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Should I Meet the Neighbors BEFORE Signing On The Dotted Line?

By
Real Estate Agent with Front Gate Real Estate Broker 11085

Buying a house is a major investment. If you're like most people, you will live in your home a minimum of five years, maybe more. It's important to learn everything you can about your potential new home, and neighbors can play a big role in that education.

 

Before I bought my last home, I visited the neighbor. I wanted to know everything I could about the house and the neighborhood. What was the area like? Did the neighbor enjoy living there? Could the neighbor tell me anything of value about the house?Knock on Door

 

Is crime a concern? Have there been break-ins or neighbor disputes? Is traffic a problem? Did you frequently see contractors or service providers at the home?

 

Neighbors want to know who might move in next door, and they are a wealth of information that isn't always available through other sources. While real estate disclosure laws dictate the seller provide the history of the home, in the case of a foreclosure those documents are not required. It's best to do your homework and learn all you can BEFORE making an offer to purchase.

 

Recently, I wrote an offer to buy a new home of my own. Did I knock on the neighbors' door before submitting my offer? You bet I did! And I recommend that you do, too.

 

Not only are you making an investment; you are buying a HOME. A place to raise your family, or a place to enjoy your retirement years. You'll want to know everything about your future home BEFORE you sign on the dotted line. Only then will you feel confident in your decision.

 

Do your due diligence. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make an informed purchasing decision.

 

If you are in the market for a home in Central MS, it would be my pleasure to assist you. I can be reached at 601-278-4513 or via email at starnpat@gmail.com.

 

Image courtesy of graur codrin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Comments (37)

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Call 631-805-4400 (c) - That's funny! But if she hadn't met the neighbor beforehand, she would have been harassed by Casanova the entire time she lived there. Ha! 

Feb 04, 2016 08:41 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

This is a good way to get the scoop and find out what the neighbors know and if there are secrets you should know.

Feb 11, 2016 09:57 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Pat,  I did this before I bought my house.  It was in a neighborhood I'd just discovered that was borderline urban homesteading at the time.  They were great, and I felt a lot better about living there.

Feb 13, 2016 10:32 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Pat - It's not at all a bad idea to talk with the neighbors before buying a new home. After all, these would be the people living next to you should you make the purchase.

Feb 13, 2016 01:39 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hi, Pat!  I included this post in todays Last Week's Favorites.  Have a great Valentine's Day!

Feb 13, 2016 11:19 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

Thanks, Patricia Kennedy ! It's an honor. :)

Feb 14, 2016 02:55 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is very good advice for prospective home buyers.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Feb 14, 2016 12:32 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Pat- This is actually a good idea.  After you move in you can paint or redo the floors but you can't move the neighbors.  When we bought our first house in Florida, the sellers were the ones that the others were happy to see leave!! LOL

Feb 14, 2016 03:38 AM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

It is a good idea before signing on the dotted line. It could make or break a deal! 

Feb 14, 2016 03:44 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Pat, absolutely buyers should go and meet the neighbors and I urge them to do so. Recently, I went with my buyer to meet the new neighbors and it's amazing how much information she got. Buyers agents are remiss if they don't tell their clients to do this, in my opinion.

Feb 14, 2016 04:39 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

It is a great idea, and we have done this on occasion.  We found out the kids had a drug problem and were in juvenile homes during their teen years.  You guessed it...this is the house that had meth that I have blogged about.  We withdrew our offer, but the next door neighbor now babysits for the buyers.

Feb 14, 2016 06:57 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

I think that's a wise idea. I'm reminded of a house I declined to list. I could not have promoted it in good conscience because I knew how much trouble the neighbors were giving the current occupant - even down to keeping a telescope trained on her house. 

Feb 14, 2016 08:20 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

Oh my, Marte Cliff ! That takes being "neighborly" to a whole other level!

Feb 16, 2016 08:57 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Pat, I have a client who has bought numerous properties through me. She has done that every time. I think it's a smart move.

Feb 14, 2016 09:39 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It is a great idea for buyers to knock on neighborhood doors and find out what they can about the area. Neighbors can make a new location great or horrible (or no impact at all)

Feb 14, 2016 07:43 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

This is a great idea!  Not one I thought of, but luckily we are pretty happy with our neighbors.

We got an earful from the sellers at our closing. They bad mouthed pretty much every one of their neighbors (our soon to be new neighbors).  It was not very nice, and not very smart. I have not heard one bad word about them from the neighbors, however.  

Feb 14, 2016 10:47 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

This is a great suggestion.  I don't think I have had many of the buyers I have worked with knock on doors.  However, I did have one recently in a condex situation..

Feb 15, 2016 11:15 AM
Susan Hale
Re/Max Realty of Defiance,Inc. - Defiance, OH
Re/Max Northwest Ohio Realtor

This post reminded me of many years ago of an out of state customer who had previewed homes with me.  I found out after the fact that person had decided to visit the neighbors to find out about the neighborhood of one particular home but in reality commented to me she wanted to see the nationality of who answered the doors.  As I recall, she ended not relocating. Never have I had a client do this let alone talk about it.

Feb 16, 2016 04:50 AM
Peg Barcelo
Fluff My House! Home Staging Inc. 250.486.6369 - Summerland, BC
The FlufftasticStager from Summerland, BC

Great post Pat.

Yes, meet the neighbours, ask questions about crime etc, it is a great idea..

I met my neighbours before I purchased & they were a great help when I was having items delivered before I arrived; making sure things got inside & weren't left on the porch or driveway.

What I didn't realize was; one set outright lied about people 'minding their own business' in the neighbourhood, one told people I was a high powered person relocating to be a recluse (lol, not entirely false) & accused me of selling pot, & another set used all their assisting me for fuel in the stories they would tell about me to Everyone who stopped to talk to them.

I have never had so much scrutiny & the feeling of living in a fishbowl...

The neighbourhood is lovely, just a few of the people leave something to be desired.

Feb 16, 2016 10:29 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

Peg Barcelo - Yikes! That sounds like an interesting neighborhood you have there. A little gossip, a few lies, a little scandal. Sounds like some of your neighbors need a new hobby, minding their own business!

Feb 16, 2016 11:54 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Definitely, go knock on the neighbors door. I know a person who purchased a house, and did major renovations. Now after a year, the house is on the market as she does not like the neighbors.

Feb 17, 2016 11:31 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Sometimes it does not apply. In small rural Maine, what neighbors when you have only four legged furry ones, a 100 acres surrounding you for insulation from folks to compare notes on the last property owner.

Feb 18, 2016 09:52 PM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I have found that people are all too willing to talk. This is a great way to get to know the house and the neighborhood, but keep in mind that some people like to embellish their stories. 

Feb 20, 2016 09:14 AM