Prospective new neighbor knocking on your door - crazy?

[Anonymous]

OP I've already posted but I just wanted to say you sound very charming -- you dismissed those oddball posters with more kindness than I would have! I'm sure any neighbor would be glad to meet you. Knock away!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I've already posted but I just wanted to say you sound very charming -- you dismissed those oddball posters with more kindness than I would have! I'm sure any neighbor would be glad to meet you. Knock away!

You've made me blush Thanks for the compliment. I'm very outgoing and I want to make sure the neighborhood is friendly. Nor me or my DH have family in the country so I want to make sure that we're not strangers to our neighbors.

Thank you all for your thoughts. This weekend will be fun if a stranger stops you in your front yard you'll know who it is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The knocking on doors thing is white trash. Think Mormons and JWs. It's ghetto to tell cyberstrangers how much you paid for your house. Get over yourself.

You are mean

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The knocking on doors thing is white trash. Think Mormons and JWs. It's ghetto to tell cyberstrangers how much you paid for your house. Get over yourself.

You are mean

I agree. I'm going to track this bitch down by her computer IP address and go over there & stick my Morman textbooks right up her ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The knocking on doors thing is white trash. Think Mormons and JWs. It's ghetto to tell cyberstrangers how much you paid for your house. Get over yourself.

You are mean

I agree. I'm going to track this bitch down by her computer IP address and go over there & stick my Morman textbooks right up her ass.

I'd just go over to her house during dinner time and ask about the neighborhood with my JW and Mormon friends and show her the million house I'm buying across the street =P

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we were looking in MD, neighbors came up to us wanting to talk - that was one of the things that sold us on our neighborhood.

which neighborhood? We're looking for some place friendly. TIA.

We live in the Park Overlook neighborhood in Derwood. Looked at about four houses in this area, as well as many more in the Rockville area, and this was the only neighborhood where people came up to us saying "Are you looking to buy here? Let me tell you how much I love it here/what I think of the local elementary school/how long I've lived here/etc." Was nice to hear from people who lived here and also to see that the neighbors were friendly.

NP here. Good to know. I keep looking at Derwood. It seems really nice.

[Anonymous]

A few years ago when I was looking, my agent encouraged me to do exactly what you are thinking about.

Drive the neighborhood in the evening to see what is going on,
walk the neighborhood on the weekend to see another point of view
go the the local playground to see the interaction that is happening
knock on doors

My agent told me a funny story of a client knocking on doors and knocked on Justice Souter's door. You never know who will be your neighbor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My agent told me a funny story of a client knocking on doors and knocked on Justice Souter's door. You never know who will be your neighbor.

Doesn't he have secret service protection or something? Wasn't he mugged while jogging a couple years ago?

[Anonymous]

I had a fried who put off his home buying until later in the year so he could take his little girl around trick or treating before he bought the house. He like the people he met and loves the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

One more vote for walking around and asking people you see, visit the parks, etc. But knocking on doors, over the top. I have a kid who naps, and my personal pet peeve is people knocking on my door for random reasons (dog barks, kid wakes up). But I grew up in a rural area where no one came by unannounced, it was unheard of, so I just can't get used to random drop-ins, especially from strangers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't knock on the door, mostly because I don't answer the door for strangers. You should drive around on a Saturday mid day when people are working in their yards and kids are playing. My newest neighbor did this and was open about it. She parked her car, pushed her kid in the stroller and introduced herself to people. She asked about the schools, playdates, etc. Now we all know her by name and not "the lady who just bought the Smith's house."

Same here. I wouldn't answer the door for strangers, then again, I'm not the type of person that would say "mi casa es su casa" either. I like personal space. That said, if you approached me when I was outside and mentioned that you were thinking about moving to the neighborhood I would probably talk your ear off. I'm also curious as all and would like to hear more about who would be my potential neighbor. Having a kid in the stroller would be a plus. I tend to be more on the personal safety side (you can take the kid out of Queens ...) so having a kid with you would make me more likely to be friendly and open. I'd also be less likely to assume you are trying to sell me something (my first thought if a stranger walks up to me with neither a kid nor a dog).

[Anonymous]

Realtor here...very smart to drive/walk the neighborhood, day and night; test-drive the commute; go to the playground; talk to neighbors. The only thing you can't chang about the house is the location, so be sure you're a big fan!
As agents, fair housing laws prohibit us from commenting on things that are important to some people. A PP mentioned her neighborhood skewed older. Age is a protected class and so if I told you the age make up (how do I always know that anyway?) and you are a HUD tester, bye bye license! Sounds crazy but it's reality. In any case, you need to determine what neighborhood is right for you--it's all very subjective.
Good luck OP!!!