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Walk the neighborhood FIRST!

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

Walk the neighborhood FIRST! 

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I want to make a suggestion to anyone thinking about buying a property.   Visit the house both morning and night, plus weekends.   

o  Get out of your car and walk around the block. Get familiar with area. Take a look at the surrounding houses. Are they in good shape? Do you see any kids, hear any loud noises (garage bands, dogs barking)

o  see any odd structures/add-ons-especially on the property you are going to buy?  

o  One other important thing, stand on the center of the street (a.k.a. the crown of the road) and look at the slope back to the house.  Is the crown higher than the front door?  If so you may have a problem! 

o  If so, are there other forms of drainage nearby, like city grates or drains?   You always want to buy a house that has a slope from front door out towards the street.  

o  If you feel that a heavy rain would pitch back up to the front door, STAY AWAY!   Please contact me if you have further questions about this issue. I can tell you a few things to look out for

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Drainage is important to divert the water.

Jan 01, 2015 05:55 AM
Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI
HomeSmart Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell

Great comments Andrew. I advise my clients to talk to neighbors that are walking their dogs. These neighbors are usually friendly and know their "hood" as they walk around. Weekends have the most people at home so you can see the number of cars on the street. Greetings to you in the NE from the SW!

Jan 01, 2015 06:03 AM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Adam, great tips about checking out the neighborhood and especially the grade of the property for proper water run off away from the foundation.  It is also good to check the property out at different times of the day to see what traffic is like and how the neighors are once they are home for work.

Jan 01, 2015 07:08 AM