Best times to check out the area?

Octothorpe

Just curious on people's opinions...

The advice always given is to research the area of the house you're buying at different times of the day.

But when, specifically? Evenings, weekends - is it worth checking on a weekday lunchtime for example?

When and how do you draw the line?

Mizydoscape

I would assume this advice stems from the fact that most (not all) viewings tend to be conducted in the daytime during the working week so an area might be quieter with people at work. It really depends on what sort of things might be a deal breaker for you. 

For example, if the house is on street parking only and you view in the day, revisit in the evening when the road is likely to be busier to see how much of a pain it will be to get a space.

If the house is near a school, revisit at drop of or pick up time to see how chaotic this is.

If a quiet garden is important to you, revisit at the weekend or evening to see if your prospective neighbours are pumping out the club tunes.

Etc etc.

ele_91

Evenings will give a more realistic view of things like parking situation, a summers evening or weekend evening will reveal more about noise IME. We considered pulling out of a house on a small curl de sac as during the viewing in the middle of the day there were no cars and it felt lovely and spacious. Did a drive by at 7pm and the place was jam packed with cars everywhere, it felt totally claustrophobic and a few repeat evening visits revealed a commercial van parked on the road right outside the living room window, blocking any light and view. Luckily the vendor took the house off the market and saved us the anguish!

MaryNB

Depends on the area. Big one for me  - always check what it's like at rush hour, especially in an urban area.
If in a touristy area maybe check a Saturday afternoon. Near a school, check what it's like at drop-off/pick-up times. Near a few bars and restaurants, check a Friday or Saturday night.

Nature_Lover74

We're interested in a property in our town (we're hoping to buy it but that's another long story!).  We've had a couple of 'walk-pasts' the property with our dogs on a Saturday afternoon.  Others on this thread have already mentioned what I'd consider to be good times to check out the area you're interested in.  (Which reaffirms *we* really should have a walk-past on a Friday or Saturday evening in the area we want to move to and not just a Saturday afternoon!).  Good post, thank you.  

Arfa__

I think it also depends somewhat on the times you expect yourself to be home. If you work away every weekend, it probably doesn't matter if it's busy/noisy at weekend. Conversely, if you work nights, it'll be more important how quiet it is in the day.

purplebutterfly

We made sure to visit our property outside of school hours so we could see what the neighbouring kids were like.  

One of the properties we dismissed had kids from next door throwing large branches at the wall of the house we were viewing.  They then hung over the shared fence giving us the finger and refusing to respond when we said hello. 

theartfullodger

Sit round the corner in a car friday & saturday evening and just listen

Antman27

The properties in the area I'm looking at are selling so quickly that there really is just the one 15-min viewing during which I have to absorb everything about the place. So I'm not sure how I would ever have a chance to visit at different times before making an offer.

Or is the OP suggesting after making the offer? 

MaryNB

Antman27 said:

The properties in the area I'm looking at are selling so quickly that there really is just the one 15-min viewing during which I have to absorb everything about the place. So I'm not sure how I would ever have a chance to visit at different times before making an offer.

Or is the OP suggesting after making the offer? 

I was really keen on the house I ended up buying so went for a walk around the area the evening before the viewing.

I've rented on a main road before, never again. I always check a place at rush hour. Low traffic noise is a high priority for me.

Arfa__

MaryNB said:

I've rented on a main road before, never again. I always check a place at rush hour. Low traffic noise is a high priority for me.

On Google maps you can show a traffic layer that shows you a rough idea of traffic levels, both live that moment and typical amounts at particular times. However, it highlights more congestion rather than freely moving fast noisy traffic. Nonetheless, it's one more tool you can use to help get a bigger picture.