Moving is stressful, no doubt. Selling your current house, packing up everything you own, and finding a new home is a massive undertaking. Despite how stressful it is, though, there’s one critical step you don’t want to miss…checking out the city or neighborhood to which you’re considering relocating.
Doing some homework ahead of time helps avoid costly mistakes in the end.
Listing your criteria for an ideal neighborhood will go a long way in helping organize your thoughts as well as give you confidence that the decision you eventually make is the right one. Only you know what’s important to you and your family. Perhaps being alone in the car after a hard day’s work is enjoyable, so a long commute doesn’t bother you. Maybe proximity to shops and restaurants ranks high on your list. Or maybe with young children, schools and crime rate are your top concerns. We won’t provide the list since it will be uniquely yours, but here are some things to consider: schools, crime rate, commute distance and type, places of worship, shopping, restaurants, recreation, how rural or urban the location is, etc.
Now that you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start researching the area. You can do this without leaving the comfort of your living room. Utilizing the multitude of internet sources will give you a good idea of what the neighborhood is like before you ever set foot out the door. Try these helpful sites that offer a wealth of information on a variety of aspects:
Education – greatschools.org
Crime Rate – familywatchdog.us
Home Values – Zillow.com
Demographics – city-data.com
Commute Time – mapquest.com
Additional Info. – Local news sites or Neighborhood blog
If you’re close enough for an in-person visit, it’s worth going more than once at different times of the day and week to get an authentic feel for the area’s personality. Ask about the best local places to eat and strike up a conversation with your waiter or waitress. They’re looking for a good tip and will likely be willing to offer all sorts of information on the area. Visit other places that make it easy to chat with locals, like a church service or community event. Go with a list of questions in mind so that your discussions will provide valuable information. Getting out of your car and walking around on foot gives you a different perspective.
If possible, drive to the new neighborhood after work one day during rush hour. Doing the same in the opposite direction on a weekday morning will enable you not only to calculate drive time but will give you first-hand experience with what the trip will entail. Sitting in traffic on a highway can be a far different from a scenic drive on quiet country roads. One may leave you frazzled, while the other provides just the downtime you need.
The more you do ahead of time to ensure the neighborhood is right for you, the less likely you’ll be to need another “for sale” sign anytime soon.
By: Dawn Wooden
