If you want to know if the neighborhood you are about to buy a house in is right for you, do the following

While it’s important to inspect the home you’re considering to make sure it doesn’t have any potential problems, it’s also important to do some research into the neighborhood you’re moving to. But while you can look up crime statistics and compare property values, how do you know if you’ll fit in?

It's simple, if you want to know if the living environment around the house you intend to buy is suitable for you, do the following.

How to know if a new place is right for you

• Walk instead of driving around the area
• Walk around at different times of the day
• Rent a house to live together for a short time
• Experience the nightlife
• Check out the grocery stores

Walk instead of driving around the area

This is a good way to gauge the general feel of the place. If you have a dog, take it for a walk around, it’s easier to strike up a conversation with people who share your interests. Walking around will give you a sense of whether the neighborhood is bustling with activity at all hours, or if it’s extremely quiet. You’ll get a sense of whether the neighbors are social or keep to themselves. This will tell you whether the area is suitable for your lifestyle, or whether you’d feel bored or uncomfortable living there.

Walking around also gives you the opportunity to meet the residents and chat with them a bit. Some casual conversation can reveal a lot about the character of the place and whether people are happy to live there or have to put up with unpleasant things every day.

Walk around at different times of the day

Drive by your potential new home at different times of the day and just sit there for a while and listen. Noise is one of the top complaints people have about their neighbors, but it can be hard to notice when you’re actively touring a home and working with a real estate agent. Sitting and listening will tell you whether the neighborhood is filled with barking dogs, screaming children, noisy train tracks, loud stereos, or loud arguments.

Rent a house to live together for a short time

If you have the time and flexibility, look for a short-term rental in the neighborhood you’re considering moving to. A short stay will give you a day or two to see what everyday life might be like. You’ll also get a chance to see how walkable the area is, what the local shops and nightlife are like, and even how easy it is to find street parking. All of this will help you decide if the neighborhood is worth settling down in for the long term.

Experience the nightlife

Walking and checking out the neighborhood are great ways to gauge the vibe, but make sure you include some weekend nights in your schedule. A neighborhood that’s quiet as a sheet on Monday morning could turn into a big party on Friday night—which may or may not be what you’re looking for. If you can, check out the place on holidays, too—a neighborhood that regularly hosts parties or special social events will have a very different vibe than one where everyone keeps their distance from each other.

Even if you don’t rent a room, you might consider shifting your nightlife to the new neighborhood for a few nights. Visit a few restaurants, bars, cafes, or other venues. These will be places you frequent while you’re living there, so it’s helpful to know if the neighborhood is walkable, busy, extremely noisy, or just not the right place for your lifestyle.

Check out the grocery stores

There is definitely a hierarchy of grocery stores, so check out your options in your neighborhood. Upscale locations will be clean and well-stocked, with fresh produce, but at higher prices. A budget store may not be a pleasant shopping experience and could indicate a run-down neighborhood. And having no local options and having to drive to a big box store can make living there much more difficult. Your feelings about the local grocery scene may depend on your lifestyle, but the important thing is to make sure the stores fit your expectations and needs, whatever they are.