How to Test-Drive a Neighbourhood While Sheltering in Place - May 7, 2020

How to Test-Drive a Neighbourhood While Sheltering in Place (INFOGRAPHIC) 

     If you are like most people, sheltering in place has helped you get really clear on what you love about your current home and neighbourhood as well as those features that are no longer working for you and/or your family.  Lots of people are now looking for extra office space or finished basements!!
     At our house, I have created a long list of things I have noticed after spending so much time at home.  My list included things we can do for ongoing maintenance including painting some baseboards and wall scratches. 
     The good news is that if you are thinking about moving and have decided you are going to wait a few more weeks before taking action – your search does not have to come to a standstill.  Check out the tips below on how to explore neighbourhoods of interest virtually as part of the homebuying process.  Even though it may be more fun to walk down the main street to find the local coffee shop, bakery or market you can let your fingers do the walking on your keyboard instead. 

1. Local publications and social media provide unique insights

     You can find out a lot about a new community from the people who already live there.  Lots of communities have local newspapers, radio stations or social media groups that can provide you with information and perspectives.  Seek them out and tune in to a few weeks to get a feel for life in that community. 

2. Go for a walk with GoogleMaps

     If you want to get your steps in for this walking tour today, unfortunately you are out of luck due to sheltering in place.  Good news -  you can use the Google Street view to get a good sense of streets of interest and the neighourhood from the comfort of your own couch.
     Another way to get a sense of the neighbourhood is to use the Neighbourhood function on Realtor.ca (formerly mls.ca). This provides information or ratings on many aspects of a neighbourhood including elementary schools; car friendliness; quietness; day cares; cycling friendliness; high schools; groceries; parks; pedestrian friendliness; restaurants; shopping; transit friendliness; cafes; as well as night life and how vibrant/active the streets in the community are during different hours of the day.
 

3. Browse other data in your neighbourhood of interest

     City-Data provides detailed specific city profiles about everything from cost of living to weather to average home prices, and its forums give useful insight from community locals.  http://www.city-data.com/canada
     McLeans provides online community reviews of top Canadian communities that provide insights including number of doctors’ offices, crime severity index, mobility factors, property tax information and measures of economic prosperity.  https://www.macleans.ca/economy/ontario-canada-best-communities-2019/#
     Yelp provides not only reviews on local cafes, restaurants, and nightlife, and also unfiltered reviews from local residents.                   
      

4. Search other real estate listings

     To learn about the typical architectural styles and ages of homes in a neighborhood, browse online listings on sites like realtor.ca. Is the neighbourhood full of bungalows or hundred-year-old Victorians?  Looking at the homes for sale will clue you in.

5. Call a real estate agent

     It’s also a good idea to get in touch with a tech-savvy real estate agent—and these days, that's most of them.  A real estate agent can help by using technology to test-drive the neighborhood for you. This can easily be done by making a video of the neighborhood and sharing it with you.  Keep an eye out for agents who use technology to create videos, have active social media and a real willingness to use technology to support you in your home buying and selling needs.  An agent is sure to have an insider's perspective on the area and extensive knowledge on homes there.

6. Investigate schools and educational data

     Relocating with your family? Then you will want to research schools in the area. A good resource in some provinces is the School Rankings site https://www.compareschoolrankings.org/.
Also depending on your province, there are usually independent reviews available or test scores at the school district level. 

7. Check crime rates

     Safety is a priority for both buyers and renters, and crime rates can give you a picture of how safe or dangerous a neighborhood is. Low crime rates are not only safer but can also help keep property values high.  Websites such as https://www.macleans.ca/canadas-most-dangerous-places-2020/ can provide crime data on type of crime across Canada. 

8. Plan your daily commute

     It is also important to get a feel for the neighbourhood by monitoring traffic and your potential work commute.  It is always a good idea to run a test drive for your commute under normal conditions.   Don’t do your test drive on the weekend as it will result in overly optimistic estimates.   
     Given that we are staying home these days, you can also ‘test-drive’ the commute using commuting tools that predict traffic like Waze or Google Maps.  These tools will predict the level of traffic during your commute hours and give you an idea of how long it'll take to get to work. There is also a convenient function that allows you to calculate your commute time. 

Bottom Line
Have fun dreaming about your new home wish list and learning about the new community you might be living at later this year.  Let’s connect today so you have help with all of the additional steps along the way, and you’re ready to make your next move. I can also tell you about our worry free performance guarantees like 24 Hour Cash Offer and Your Home Sold Guaranteed or I'll Buy It!   Call Ian at 416-522-1112 and start packing!
 
 

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