Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions in everyone’s life. Therefore, before deciding to “put down the money,” you should take the time to experience the atmosphere and real-life in the area. This will give you a comprehensive view of the place you will soon call home, thereby making the best decision.
Spend time in the area you want to buy before moving in, to get an authentic feel for daily life.
Firstly, you should spend at least a few days in the area you intend to buy a house. Don’t just stop by for a few hours then hurry away. Stay to observe, feel the atmosphere and real-life rhythm here.
For example, you can stop by during the morning, afternoon, and evening rush hours to see what the atmosphere is like. Take a stroll around the neighborhood, stop by restaurants, cafes, supermarkets to observe. Or sit in a nearby park to sense the ambience. Through that, you will understand more about the pace of life, people here – things that will greatly affect your life later on.
Visit at different times to feel the changing emotions of the area from morning to night.
At each hour, the living space changes and elicits distinct emotions. Therefore, you should visit the area you want to buy a house at different times of the day to observe these changes.
Feeling the fluctuations across times will help you envision more clearly the future living space. From there, you will know if you really like being immersed in that space or not.
Talk to locals to hear first-hand stories happening in the area.
The locals are living witnesses to everything going on daily in that area. Therefore, talking to them will help you grasp the most useful, authentic information about this community.
Spend time chatting with neighbors around. Ask them about issues like: security order, noise level, infrastructure in the area, convenience services… You can also ask how long they have lived here and what their impressions are.
Through that, you will gain profound insight into the community that brokers or sellers may not capture. That will help direct your later decision.
Search for local shops and services to evaluate convenience and community quality.
Surrounding shops and services demonstrate the development level of that area. Thus, you should investigate the types and quality of stores, services in the area where you plan to buy a house.
Try buying groceries, dining at nearby stores to see if they are abundant and diverse. Are there quality hair salons, clothing stores, cafes, restaurants? Are transportation services like catching a taxi or bus convenient…
If stores and services well-satisfy needs, that is a major plus in choosing this area for long-term residence.
Investigate schools and parks.
If you already have children or plan to, thoroughly examining schools and play areas is very necessary.
Visit schools near the neighborhood to evaluate facilities, educational environment. If possible, talk to parents to better understand teaching and studying quality.
Additionally, parks with green spaces, safe children’s playgrounds are also important factors for your children’s happy childhood.
If working, you will certainly have to travel from home to the office daily. Thus, testing out this route is essential to evaluate traffic flow.
You should do a trial run during rush hour to see if congestion is serious. How long does one-way or a round trip take? From there, choose an appropriate area, avoiding spending too much time commuting every day.
Above are some useful advice for you before deciding to “put down the money” buying a house. Hope these sharings will help you gain profound, comprehensive insight into the place you are preparing to call home in the future. Wish you soon find the most ideal living space!
