I was just reading Katrina Munsell’s piece over on Redfin’s Sweet Digs blog about planning out real estate searches.  Her advice about planning your search for a home by mapping your route is good.  It saves time and gas when you’re doing the all important home search.  Checking the homes out in real time is that all important next step. 

• Does the home have good street appeal?
• Is the house well situated on the lot?  Does it have a yard that works for you?
• What does the house look out to?
• Does the home back up to a busy road?  What else is behind it?
• What are the homes around the subject property like?  Are they well maintained?  Are their lawns cut?

Interested in the home? Now get out of your car. Go talk to the neighbors. 

• Find out how the neighbors like living on the street. 
• Is it noisy in the area? 
• Are their neighborhood activities going on?  Annual picnics?  Barbecues?
• Are there neighborhood CCR’s?
• Are their neighborhood amenities?

I had one buyer talk with a neighbor only to find out the slope opposite the house had already partially slid. Pretty wonderful information that convinced the buyers to “run” from the home.  These buyers ultimately found a much better home to buy without any slide issues.

Whom else should you talk with?  Figure out what’s important to you and what you would like to learn about, then target people who can give you the answers.

• Questions about schools?  Visit or call the school administrators.
• Safety?  Contact the police and get their opinion. 
• Check out the location of the nearest fire station and hospital.
• Who are the first responders in the community?  Is the house under city or county jurisdiction?
• Public transportation? Check out the King County website for information about public transportation.
• Noise?  Check the neighborhood out during various times of the day.  See what’s going on.

Do you need to ask all these questions and do the research before you make an offer?  No, you still have time after an offer is written.  Obviously, if you have the time to check things out before-hand, it’s always best.  But if you can’t, there’s a clause every buyer can exercise in a contract called “Neighborhood Review”.  Exercising this option gives you 3 business days to review any and everything about the area.  You can talk to anyone you want to determine whether the home or neighborhood is the right fit.  If it’s not right, you as the buyer have the right to terminate the contract and get your earnest money back.

Ate there other questions buyers should ask?  Are there other sources of information or people buyers should contact?

Mr. Rogers had it right when he said “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.”  Make sure you know, as much as you possibly can, if buying a particular home will make it a beautiful day in the neighborhood for you.