Buying a home on the University Hills real estate market is a huge investment, so this is not a decision that you should take lightly. Before making an offer, you should do research on the neighborhood, discuss fair prices with your real estate agent, and of course, visit the home multiple times. In fact, there are certain times of the day that you should swing by your potential new home before submitting an offer.

8 a.m.

Wake up a little earlier than usual and head to your potential new home around this time on a workday. Then, begin your commute to work to see how long it will take you to get there from your new home. Is there a lot more traffic than you expected? Are there any other routes you should try? Figure this out before you buy the house so you don’t get stuck with a long commute. Take a look at the field guide to commuting and the home buying decision.

Before starting the commute, roll down your window and listen for traffic. If your home is by a major highway, the sounds of rush hour traffic may be much louder than you expected.

Midday

If you can, try to visit the house at some point during the middle of the day on a weekday. First, listen for sounds of construction. You may not have realized that the city was performing major construction on a road nearby, and this may be a deal breaker, depending on how much time you spend at home in the middle of the day. While you’re around, pay attention to how many cars there are in the driveways. You may feel more secure living in a neighborhood where there are some people at home in the middle of the day.

2-3 p.m.

Drive through the neighborhood at this time on a weekday to see if there are a lot of kids walking home from school and school buses driving through the area. If you have children, you may want to see a lot of kids because that means it’s safe for your children to walk home as well. However, if you don’t have kids, a neighborhood full of children could lead to a lot of unwelcome noise.

After Dark

Finally, visit the neighborhood at night preferably on a Friday or Saturday. This is a great way to determine if you will be bothered by loud neighbors who host rowdy parties. Don’t just listen for noise—look for lights and cars in the driveway, too. If everyone is home and there are only a few lights on within the home, you’ve probably stumbled upon a quiet neighborhood full of families.

Are you ready to buy a home in University Hills? Contact Elevation Realty to be connected to a team of experienced real estate experts ready to help you on your home buying or selling journey. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for an older or newer home—we can help you find the perfect one!