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How to Research a Neighbourhood Before you Buy

When you buy a home, you are also buying into the neighbourhood where it is situated. The last thing you want to do is move in to your dream home only to find out that it isn’t in the right place. There are some things you can do before you make a decision to buy to lower your risk of being caught in this type of situation. In the same way that you check out a home to make sure that it’s right for you, conduct some research on the neighbourhood before you buy.

Check out a Prospective Neighbourhood Before Moving In

  • Visit at different times of the day

You may be shown the house in the morning, afternoon, or early evening. The neighbourhood will have a different “feel”on a weekday morning when people are trying to go to work or school than it will on a weekend afternoon, when the pace will be slower. Make a point of visiting at various times during the week, and at different times of day, to get a feel for what it would be like to live there.

  • Look for Clues about the Quality of the Neighbourhood

When you visit, do you see a lot of “For Sale”signs? Do there appear to be a lot of businesses shutting down compared to other neighbourhoods you have seen? This may be a sign that the area is in decline. Do you hear a lot of noise, from traffic, bars or clubs, or the city airport?

  • Make sure the neighbourhood has the features that are most important to you.

If it’s important to you to have a school, grocery store, or a pharmacy close to where you live or you need to be on a public transportation route, check to make sure that these features are covered before you sign the offer to purchase.

  • Talk to the Neighbours

Try to meet the neighbours and ask them how long they have been living in the neighbourhood. You can learn a lot from local residents and if you will be living near these people, you may as well find out what they are like before you move in.

For help to find the right home in the right neighbourhood, call on Daniel and Bonnie Wan today.

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