Good tips on how to test drive a new home or neighborhood before closing

Would you buy a car without giving it a test drive? Probably not. How about buying a home?  How can you test drive a home or neighborhood?  We are going to give you some good tips on how to investigate the neighborhood and other vital items outside the home.

You need to take the time to do your homework before you close on a home.  Finding the right home and making smart choices can save you big money in the long-run.  So how much time should your commit to the process?  Let’s do a comparison to the average fantasy football player spending 6.9 hours every week working on their team.  Meanwhile, the average consumer will visit about 40 websites before booking a vacation.

Buying a home is a bigger commitment. After all, you’re not just buying the property itself, but you are making a life in a new community, a new school district, your commute, the grocery store, the local restaurants, you name it.

A buyer’s anxiety is rooted in the unknown. It is always difficult to make decisions when you don’t have all the facts, so go get them and sleep well!

Neighborhood Check

The first step of this process is to spend some time in the area —  preferably Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. In doing so, you’ll be able to see what the neighborhood is like on both weekdays and weekends.

From there, spend some time exploring the neighborhood during the morning, afternoon, and evening to gauge noise levels and safety in the area.

Talk to the neighbors on each side of the home.  You sometimes can learn more about the sellers and the home you are purchasing from the nosy neighbors.  Can you live next door to them? Do they maintain their lawn and property?

Crime Check

To get recent crime updates on your area through CrimeReports.com or CrimeSpot.com which provide crime statistics and other important local data to help you decide if a neighborhood is right for you.  Use www.WASOR.org for registered sex offenders in your area.

Schools

Homes in good school districts are highly sought after by buyers.  Understanding the quality of schools in your neighborhood can help you decide if you have children or considering having a family. Check out Washington State Report card at https://washingtonstatereportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/ to see the data on a school or school district.

Daily Routine—and commute

In addition to noise and crime levels in the area, you’ll want to get a sense of your daily commute to and from work, shopping routine for groceries, and other errands. Make sure to use the mode of transportation you’ll be using, whether that’s a car, bike, bus, or otherwise.

The good news is, moving to a new place doesn’t need to be a completely blind leap of faith. That is why we always encourage clients to take the neighborhood for a little test drive first.  Don’t be one of those buyers that spend more time on researching your vacation than your biggest asset – home! Contact us to let us help you!