[aigel]

It's a buyer's market. If the house is empty, I doubt they would mind you trying the shower. The house inspector would do so anyway - without getting wet however. I have spent a night in an apartment type condo in Europe to check it out for the buyer. This was in a busy dual use area and noise (especially deliveries in the early a.m.) were of concern. You should always check out real estate during different times of the day and week. (How many vehicles are parked in the road at night? If there is a lot of them it means that the neighbors are renting out rooms or having several families live in one house.) What do people do on weekends? On a weekday morning? Anyone wandering the street half naked with a can of beer in their hands? Trust me, I have seen it all!

George