Prospective new neighbor knocking on your door - crazy?

[Anonymous]

Ok, first time home buyer here, seriously concerned about the neighborhood where the dream house is. Where I come from we go around the neighborhood talking to people, introducing ourselves and asking questions. If I do it here in NOVA will people think I'm crazy? The house costs 950K and the neighboring houses are in the same range. I've driven around and there are lots of children in the neighborhood. Will I make a bad impression if I try to talk to a few people around?

[Anonymous]

God I hope not. And if they do get annoyed with your knocking and talking, then it's not the neighborhood for you. I ran into that when I was looking at houses. I don't really want to live next to snippy people. I found a house in a great neighborhood with friendly people. So better to know sooner rather than later. Knock away!

[Anonymous]

Horray! \/

[Anonymous]

do it! we did it when we moved into our house in Arlington. we thought the neighbors seemed really nice - and we were right!

[Anonymous]

No, they shouldn't think you're crazy and if they do, you don't want to live in that neighborhood. Buying a first house that costs $950K must be daunting. You want to make sure you feel good about the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

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."

[Anonymous]

I agree that knocking on doors is going too far, but it's nice to introduce yourself to people at leisure outside in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

9:36 here. I agree with those who suggest you just walk around in the neighborhood on a weekend when people are outside and chat with them then. I did this, but I wouldn't knock on doors. If people tend to not be outside in this gorgeous spring weather or they're unfriendly, that tells you a lot about the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I would visit the local playgrounds.

I would knock on doors just of people who would be near neighbors of a house I am interested in.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

if someone was looking at a house very close to mine, i'd be fine with them knocking on my door to ask about the neighborhood. i've had people ask me stuff when i've been outside, and that's fine too. then again, i'm pretty friendly toward strangers. (and can only wish i lived in a $950k neighborhood, lol!)

[Anonymous]

SERVANTS answer the doors in $950k neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Looking back, my husband and I wished we had knocked on doors and met some neighbors before we moved into our house a few years back. It would have helped us realize that the demographic in our neighborhood skewed MUCH older then us. We both were saying that if we moved now, we'd definitely try and meet the immediate neighbors at least before deciding to buy. I think it's an important factor! But try and knock on a weekend or mid-day if you can. No one likes people that come knocking at dinner time.

[Anonymous]

also, people in $950k neighborhoods may not be home a lot (at work, meetings etc)

[Anonymous]

When we were scoping out our NOVA house, we put DS in a stroller on a Sunday afternoon and patrolled the neighborhood on foot. People were eager to say hello and we knew we were in the right place. If we are at home and I see a perspective buyer with little kids looking at a house near mine, we go outside and try to engage them in conversation. That way they know they are in a friendly place!