Hi ,

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions a person makes in their life. As such, it should not be rushed. Time should be taken to research and plan. This will make sure that you buy the property of your dreams in the right location and within your budget.

When choosing a property and suburb, thorough research is strongly recommended. It is also essential that you understand the livability of your potential suburb. The best thing to do this is to check out the neighborhood yourself and if possible, even live in it for a while to get a first hand experience of the community.

Due diligence is vital on the home and on the neighbourhood. But while the actual home can be inspected by licensed professionals such as building or pest inspectors, the home buyer is responsible for doing due diligence on the community where the property is located.

Here are ways to help you profile a potential suburb:
 

Visit the neighbourhood or temporarily live in the area. Find time to visit the suburb as often as you can. In fact, you can also choose to rent an Airbnb place there so you can get a feel of the community. Take time to walk along the streets on different times of the day, check out parks and bus stops, enjoy some snacks at local cafes and get to know some of your potential neighbours.

Drive around the suburb. To determine the accessibility of the area, you can test drive your regular route to work, school or other activities. This will give you an idea of your travel time and how easy it is to drive from your home and get through traffic.

Research business and public amenities. It would also be a good idea to check out the businesses and facilities available in the area. Find out their business hours, the clients they serve and their schedule of deliveries. By doing your homework, it would be easy for you later to go to the right places to pay your bills, do your grocery and enjoy some leisure time with your loved ones.

Keep in mind that being aware of your surroundings is very important particularly if you are moving to a new community. It will give you peace of mind as you get to know the people and the places to go to for your specific tasks and errands.