How to Scout Out Your New Neighborhood
Joe Cline
October 27, 2009
Moving into a new neighborhood can be a scary prospect if you aren´t familiar with the area. A home´s neighborhood is so important that real estate values are in part determined upon the surrounding area. Are there schools, shopping or parks nearby? How are the neighbors - are they noisy, personable, child and pet friendly? These are all questions likely to go through your head when moving into a new area. Fortunately there are ways to have these questions answered long before you unpack your belongings into your new place. Though your decision to move into the neighborhood may not be affected by what you discover, it´s always nice to be prepared and know what you and your family are getting into.
The following are just a few simple tips on scouting your new neighborhood:
Taking a Look in Person
Obviously the best way to get a look at the neighborhood is by taking a look in person. However, it´s often hard to get an idea of what the area is like by spending a few minutes at the property during a showing. Take the time to drive by the home at different times of the day, and different days of the week. The quiet and serene environment you see midday on a Tuesday probably varies greatly from what you will see on the weekends. If you live close enough to your new neighborhood, you may also consider taking evening walks around the block. You may even get the opportunity to meet a few of your future neighbors this way.
Asking People you Know
If you are unfamiliar with a certain area of town, chances are you know someone who is. Don´t be afraid to ask friends, family or co-workers about their opinion of a neighborhood. Just be sure not to judge too harshly based upon their words, as one person´s trash is another´s treasure. Chances are that you will get a good feeling about the area by visiting in person, but asking others may alert you to issues you may have not considered. For instance, if you have never lived near a school, you may not realize that although it is convenient, it can lead to unwanted noise and/or trespassing on your property.
Scouting it Out Online
With the age of the Internet, it has become easier to scout out places from the comfort of your own home. Try doing a Google Map search. If you live nowhere near your new neighborhood, this can be a great asset. Not only can you peek at the facilities nearby, you can also often get a street view on the map. You can also try out home pricing sites such as Zillow to get an idea of the quality and size of the other homes in the area. This may in fact have an impact on the value of your home, now and in the future.
About the Author:
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Austin Texas real estate blog and Lakeway real estate can be found on the net.
The following are just a few simple tips on scouting your new neighborhood:
Taking a Look in Person
Obviously the best way to get a look at the neighborhood is by taking a look in person. However, it´s often hard to get an idea of what the area is like by spending a few minutes at the property during a showing. Take the time to drive by the home at different times of the day, and different days of the week. The quiet and serene environment you see midday on a Tuesday probably varies greatly from what you will see on the weekends. If you live close enough to your new neighborhood, you may also consider taking evening walks around the block. You may even get the opportunity to meet a few of your future neighbors this way.
Asking People you Know
If you are unfamiliar with a certain area of town, chances are you know someone who is. Don´t be afraid to ask friends, family or co-workers about their opinion of a neighborhood. Just be sure not to judge too harshly based upon their words, as one person´s trash is another´s treasure. Chances are that you will get a good feeling about the area by visiting in person, but asking others may alert you to issues you may have not considered. For instance, if you have never lived near a school, you may not realize that although it is convenient, it can lead to unwanted noise and/or trespassing on your property.
Scouting it Out Online
With the age of the Internet, it has become easier to scout out places from the comfort of your own home. Try doing a Google Map search. If you live nowhere near your new neighborhood, this can be a great asset. Not only can you peek at the facilities nearby, you can also often get a street view on the map. You can also try out home pricing sites such as Zillow to get an idea of the quality and size of the other homes in the area. This may in fact have an impact on the value of your home, now and in the future.
About the Author:
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Austin Texas real estate blog and Lakeway real estate can be found on the net.
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