Decoding the Impact of Noise in Real Estate

Hello, friends. I hope you are all doing very well. Imagine you're searching for a home and have shortlisted two properties: one in a quiet crescent with minimal traffic and the other backing onto a busy 4-series highway. Let's discuss how surrounding highway noise impacts your real estate asset, your livability, and its growth.

This aspect of a home is often overlooked. Buying a home is an emotional decision, and we, as buyers, tend to get invested in the property's updates and interiors, the floor plans, newer appliances, and the quality of the municipality. However, we often tend to overlook this aspect of an asset.

The location of a property is by far the most important aspect in real estate. When I say location, I am referring both to the suburb where the property is located and also to the lot outlook of the property, meaning where exactly the lot is situated and how it presents itself.

[dB values and its impact infographic] The unit for measuring sound is decibels (dB). A whisper or faint noise is 30 dB, a conversation is rated at 60 dB, and a bike engine running is 95 DB. City traffic when you are inside a car is around 80-85 dB. Sounds below 70 dB are considered safe for our hearing.

Highway traffic noise 50 feet from the highway ranges from 80-90 dB, and it progressively reduces the farther you are from the highway.

The noise pollution could be from a busy highway abutting the property, traffic on a busy arterial road in front of or behind the property, a railway track in close proximity with a relatively busier train schedule, or a property near an airport in a low-flying zone.

When as a buyer we overlook such noise sources, and suppose we end up owning the property near a highway and living there, our brain and ears get used to the constant humming noise of the highway over time. It becomes second nature to you. However, that doesn't mean that future prospective buyers will be able to ignore the noise attributes; the majority of them will take note.

In my experience, I have noticed if the property is at least 150-200 ft away from the highway, it becomes manageable, and inside the house, it is negligible. When it is less than 100 ft, it becomes more pronounced. As a buyer, you need to weigh your options and make an informed decision.

Impact on Value Studies and data have shown that properties adjacent to a busy highway location and areas where noise pollution is more than usual take more days on the market to sell. Further, these properties often sell at a relatively lower price and have saturated demand. In times when the market is unexpectedly hot and seller-driven, everything will sell, including noise-affected properties. However, when the market is saturated or more buyer-inclined, it would not be such a smooth ride. Consumers generally prefer a quieter and more peaceful environment, which is understandably so; those interior courts and circles are more sought after by the buyer community.

Marketing Efforts Selling a home affected by noise pollution requires you, as the seller, to highlight the other strong points of the neighborhood and location to overpower this deficiency. It might also mean that the property needs a pricing adjustment and fine-tuning if the property stands on the market for a longer duration.

Mitigating Noise Pollution If you are in a house close to highways and such, there are ways to insulate yourself from the noise. You can install soundproof windows, add thick insulation, or use dense shrubs and trees, which will act as sound barriers.

Heavy, thick curtains also help block the sound and provide insulation. Municipalities often put up sound walls to separate residential subdivisions from highway borders. Weather stripping can enhance window seals and effectively isolate the house from noise.

So, when you are in the process of reviewing and screening properties for purchase, try to think beyond the curb appeal and interior layout and features of the property. Listen to the noise levels when you approach the property and are out there for your in-person review. The best way I advise my clients to do this is to look at the address you are considering on Google and zoom out. As soon as you do that, you will see the complete topography of the property. You can easily make out the major elements surrounding the lot. It is the best way to review and know a lot about the location, commute, community, parks, schools, trails, etc., in the neighborhood.

And if you are a seller, you should try to focus on and highlight the other best elements the property has to offer. Include those in your marketing material. That extra push and preparation are needed to create the Unique Selling Point for your property. Being transparent and cognizant of such attributes and highlighting other strengths and updates in your property will put you in a commanding position.