Moving to a new home is stressful no matter how you approach it. There’s the expense, the chaos of physically moving all of your stuff, and then there’s the hassle of actually finding your new home. We all do a lot of research and due diligence when looking for a new home for our families, but that research is usually focused solely on the home itself. When it comes to where to put that home, the research can get a little murky.

You probably have a good idea of the general area you want to live in, but what about the specific block you’re moving to? A few years ago, Trulia coined the term “neighborhood regret” when a survey they conducted revealed that 36% of home buyers wished they had bought in a different neighborhood. Are your neighbors going to steal every package you deliver, or will you find yourself embroiled in endless drama with them? How do you know if you’re about to join a thriving, friendly community or a living hell made up of other people?

It's impossible to know for sure until you live there, but there are some signs you can look out for as you house hunt.

Ask any real estate professional: the level of maintenance and care a homeowner takes is telling. Not only does a poorly maintained home likely have hidden damage and defects that need to be repaired, but a poorly maintained home will also negatively impact all the homes around it.