Scoping Out a Neighbourhood

 

Home buyers enter the buying process with one of two mindsets.

There are those who know what kind of house they want – the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the type of kitchen and maybe whether or not they want a yard. Then there are those who know where they want to live, such as a specific school district or neighborhood, but haven't completed a wish list of home features.

Seldom does a home buyer tell her real estate agent that she wants a "three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a gourmet kitchen, a fireplace and a pool in the backyard, located on "J" Street in  "X" neighbourhood."

While it's important for your real estate agent to know what features you want in a home, "location, location, location" is just as important, important, important.

Even if you know exactly what you want in a house and perhaps have one picked out, it's important to scope out the neighborhood before committing fully to buying.

Don't Believe What You Hear

Especially when you are new to an area, it's easy to believe what residents tell you about the various neighbourhoods.  Some areas might suit some people or families just fine while another person would not find the area quite as attractive for different reasons.

There is nothing quite like first-hand information. If good schools are important to you, do the research yourself instead of relying on what others consider "good."

Crime statistics can be found online.  Neighbourhood Watch  and London City Police web sites are a good place to start. 

Google maps will allow you to map a route from the new house to your job, to a particular school, or to the nearest shopping center and kick back the mileage and a rough estimate of the time it will take to get there.

A lot of your preliminary neighbourhood research can be done online, but it's not a substitute for actually checking out the neighbourhood in person.

Drive It

Drive through the neighbourhood at different times during the day and evening, on both weekdays and weekends, looking for anything that may be considered an annoyance. Music blasting from a teenager's open bedroom window when you're trying to unwind after work may make you wonder why you bought a house in that neighborhood in the first place. Is the house under the airport's flight path?  Kids – and all that they imply – may be a blessing or a curse.
If you don't drive, walk the neighborhood. Locate the nearest public transportation stop and see for yourself what the walk is like to the store and other local conveniences.

Check Municipal Records

Finally, check the neighbourhood and surrounding area for anything that may impact the home's value.
Look for:
Developments in the works.
Upcoming zoning changes.

Sure, it's important to fulfill those dreams of the perfect house for you. But the bigger picture - a suitable neighbourhood in an area that fits your lifestyle – is just as important to your quality of life.

We have a lot of information on different neighbourhoods that may be helpful to you in your search.

Call us anytime!

Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record
Colleen Thyssen, Sales Representative
Direct 519-495-1541
Office 519-438-8000
Email: richardthyssen@kw.com
www.thyssengroup.com