Questions you ask your prospective neighbors before closing a
deal on a house may vary depending on your age, sex, and personal preferences.
For example, women and old people may give safety the highest priority, while a
group of young college students are more likely to inquire about the liveliness
of the place.
Some questions that are common to all and should not be left
out are:
1) What is the previous owner like and why has she/he decided to sell?
It is not necessary that everybody in the neighborhood would
know your home owner personally, especially if an independent house in a large
locality. But if you get lucky, you just might find someone who knows the owner
just enough to give an unbiased view of him/her. If, for example, you are told
that the house is being sold because of the lack of proper amenities in the
place, you have reason to re-think over your choice.
2) Do you feel safe stepping out at night or letting
your kids go out alone?
This is particularly important if you are a single woman or
have young children in the house. An area where there is a constant fear of
theft or other petty crimes is probably not the best place for you even if the
house you are getting is an amazing one. You don’t want to live in an area that
looks like a deserted breeding ground for burglars and molesters at 8 in the
evening, do you?
3) Is it a peaceful and harmonious place to live?
The Bible says – “Love thy neighbor”, but the real world is far
from religious ideals. Expecting all neighbors to care for each other may sound
like too much to ask for. But you still must find out if neighbors are
cooperative with each other and the place is a dispute-free zone. Ask people if
there has ever been a situation in the past where some resident was in trouble
and the neighbors stepped forward to help them out.
4) Are the nearby schools any good?
If you have young children who would have to move schools in
case you buy this new house, it is very important for you to get the exact
information on all good schools in the area. Don’t rely on web reviews and
statistics alone, as those whose kids actually attend those schools will be able
to give you a better picture.
5) Would you move out of this area if given a chance?
Once the
chat gets warm and the person starts getting comfortable with your questions,
put this one up. This is the final question and in most cases the ultimate one
too. If your neighbors want to move out of the place in question, there surely
must be something bad in there – reconsider your choice of buying
a home there if most of the people you talk to answer yes.
While analyzing, remember that every place has something good
and something bad about it. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of the situation
and don’t let just one or two negatives (unless they are absolutely determining
factors) prohibit you from making an otherwise excellent deal.
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