If you have ever lived next to, across the street or even down the street from neighbors that make you cringe or interfere with your ability to enjoy your home and environment, you are not alone. Many people in Washington State have experienced the same thing. In a way, neighbors are like family members in that you cannot pick them but you are left figuring out how to deal with them.
Today recommends that there are some things you can do before you buy a property that might give you insight into whether or not there are any unsavory people in the area. Sometimes knowing ahead of time is helpful and may even sway your decision about a purchase. As tempting as it may be to want to rush and put an offer on a home after a quick tour, you may want to wait. Give yourself several days spanning both a weekend and weekdays in which you can drive past the home or walk through the neighborhood in the daytime and after dark hours.
Doing this gives you the ability to see how your would-be neighbors live and may alert you to things you would not otherwise see. Reviewing sex offender registries and public records regarding building work in the area can also give you important insights.
If you would like to learn more about how to evaluate a neightborhood before buying into it and your options for addressing challenging neighbors, please feel free to visit the homeowner’s rights page of our Washington State real estate and property dispute website.