For Home Buyers, checking out an area’s curb appeal is one way to get a better understanding of the type of neighbourhood you’re looking at and the neighbours you will have. Homes in Mississauga and the GTA are expensive, but just because you are paying upwards of half a million dollars for a newer home doesn’t mean the neighbourhood will fit with your lifestyle. Maybe there are too many people living in a home, basement apartments, or just that people that don’t see the value in maintaining the outside of their homes.
If you are a home buyer, I always recommend driving around the neighbourhoods you are interested to learn as much as you can about the area. Check out the curb appeal and ask yourself, are the homes well maintained? Is there any landscaping? Are there too many cars on the street and in the driveways? All these can be indicators that the area is not as prestigious as the price is indicating.
- If un-kept lawns are common in an area you are looking at take it as a sign
- Landscaping is a sure sign your neighbourhood is on the up and up. Lack of it or do it yourself doesn’t look good
- In all new subdivisions, builders will put temporary steps from the porch. If the area is over a few years old and you still see many of these don’t expect the neighbours to spend $$$ making the curb appeal look nice
- Make sure to look at the exterior of the homes on the street you’re interested in. If they aren’t in tip top shape it will reflect in future area value
There you have it, my tip on checking out an areas curb appeal before you buy a home. If you are looking for a home in Mississauga or the West GTA let’s talk!