Visiting the neighbours

Legacy_user

I often see people advising buyers to visit the neighbours before they commit to buying a house. I understand why this is a good idea, but I feel very anxious about it! Do people literally just knock on the door and say, "I might be buying next door and wanted to say hello"?

I realise this is a frivolous question, but I think it's important to do this and at the moment I just don't feel confident enough. I know plenty of people on here have been through the process before, so I'm hoping someone might be able to give me some tips to make me feel more comfortable!

armchaireconomist

Dive in. They may be receptive, may not - chance you take. If the response is the latter, they've answered your question anyway.


The alternative is not to bother, and not know until you're in.

bertiewhite

Our newest neighbour did exactly that and we were more than happy to have a chat with him.

Some of the questions were awkward though and "I'll let you make your own mind up on that" was said more than once.

adonis

Ask at houses further along as well as people further away may be more open than the immediate neighbours.

Slinky

I've introduced myself to one of our new neighbours (still waiting to exchange), she told me quite a bit about the other people in the same street and gave me the code to the keysafe attached to the house we're buying.....

We said hello in passing to the other neighbour on our first viewing.

aneary

Speak to the oldest neighbour you can find generally they would have lived there for some time (unless it's a newish estate) and they tend to know all the gossip.

SuzieSue

If you are too nervous to talk to the neighbours talk to some of the local shop keepers. They should know everything about the area. That is what I did.

Once you have spoken to them and are still interested in the property, then pluck up the courage to speak to the neighbours as you don't want a nasty surprise when you move in.

whizzybee

We didnt see it as a problem! We saw the house we are now in twice and spoke to two sets of neighbours, one was kind enough to let us see their cellar as we wanted to know about the ease and cost of converting it. We know all of our neighbours (its a back-to-back so I technically have three!) and further along the row of houses as well. Next door look after our cats when we are away and because we share access to the garden, we take it in turn to mow the lawn which saved us buying a lawnmower. Its worked out well for us (so far anyway!)

We knocked on for one set during the viewing and the other just happened to be in their garden so we approached them politely. Just try and pluck up the courage, it was nerve wracking for me as well but so important because if they had been horrible, I might have changed my mind!

Ithaca

I was lucky and one of the neighbours happened to be outside in his driveway as I was passing the house, so I pulled over and had a chat. Choose a sunny Saturday mid-morning as that's when people are often pottering about sorting stuff out around the house and garden.

Davesnave

You can break the ice by pretending you're a gardener (you might be one anyway) and ask what the soil's like if you see someone pottering outdoors. It gets you started and is so much better as an opener than, "What's it like living here?"

I also used to do that long distance, if there was a NGS Yellow Book garden near the property of interest. I'd just ring up and make gardening-type enquiries, saying why. I'd get a response like "Well, who's selling then?" and away the conversation would go. Village properties, rather than town.

littleblue735

I have always spoken to the neighbours before making an offer. I tend to go with partner / friend and after the viewing I hang about outside looking up and down the house / street etc. making it clear I've been viewing. Most neighbours have come out to ask ' are you thinking about buying next door?' cos they are just as keen to meet potential neighbours. Then its easy to ask about the area, good pubs nearby etc.

I viewed one house on a snowy day and noticed the car next door had an open window so knocked on his door to tell him and he was very rude about being disturbed and they had three mastiff type dogs which were very loud so that put me right off the property.