Keeping it Quiet, Tips for Buying Your Next Home

You are in the market to buy a new home. There is so much to consider, price, location, size and even the details such as carpeting, wood flooring, the number of bathrooms. One thing buyers often forget to consider when searching out their dream home is to make sure that humble abode is quiet and peaceful.

Determining whether a neighborhood or home is going to be quiet at night or even weekends can be difficult at first. Ways to help you determine the noise level is to be sure and drive around the area you like with the windows down.

If you run across railroad tracks, you better figure out how close they are to your prospective home. Make sure you are near the house when a train goes by, so you can get the full effect. While trains and plains are obvious sources of noise, you also need to consider more subtle situations.

Many homebuyers look at houses early on Saturday and Sundays. This makes sense since you have to work for a living, but it can result in some nasty surprises. The characteristics of a neighborhood on weekends are entirely different than during week days. Make absolutely sure you check out the property during both time periods. To guard against “partying” neighbors, make sure you check the area during evenings as well.

Examine your home’s proximity to a freeway or industrial center. If you are somebody with non-standard work hours, just simply looking at a home with the bedroom in the correct placement is important.

Spend some time inside of the home with the doors and windows shut to see how much sound is coming in. Some homes have better insulation than others. Dual-pane windows also help cut out some of the outside noise.

There are remedies that can be made to your home if you already purchased it and have discovered it is noisy. By consulting a professional rather than trying to do-it-yourself to no avail, you will find yourself with a quieter home and a better night’s sleep.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit www.eSoundproof.com. Discover first hand why so much of NetWell’s business stems from the referrals and repeat orders they receive from satisfied clients around the world.