The Right Questions to Ask

A Potential Neighbor

Planning to buy or rent a new place? Talk to a neighbor or two to find out about the area but also to see if you want to live next door to these folks. You can tell a lot from their reaction to your questions. (Do you think I need an alarm system? “Nah. My vicious 100-pound Rottweiler has it covered.”)

What to Ask

• How do you like living here? What are the other neighbors like?
• Is there a home owners’ association in the area I can be a part of? Are most people involved in it? What community issues is it working on right now?
• Are there any neighborhood rules, like about parking or yard maintenance, for instance?
• Have you ever had any trouble with crime around here? Has your place ever been burglarized?
• Is this a block-party kind of place, or do people pretty much keep to themselves?
• Do dog owners in the area put their dogs on leashes or let them roam free?