{"id":45401,"date":"2021-11-15T12:54:01","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T04:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/?p=45401"},"modified":"2022-06-13T17:30:29","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T09:30:29","slug":"four-easy-ways-spot-bad-neighbours-before-buying-an-hdb-unit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/four-easy-ways-spot-bad-neighbours-before-buying-an-hdb-unit\/","title":{"rendered":"Four easy ways to spot bad neighbours before buying an HDB Unit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Picture this: You just moved into your new HDB apartment. It\u2019s everything you were looking for in a new home. You congratulate yourself on a good buy when suddenly, you hear dogs barking next door and loud banging noises upstairs.<\/p>\n

You smell second-hand cigarette smoke wafting in from your open living room window. When you think it can\u2019t get worse, someone from upstairs drops a glass bottle from their window, and it shatters against your windowsill. Of course, this is an extreme scenario, but you get the point.<\/p>\n

Singaporeans often forget to check for bad neighbours before purchasing a new home, but it can be a costly mistake. Here\u2019s what you can do to avoid such a nightmare:<\/p>\n

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1. Visit the property at different hours of the day<\/h2>\n

It is essential to visit your potential home in the evenings after working hours. That\u2019s when most of the neighbours will be home, allowing you to gauge how noisy they are<\/a>. If you hear someone singing with their karaoke system at full volume or children shouting while playing, you need to consider if you are okay to live with that.<\/p>\n

Nowadays, since many Singaporeans are working from home or having home-based learning, it\u2019s a good idea to drop by in the mornings and afternoons to get a more accurate feel of the noise level.<\/p>\n

If you are a non-smoker concerned about second-hand smoke, this tip may allow you to find out if your neighbours smoke. If you often smell cigarette smoke drifting into the property on your visits, one of your neighbours may be a heavy smoker.<\/p>\n

This may mean being frequently subjected to second-hand smoke after moving in.<\/p>\n

Additionally, visiting multiple times may allow you to catch an upstairs neighbour in the act of high-rise littering, like that glass bottle example. Hopefully, no such neighbours live above the unit, but you want to know about it before purchasing the place if there are.<\/p>\n

2. Check out the areas in front of your neighbours\u2019 units<\/h2>\n

A quick look at the neighbours\u2019 doorsteps can tell you a lot about them. If they have multiple pairs of shoes strewn about messily blocking the walkway or if they use the corridor railings as their drying rack, they may be inconsiderate people.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s even worse if they obstruct the walkway with bicycles or a whole jungle of potted plants. Imagine having to crabwalk through that section of the walkway every single time you pass by.<\/p>\n

Other than causing inconvenience, HDB corridors without clearance of at least 1.2 metres will hinder evacuation and prevent paramedics from getting through in the event of an emergency. Do you want to live next to neighbours with no common courtesy or regard for others\u2019 safety?<\/p>\n

Speaking of things in the corridor, if there\u2019s a large pile of random junk outside your potential neighbour\u2019s door and a foul odour emitting from their home, they are likely to be a hoarder. If all that junk is in the corridor, you can bet that the actual unit is filled to the brim with more. That\u2019s a fire hazard. The clutter<\/a> is also likely to attract pests like cockroaches or rats, which may enter your neighbouring unit.<\/p>\n

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Besides being potential fire hazards, a cluttered common corridor is also restrictive for some residents who may rely on wheelchairs to move about.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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3. Check out the communal areas<\/h2>\n

A spotless corridor and clean rubbish disposal area speak of considerate and hygienic neighbours.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you see:<\/p>\n