Homebuyers have a lot to consider. How well maintained is the home? Are there any structural problems? Will the existing furniture fit the space? Buyers can be so focused on the home that they forget about the neighborhood. The nicest home in the world isn’t worth the deal if it’s in a bad area. For buyers looking at homes in Alpharetta, realtors are a terrific information source. However they can only answer the questions the buyer asks, so here are a few important home buying factors to consider:

Location, location, location

Alpharetta realtors know the three most important attributes to a property are location, location, and location.

The most common desired feature is proximity to good schools. Information on different schools can be found at the Georgia Department of Education and the Fulton County Schools websites. Visit the schools and talk to the teachers and students for a more complete picture of how the school district performs.

There are factors other than schools to weigh. Do you want the convenience of nearby shopping centers, or to be spared the traffic problems? Is public transit important? How about libraries or museums? Alpharetta realtors can point out area amenities you might not have considered.

Neighbors make or break the neighborhood

Talk to the neighbors. Not only can they provide information you won’t get from web research or even Alpharetta realtors, they also give you a sense of the neighborhood character. You are going to be living near these folks for many years so you want them to be people you can live with.

Visit the neighborhood several times to see how it changes at different times of day or on weekends versus weekdays. Important factors to notice are noise, activity, and odors. If you detect something unpleasant, ask yourself how much it will impact you. For example, houses built near a railroad track are often better soundproofed so the sound of the train isn’t necessarily intrusive.

The seamy side of the area

Even the best neighborhoods have to deal with subjects like crime and environmental hazards.

Crime can be a worry when moving into a new neighborhood, but Alpharetta has a crime rate below the national average. Alpharetta realtors can help you find information on neighborhood crime—both the number and types of crimes found. Don’t be too heavily swayed by crime statistics, though. They are an imperfect measure since the area in which statistics are reported is generally quite large.

Environmental hazards are a growing concern among homebuyers. Local, county, or state health or environmental departments are sources of such information on a regional level and a home inspection can often spot problems within the home.

For these subjects and more, there are two great sources of information for homebuyers in Alpharetta: realtors and neighbors. Talk to them and ensure that your new neighborhood is everything you want and need.

At Realty1st, our Alpharetta realtors are experts not just in real estate, but also in the special characteristics of each neighborhood. We can find you the perfect location for your perfect home. Contact us today and get a level of expertise and service you won’t find at bargain-basement Alpharetta realtors.