Moving homes is a long process with plenty of things to remember, but before you secure the purchase of a home, book movers or pack up any of your things, you want to make sure that the neighbourhood you are moving to is one that you’ll be even happier living in than where you live now.
Here are a few tips for researching a neighbourhood before you move.
Consider What’s Important To You
Before you even begin looking at houses or even neighbourhoods, sit down with your family and consider what the most important elements of an area are to you.
For example, if you’re moving with children, you’ll probably want somewhere with good schools and a good variety of recreational areas – pools, parks, clubs, etc. If you’re a younger couple, perhaps you’ll want to move somewhere with a wider range of bars and restaurants, or somewhere with good shopping opportunities.
Making a list of everything you want from an area before you start house-hunting will narrow down your list of potential new neighbourhoods.
Look At Crime Rates
It goes without saying that safety is incredibly important to everyone, so before you decide on a particular neighbourhood, it’s best to check that the area will offer you the stability and security that you need.
There are a few different sites online that offer you the opportunity to see a neighbourhood’s crime statistics by searching up a zip code, so it’s certainly worth doing this for the neighbourhood you intend to move to before finalizing any plans.
Look To The Future
Remember that purchasing a home will more than likely tie you down to a particular neighbourhood for at least a few years, so it’s a good idea to look to the future when searching through potential new neighbourhoods.
Look at the future of the neighbourhood of the area as a whole – whether or not there are any new developments in the area and whether there are economic troubles on the horizon and such. After that, consider your own future – are there any changes you can expect within the next few years that may affect your choice of neighbourhood?
Visit Your Choice Of Neighbourhood
Once you’ve decided where you’re looking to move to, it’s a good idea to visit and see the area for yourself. Whatever you can find out on the internet, first-hand research will always serve you the most – take a road trip to your new neighbourhood and scout it out for yourself.
This road trip will give you the chance to visit local attractions, restaurants, check out the local shops and even speak to some of those who already live in the area. You may find something out that puts you off a little, or you may fall in love with the area even more. Either way, visiting your new neighbourhood is certainly worth doing before you make any final decisions!
