Would neighbour's smashed window put you off dream house?

coper

Check the area profile on "upmystreet" too...

bexyboo1312

When we were in the process of buying our house we went back for a second viewing with the family. We had completely missed (somehow) that the house next door had boarded up windows and was generally a mess....i think we managed to miss it cos of the overgrowth at the front....
anyhow it did make us think "uhoh" but we knew the area was ok, one of the neighbours was outside, so we approached them and asked who lived there. it was an old boy on his own, we felt happy with that. as it happens, he now has all new windows and his house has been done up loads since we moved in, so we don't have to worry about it anymore.
i would definitely think about approaching the neighbours or surrounding neighbours

pickledpink

You don't know the reason for the Police cars being there. They could be there for anything - it doesn't mean the residents have caused trouble. Maybe there was a dead body inside?

You'd be surprised at how many elderly people live like recluses, and often have no relatives. If they're eccentric or just unwell they often let their garden overgrow etc.......................and one broken window doesn't mean you have burglars or violent thugs in the area.

I would knock at the house if I were you, and tell them you're thinking of moving in across the road and wondered if they could give you any information on the area? You'll soon be able to deduce what sort of people they are by their reaction. Having said that, they could seem perfectly nice but have a mad ex-husband, or some dodgy friends. But even undesirables can live in very well-kept homes, so there's no guarantees at all.

Just call on them, and also call on the neighbours. That's all you can do.:cool:

Fire_Fox

Definitely ask the neighbours, and ask the vendors too - in writing so they have to think twice about fibbing, and make your queries as broad as possible.