Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Hello Potential Neighbor

I think it is perfectly okay, while looking at potential new houses, to knock on random doors in the neighborhood and ask the occupants if their neighborhood stinks ; especially if there is a water treatment facility nearby.



I did receive some funny looks but I got the answers I needed.

21 comments:

Patience said...

And when you left, they all said . . . "Weirdo"

Anonymous said...

Having been the buyer of several homes, I totally agree. Its essential to ask questions like that, especially if you think there's a chance they might apply! We live where they "farm" chickens, and when the wind blows. . .

Anonymous said...

I bet everyone said, "Oh yes, it's stinky as hell around here. I definitely recommend that you continue your search for a new home in some other neighborhood." Didn't they?

Effie said...

actually, that's a very good idea...and you'll get to know who you could possibly be living next to...that would have been a good idea in our case---biker gang next door...

Anonymous said...

What about when you walk the dog early in the morning near the bus stop?

Unknown said...

Water treatment or wastewater treatment? Tell me which one and I'll tell you if it ever stinks or not. Trust me, I'd know :)

eclectic said...

Happy Househunting!! Good luck! And if your neighbors in Florida are any indicator, your neighborhood will change dramatically once you move in anyway, so...

OhTheJoys said...

We did this when considering a house near a railroad with freight trains passing relatively close by... we didn't buy the house.

Manda Girl said...

That's an excellent idea - I would totally do that. We moved into an area that isn't far from a City dump and on some windy days... it stinks.

Nancy said...

By all means, I would ask and what better excuse to also check out the immediate neighbors.

Her Bad Mother said...

DUDE. Got me in suspense here. What were the answers?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mary Alice said...

I totally agree that one should ask the neighbors questions like this. Sometimes kids are the most honest with their answers - the least honest about questions like that is Realtors...oh no they say, it always smells just like magnolia blossoms in this neighborhood....

Stepping Over the Junk said...

I've lurked around neighborhoods before, my present neighborhood, I thought I was "cool" and bought my place, moved in with my two little tiny girls and then discovered a level 2 sex offender was living across the square from us...he was renting but it was under his girlfriend's name...it ends up that the landlord figured it out and then didn't renew their lease. So now he is gone. Phew.

Zephra said...

Amen!

Chris H said...

Darn good idea, we did the same thing when we looked at buying in this neighbourhood 5 years ago... and we sat outside in the car on Friday and Saturday nights to check out who had parties, how many kids were running around in the street etc. WE are lucky, our area is superb!

Anonymous said...

And then when you explained that you were just going door to door because you were trying to raise money for college, did you hear someone inside the house yell, "Your mom goes to college!"?

Wait. Wrong story.

My bad. Carry on.

Denise B. said...

I would have to agree with you!! Do you think they were honest?

sari said...

Did you ask about axe murderers?

I would have.

t_cole said...

i'm doing the same thing - whilst house hunting. though i usually try to wait for someone out on the street to corner and ask questions of...

carrie said...

Perfectly acceptable, if you ask me.

Carrie