The Best Times of Day to Visit Potential St. Louis Homes
Most St. Louis open houses are held in the afternoon, usually between noon and 4 p.m. on lazy Sundays when there’s not too much traffic or activity. This can be misleading for buyers because different times of day can change how you really look at St. Louis homes. For example, what’s the traffic like in the morning when everyone’s going to work? If the house is near an airport, do you constantly hear airplanes overhead at night?
Before you buy a St. Louis home, you need to visit it at several points during the day to really understand the noise level. Here are the best times of day to visit potential St. Louis homes.
8 a.m.: The Commute
Before going to work in the morning, go to a property you love and try to drive to work from there. Take note of the traffic in the area and time yourself. You may have heard that you’re 10 minutes from downtown, but that might not account for traffic, which can set you back even further.
Drive to your office or place of work and pay attention to on ramps on highways, as they can get pretty congested. Note any red lights or other traffic stops. You might also look into public transportation, which can save you some headaches.
10 a.m.: The Morning Rush
Now that everyone is at work in the area of your home, you can go back and get a feeling for the daily sounds and noises you can expect to hear near your potential home. There may be some noises that you never expected or even thought about, and your buyer probably won’t tell you so they don’t ruin the sale.
A home near a rock quarry, for example, may hear explosions. St. Louis homes in developing neighborhoods will hear plenty of construction. You may also have a neighbor whose dog never keeps quiet. These are all good things to know about before you make a purchase so drive through your intended neighborhood in mid-morning.
3 p.m.: The schools let out
This really applies to St. Louis homes near schools. Schools can cause a lot of traffic backups, and kids walking home may cut through your backyard. Make sure you’re aware of these conditions before you buy.
5:30 p.m.: Rush hour
It’s now time to reverse your course and drive from your office or place or work to your new home. Again, time it out and pay attention to on ramps and other traffic stops.
9 p.m.: Fast asleep
Not everyone works, so if your neighbors have odd hours, then their noise may keep you up at night. It’s best to visit your home around 9 p.m. when most people are settling down for the night. Pay attention to homes nearby that are playing loud music or have a bunch of cars in the driveway. If you work traditional 9-5 hours, then you may be in for some racket on your regular weeknights.
This can also give you an idea about what the safety in the area is like. Are there plenty of street lamps? Do you see kids walking together and toys out on the front lawn? Kids that are able to walk alone together is usually a sign of a safe neighborhood because parents don’t feel the need to escort them everywhere they go.
No one wants to be that neighbor who always calls the cops with a noise complaint, so check out your neighbor’s habits at night to see what they’re really like.
3 a.m.: The late-night noise
The sellers may not notice the trains going through at 3 a.m., but you certainly might. Make one last visit to your new home in the middle of the night and take a few minutes to listen for noises. You might hear freight trains go by or the sounds of traffic from a busy road or even people coming home from the bars. Get an idea of the noise level and the safety of the area and determine if it works for you.