How do you suss out the neighbours?

[Questionsandheartache]

I'm hoping to move within my local area. Currently house is on the market, and just getting a feel for what my options might be.

Went to view a place which seems to have good potential. All going well until went to the garden, having a chat with agent and looking around, and then the next door dog started barking. There was someone there, who seemed to be getting it to stop, but I don't think it actually stopped barking until I went inside.

This is the sort of thing that worries me, as I would hate to be left unable to go in the garden without setting off an anxious or territorial dog.

I'm not going to have a lot of choice within my budget and other criteria, but this could be a real downer.

How do you know if a dog will be an issue, before it's too late.

I would take that dog as a warning not to buy.

You're probably right.

If the dog was barking and not stopping under the command of the owner, or at least being brought inside by them out of consideration, then it's a big red flag. You can't force people to train their dogs or not leave them alone for hours. RSPCA only care if it has no food or water.
So yeah, I'd keep on looking ideally.

That was probably the dog on a good day. I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole. Trust your spidy senses.

Thanks, you're so right. I need a reality check, I'm do desperate to move on I'm at risk of buying haste and repenting at leisure. Just as well I can't do anything until mine sells.

My sympathies, OP. The same thing happened to me once when I was looking to buy a house. The estate agent unlocked the back door and immediately a large dog hurled itself at the fence separating the house from next door, growling and barking aggressively. Incase this wasn't enough, another dog from the neighbours on the other side started barking franticly too!

You should have seen the estate agent's face. He didn't even bother to contact me about the house, after viewing. NO ONE would sign up to that every time you wanted to go in your own back garden.

Yes, I would hate a badly-behaved or noisy dog nearby. On the other hand, wherever you buy there's no guarantee the next door neighbour won't get a dog after you've moved in (or new neighbours move in with dogs), so perhaps it needs to be balanced against all your other criteria.

Do NOT move there!!! I am a dog owner saying that as well!

My life was made hell by a barking dog next door. So much so that had a massive fall out with next door (after 10 years peaceful living next to them)

Had to engage environmental health. Was about to go down legal route when they got a electric bark collar on the dog (cruel but it worked)

However, we never were on speaking terms again and what a relief when they moved out.

Mind you, any neighbour could get a dog. So perhaps just go past the house on foot at different times and see if you can hear anything.

All helpful points, thank you.

No way would I move there
I have a well behaved quiet dog, and inane barking ( and inane screaming kids) drives me mad.

What I've done is knock next door, and ask them what they think of the road, the areas, whatever you like, and see what they're like!
Have had potential buyers knock on our door too!

@gettingolderbutcooler I wondered about doing that, bit wasn't sure how it would be received!

I live next door to a dog that barks all the time (its some sort of Jack Russell cross) It doesn't bark at us when we're in the garden but barks at anyone else passing by and I fear we will struggle to sell when we want to. Neighbour leaves the dog in the garden all day, it rarely gets walked.

Join the local facebook group and get s feel for any trouble in the area.

Agree with pps avoid at all costs. Once lived next-door to a house where the dog seemed to bark every time we moved, not only in the garden, just shutting a window. Couple with two teenage kids...I noticed only the husband ever told the dog to be quiet.

Update, walked round there this evening. Dog was barking and jumping at the front as I went past, with a bloke yelling.

That'll be a hard no, then. Especially since it's semi detached! Lucky escape.

If it's not well received then you don't buy!!

Lucky escape indeed! Honestly, you are doing right walking away. Your nerves would have been shattered with every bark.

I'd also ask neighbours. Plus park up in the street a couple of evenings just to see.