Why You Should Talk To The Neighbors Before You Buy A Home

Listen up Home Buyers!

First lets start with why you should talk to the neighbors before you buy a home. Neighbors, although they may attempt to not be nosey, you can bet that most of them know everything that you need to know about the home you are looking at as well as the neighborhood. One time in my own neighborhood, although I did not know the people that lived there, I noticed that there were people at the house one day with hazmat masks and suits on for over one week unloading and cleaning the house. Had the new buyers asked anyone in the neighborhood about the house, they would have had more ammunition in negotiation after they knew this information.

We have also had the FBI do a stakeout on a neighbor's house and arrest the occupants for counterfeiting. We have had two suicides in the homes and a guy arrested for child porn. All of these things have happened in a quiet suburbia neighborhood of only 58 homes in the 600K and above price range on a private golf course. Who would have thought? Well that is why unsuspecting buyers have continued to purchase in our little haven without knowledge until they go to the neighborhood party on various occasions and they learn that the previous owner in the home failed to tell them that the basement flooded and was left unoccupied for a year or so, so that it caused major mold problems so bad that a recovery team had to come in. Would you like to know this before you make a 600K investment?

So here is the gameplan on talking to the neighbors...

Once you have decided on the home that you want to purchase, make sure that you visit the neighbors to get all of the scoop. Ask any question that comes to your mind, but here are some serious questions to ask.

Go to at least 3 neighbors and do not make an offer until you talk to at least 3 to get the scoop.

1. How is the neighborhood association; strict, crazy or what?
2. Are there any assessments coming in the future?
3. How is the construction on the homes in the neighborhood?
4. Is there any crime in the neighborhood?
5. Is the neighborhood social?
6. How are the amenities?
7. Why are the neighbors (house you are looking at) moving?
8. Have they had any trouble with their house that you know of?
9. Is there anything that would prevent you from buying your own home again?
10. And anything else you want to know.

Additional Tips and Advice for Buying a Home