To never buy a house unless I've met the neighbours

[ChangedAgainForAChange]

Saw a house today that I really like and I'm viewing it again on Saturday. It's a little mews house, perfect for one person or a couple but terraced so neighbours on both sides.

I absolutely refuse to put in an offer unless I've met at least one of them. I'm hoping the estate agent fucks off straight after the viewing so I can start knocking on doors and very politely asking "what the area" is like. I just want to try and get a feel for what they are like.

Some people don't even think of the neighbours once they're within their own 4 walls but I'm absolutely petrified I will get shit ones. I've had it before and it ruins your whole life. I just mean blasting stereos or pitbulls and feral kids etc. I would love a Janet and Keith retired and doting grandparents. I would not love a drug addicted mother of 9 who's been on Jeremy Kyle for shagging her mum's boyfriend.

Surely they'd want to know who's moving in next door too? Or am I overthinking it? Yes I do suffer with anxiety...

Well the issue is they might be nice as pie, but it doesn’t mean they won’t throw wild parties, play loud music or generally be a nightmare!
I used to live next door to someone who was lovely but watched tv at full volume at 3am (which blared through our thin walls). When I asked her if she could keep it down she was very apologetic and did, but a few days later it would happen again. I couldn’t have known that from meeting her!

Also, feral kids and Jeremy Kyle? A bit of a nasty way to talk about people.

How are you going to judge a neighbour based on two minutes on the door step.

And to be honest, I wouldn’t be entertaining someone who chapped my door and asked about the neighbourhood etc. What if every viewer did that?

I’m not tourist information or an estate agent.

What if you move in and then the lovely neighbours move out a month later and you’re stuck with nightmare new neighbours?

Neighbours can move, and first impressions can be deceiving.
If you're absolutely determined not to live next to the sort of people you mention then buy a detached house. You're obviously very well off and of a much higher class than most people, so should be achievable
HTH.

I don’t buy a house without doing exactly what you’ve stated and also sitting outside the house at various times of day and night weekdays and weekends. I do not want wild neighbours.

And yes, I’ve done a few drive bys at 4am

Yes, you're over thinking it. Shit neighbours are indeed shit, but nice neighbours can also be crap at times too. Also, what's to say that the nice neighbours you think you're getting won't themselves be moving house very soon. You could get anyone then.

Don't blame you. I joined the local Facebook group for the new neighbourhood and coincidentally met our new neighbour through that. We liked the house but the neighbour was so nice it helped the decision. We met the other neighbour after the move and she is lovely too. They had better not move!

I once had a potential buyer ask if she could stay the night in our house as she was ‘so worried about neighbours I have moved six times in four years.’
I said no

Lol at being offended by someone not wanting to live next door to Jeremy Kyle types

ShirleyPhallus not offended, just don’t agree with writing off groups of people based on class stereotypes 🤷‍♀️

"Also, feral kids and Jeremy Kyle? A bit of a nasty way to talk about people."

Yes it is, but let's just face it - they are out there.

You mean working class.

But you know you can be working class WITHOUT being Jeremy Kyle like right?

Neighbours can move sadly.

I speak as someone who is moving house because of the utter cunts who moved next door when our lovely neighbour of 18 years moved out.

But yes, I would knock and see the lie of the land if moving into a terrace.

The problem is neighbours can change though. I would be checking noise insulation carefully!

Yup, they are out there.

And they might move next door to you 6 months after you move into your house. 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

Shirley thank you for your insight. I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree!

Also I'm not high class at all and definitely not wealthy. But there are some people who act and behave like trash, who are inconsiderate, selfish and completely ruthless when it comes to their actions affecting other peoples lives and mental health. Do I consider myself to be a more decent person than they are? Yes I do!

It's very much pot luck, I'm afraid. Its always a risk, however much money you've got and whatever type of house you buy. I bought a semi once, but was only there two years. One side had a dog that howled all day because the owners both went out to work. The other side had a creepy teen DS.

Tbh we thought we had lovely neighbours, older couple, he's retired. Popped by with wine when we moved in, very friendly and keen to offer support and help. Turns out he doesn't like children - we have 3, he doesn't like noise, is nosey as they come and is basically a bit bat shit and wants to know every thing detail about us, but then complains our visitors are spying on them! (They weren't at all!) So yeah, sometimes you just can't tell

I don’t blame you, I would want to know what potential neighbours are like, how many people live there, age of kids etc. Though I would imagine that if you are on a high budget and looking at smart areas then you wouldn’t be living next to Jeremy Kyle types! Watch out for rented houses next door as there could be high turnover and also it can be difficult to get hold of landlords if you’re planning works

OP, are you Hyacinth Bucket?

I know there are no guarantees and it's a lottery really unless you're lucky enough to buy detatched - even then not always guaranteed - I'd just feel a little better if I'd said hello to them etc, other than that I'd be keeping to myself anyway

One of our neighbours seemed like a lovely older woman but made our lives hell when we had to deal with her for any property issues.

When we bought our house ( thankfully detached so no worries of loud tv's /shagging !) We knocked on neighbours doors to ask about area . They are a bit Janet and Keith , and now we have lived here a few years they are not so friendly , but that's ok , likewise everyone close but we do take in each other's parcels etc and pass the time of day.