before deciding if the home is right for them. And this is a smart decision. Some questions to ask yourself:
- How are the homes in the neighborhood cared for? Is pride of home ownership evident?
- Is the street busy? Does traffic seem to pick up during certain times of the day? Is traffic noise evident and distracting from inside the home?
- Is it close to schools, shopping, your place of employment, etc.?
Your inspection of the neighborhood shouldn’t end there. Your potential neighbors can, perhaps, be the best source of information.
Begin by knocking on the neighbors’ doors and asking questions such as:
- How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
- What do you like best about living here?
- Is there anything about this neighborhood you would change if you could?
- Are there problems with crime or vandalism with the neighborhood?
- How well are the streets, parks and public areas taken care of? For example, are the streets plowed in a timely manner during snow storms?
- Is the neighborhood quiet? Do you have any problems with nuisance neighbors?
Your interview with the neighbors will not only provide you with important information about the neighborhood, but also give you a good idea as to how well you will get along with the neighbors. Were the neighbors courteous? Did they take the time to talk with you, or seem annoyed or offended by your questions?
You owe it to yourself to gather all information possible before making the decision to buy a home.
