What a neighbourhood walk tells you that a listing never will

Photographs show a home at its best. A walk around the block at the wrong time of day shows you how it will feel to live there on a Tuesday in February.

Go twice: at rush hour and after dark

Traffic noise, school runs and parking are at their worst between eight and nine in the morning. Late in the evening you will hear the neighbours, see how well the street is lit and find out whether the corner bar is a quiet one.

Walk to the things you use every week

Time the walk to the nearest grocery store, the bus or Metro stop and the park. Ten minutes on a map can be twenty on foot if there is a freeway to cross. If you have children, walk the route to school.

Talk to someone who lives there

People watering their front gardens are usually happy to talk. Ask what they like about the street and what they would change. In ten minutes you will learn more than a listing can tell you.