Best Features of Newer Homes

12 Responses to “Best Features of Newer Homes”

1. Ray 17. Sep, 2008 at 9:13 am #

   How about talking to the neighbors? It’s amazing how many people have gone through my neighborhood, buying houses and haven’t even said so much as a “Hi there”. I’m willing to bet donuts to dollars that 99% of people don’t even talk to their future neighbors. I’ve got pictures of their houses under construction that they probably don’t. And all the flaws that have been covered up, too.

   Would you like to live between Steve-O and Party Boy (from Jackass fame) even if the house has all the features named?
2. mdm 17. Sep, 2008 at 2:01 pm #

   I visited friends in a brand-new Northeast neighborhood.

   The house itself was flawless, but from the backyard, I could see NINETEEN other houses without even leaving my deck chair !

   Not much privacy there. One noisy Party Boy can spoil it for the entire neighborhood…..
3. jeff 17. Sep, 2008 at 3:23 pm #

   I lived on a large lot, with no back neighbours, before I moved to Edmonton. I too, moved in to a newer development (NW) where lots are small and neighbours are jammed in. Luckily, things are quiet. In the end, high density developments are the way to go. We have to fight urban sprawl, just need to learn to live in close quarters.
4. finnkc 17. Sep, 2008 at 4:36 pm #

   “One noisy Party Boy can spoil it for the entire neighborhood…..”

   Heh come live in my condo for a week … Its like living under a heard of Elephants and above a Night Club all at the same time.

   Alberta Building Code = Epic Fail.
5. car27 17. Sep, 2008 at 11:01 pm #

   Location, location, location. Do your home work and shop wisely to avoid these pitfalls.
6. mdm 18. Sep, 2008 at 12:48 pm #

   car27,

   the swimming pool in the neighbors’ backyard should have been a sign of things to come….

   But we bought a great ravine property anyway, a few years ago.

   Then ownership next door changed, and the swimming pool got a full workout !

   In the end, we couldn’t take it anymore. We sold at the peak (good for our bank accounts) and downsized. Amazingly, we ended up in the quietest neighborhood ever (good for our souls).

   The original plan was to stay here only until the market bottoms out, but it’s hard to put a price tag on great neighbors. Somehow, the peace of mind we now have almost compensates for the lack of cathedral ceilings….
7. Fred 18. Sep, 2008 at 2:36 pm #

   Quiet neighbours are worth their weight in gold. Loved my neighbourhood up until a couple years ago, then the “idjits” next door (who were great before hand) got two of the dumbest dogs ever produced. Well to be honest not sure if this points to the stupidity of the dogs or the owners, but they bark constantly and there is no control or atempt of control over them. Must say they have ruined my peice and love for the neighbourhood. I would call bylaw but we are supposed to be friends, but what friends would do that to you.
8. Fred 18. Sep, 2008 at 2:38 pm #

   Quiet neighbours are worth their weight in gold. Loved my neighbourhood up until a couple years ago, then the “idjits” next door (who were great before hand) got two of the dumbest dogs ever produced. Well to be honest not sure if this points to the stupidity of the dogs or the owners, but they bark constantly and there is no control or atempt of control over them. Must say they have ruined my peice and love for the neighbourhood. I would call bylaw but we are supposed to be friends, but what friends would do that to you.
9. Nate 18. Sep, 2008 at 6:53 pm #

   Fred,

   You can buy an electronic device from your local pet store that emits a subsonic signal that irritates dogs, similar to a dog whistle.

   It can be set to go off automatically when the dogs bark or you can remote trigger it when you hear them. I know several people that have used these with success to train their neighbours dogs not to bark constantly
10. car27 18. Sep, 2008 at 11:21 pm #

    I have a better idea, buy an acerage or a home on a bigger lot on the edge of town. Too expensive you say? What is peace and quite worth? You get what you pay for in this life, buy smart and plan for the future as much as you can. Hope for the best and plan for the worst as the saying goes.
11. S.E. 19. Sep, 2008 at 1:30 am #

    I live in south east Edmonton and the homes on either side of me have changed owners in the past three years. They are quiet which is nice but cook outdoors about five times a week. The cooking smells are so strong that my entire yard reeks. I wonder if this would fall under the nuisance bylaw??
12. Fred 19. Sep, 2008 at 11:45 am #

    Nate, thank you very much for that information, I will pop by the pet store this weekend and see what they got.

    Thank you again.