July 29, 2019 – Hartford, WI – How do you pick a new home?
If I was to categorize a large number of complaints that any City gets every year, they would fall under “I didn’t do my homework.” When deciding on a place to live, all of us should be much more vigilant on paying attention to the attributes outside our home, versus inside.
For instance, we (and most communities) will get complaints about issues which are already occupying your neighborhood well before you move in. Take for instance, parks, schools, commercial businesses, train tracks, industrial business can all have positive and negative impacts on our home life.
Some people like having a commercial store near their home because of the convenience. Others complain that this same business causes light pollution in their back yard. Some people like living close to their industrial job because they can walk to work. Others complain of the noise that some produce. Some people love living next to a park because they love having the recreational value so close, while others are surprised that it creates the noise of kids and dogs enjoying the park. Some people look for houses near bike trails because they love to ride while others complain because people are using it.
The point of this is to make people aware that when picking out the location of your next home, be much more aware of the surroundings in which you are moving into than simply what color your granite counter tops are or how many bathrooms you have. All too many times, people will move into a home and then complain that 100-year-old train tracks or 50-year-old industrial park is right next door. These attributes have been here for much longer than you have.
As with any move, reviewing the neighborhood is key. Is it close to public amenities? How do my prospective neighbors take care of their homes and yards? Is there a history of crime in this area? Are their neighbors on a national registry for past crimes? Does the neighborhood have storm water issues in Spring? What’s the prospect that our street or sidewalks will need replacing soon and if so, what’s my share of the cost? If the house is near a school, how close is parking allowed to my driveway? If my house is near a business, when do they close and what type of business is it? Is my home in a Home Owners Association and if so, what are the covenants?
This short list doesn’t even scratch the surface of the questions you should be asking your realtor when looking for a home. By doing this homework in advance, you will be in a much better seat to fully enjoy your new home with far less complaints.
