• One of the most important steps a home buyer can take when deciding which home to purchase is to
conduct “drive bys” of the house and the neighborhood at various times of the day and on both
weekdays and weekends. Taking the extra time to research the neighborhood will help determine if
there is too much or too little social activity for the home buyer’s lifestyle; if there are barking dogs in
the house next door; and if the home is located on a street with a lot of traffic during commute times.