Do auto shops matter in selecting a neighborhood to live in?

I get the feeling that most people looking at condos for sale in Huntington Beach don't often put much weight on what local businesses surround their potential abode. I think it's an important thing to consider when searching for a neighborhood you want to live in. This week I had several interactions with businesses that were good enough to make me want to live near by but one in particular stood out. 

I normally try to support local businesses in Huntington Beach and I don't let discounts determine where I have my vehicle serviced but a free oil change was enough for me to try out a new auto shop, and I'm very glad I did. I'd never heard of South Coast Auto Clinic in Costa Mesa before so I had fairly low expectations. I didn't check out their Yelp reviews either which I try to do before visiting a new business. I've been in auto shops before where I've felt like I was bothering the staff but Sal, the guy who helped me at the front counter did a great job at making me feel like I was a valued customer even though I wasn't paying (this time). As I was sitting waiting for my vehicle to be serviced I checked out SCAC's Yelp reviews on my phone, and I wasn't surprised to find that 28 out of 30 of the reviews was 5 stars. I was amazed to hear story after story about these guys saving people up to thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs. 

I was curious to find out if Sal knew people were writing about him on the Internet. He said he knew they were but he didn't want to see it because it would stress him out. I also asked him if they pay a lot for marketing since the place was packed and he mentioned that their marketing budget for 2009 was around $350. I guess when you have the kind of word of mouth these guys have you don't need to advertise. 

From now on, when you're thinking about a particular property, do some research on local businesses like auto mechanics, restaurants and things people are always interested in. By knowing who's the best around you're proving that you're a neighborhood expert and that you really love the community and the businesses in it.