There are numerous factors to consider when you’re thinking about moving to new surroundings. From creating a helpful checklist of must-haves, to uncovering crime statistics, the more information you know about a neighborhood, the better. Here, RISMedia offers eight tips on what to consider, what to avoid and where you might have to consider making a compromise.
1) Assess your needs
Start by making a list of must-haves, nice-to-haves and won’t-haves. The must-haves and won’t-haves should be non-negotiable, but the nice-to-haves can be where you compromise. Create these lists as a family before you even look at new neighborhoods, so that everyone is clear on each other’s preferences from the start.
2) Lifestyle matching
A small town may sound appealing if you’re seeking a break from the city. But if you’re thinking about a neighborhood that varies greatly from where you now are, examine your lifestyle before making any decisions. If you buy groceries once a week, then being in a remote neighborhood shouldn’t be too much of a problem. However, if you visit the store regularly, you’ll want to make sure your new neighborhood has one that’s convenient.
3) Think about budgets
You may have found the perfect neighborhood, but can you afford the properties in it? Use a budget calculator to determine how much money you will have left in your pocket. You also might want to check if a new area will cause additional expenses. If it’s far from your workplace, work out how much you’ll have to pay for the extra gas. Also, think about where you need to get to and how often. If you’re going to have to drive one hour every week to the nearest store, then take that added cost into account.
4) Think ahead
Perhaps you’re planning to start a family in the next few years or your kids might be ready to leave the nest. Consider if the neighborhood would have enough amenities to entertain a teenager or if the town’s nightlife will make it too noisy when you have young children.
5) Look into safety
After narrowing your selection of potential neighborhoods, be sure to research the crime rate of an area. If it’s high, then you might want to consider another neighborhood. If it’s average, don’t rule out the area because it’s not perfect. Unfortunately, crime can appear anywhere, but the good news is that neighborhoods can change their reputation.
6) Do your research
Visit your prospective neighborhood at different times of the day to get an all-round perspective. You may discover that rush-hour traffic is terrible or that you can hear trains passing early in the morning. Also, if there are several “for-sale” signs in the area, then try to find out why; this could be a warning sign.
7) Talk to neighbors
There are some obvious ways to spot a potentially bad neighbor. One way is to look out for how well they keep up their house and yard. Even if you don’t suspect your neighbors will be a problem, it may be worth chatting to them to get their thoughts on the neighborhood.
8) Don’t forget about the aesthetics
Finally, ask yourself if you actually like the neighborhood. Take a moment to think about the feeling you get from the place. Ask yourself if there are enough trees. Do you hate the windows? What does your gut tell you? The little things will make a huge difference.
