Visit the property at different times of day including weekday mornings, afternoons, and weekend evenings. Check for nearby highways, airports, train tracks, fire stations, schools, bars, and entertainment venues. What sounds peaceful at noon may be unbearable when the bar crowd leaves at 2 AM.
When to Visit: Different Days, Different Times
Visit the property on a weekday morning, a weekday evening, a Saturday afternoon, and a Friday or Saturday night. Each time reveals different noise sources. Morning rush hour traffic, afternoon school pickup, evening train schedules, and late-night bar noise all exist at different hours. A home that seems quiet during a Sunday open house may sit next to a school with loud recess bells or across from a fire station.
What Noise Sources to Check
Look for nearby highways, busy intersections, train tracks, airports, fire and police stations, schools, hospitals (helicopter pads), bars and restaurants with outdoor patios, sports venues, and industrial areas. Use Google Maps to check for these within a half-mile radius. If it is a multi-unit property, check for thin walls, stomping from upstairs neighbors, and shared HVAC noise.