Whether relocating for your place of employment or simply looking for a change of scenery, before moving to a new community, it is vital to know what you are getting yourself into. Unless you are simply moving from one neighborhood to another community you are familiar with in your city or town, always take the time to learn something about what you can expect before making plans for the move. Here are five important things to research when moving to a new community.
1. Community Crime Statistics
This is something you should always research before relocating to an area you know nothing about. Always check the prevalence of certain crimes, especially violent crimes, and particularly if you have a family. From checking the sex offender registries to researching burglaries per capita, your safety should be of the utmost importance.
2. Nearest Hospitals
You never know when an emergency might strike which requires you to hop in the car and head for the nearest hospital. Also, anytime someone may require in-patient care, how far will you need to travel to visit them during their stay? Locating hospitals, doctors and dentists should always be a high priority.
3. Fire and Police Stations
Also, you need to know how far the nearest fire and police stations are. When an emergency happens, how long can you expect it to take before help arrives? Can the police station dispatch officers to your home within minutes or are you a half hour’s drive away? Some rural areas are so spread out that it may take close to an hour before help arrives. This could be catastrophic if your home caught on fire! One report states that the emergency services response time is at least double in rural areas as opposed to response times in cities.
4. Post Office and Government Buildings
It is also a good idea to know exactly where the nearest post office is in your new community. While there is most likely going to be delivery to your home, you may need to stop in regularly for stamps or to send parcels which can’t be gathered from your doorstep. Other government buildings to locate in advance might include the local courthouse so that you can pay property taxes or search county records. Sites like Intelius.com have a quick and easy post office locater tool that will help you find the nearest location and their hours of operation. Remember, not all post offices have Saturday hours!
5. Schools
If you have school age children, this is a huge consideration. Just because you’ve fallen in love with that split-level home overlooking a glorious lake, doesn’t mean that you will be in the best school district for your children. Not all counties have adequate funding and if you are not happy with public schools, it helps to know which private schools may be open for enrolment.
Although you may not have any alternative but to move if your job requires that of you, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have choices in terms of neighborhoods you can move to. Always do the legwork before finalizing the move. With so many resources like Intelius.com at your disposal, you can find anything you need with just a few clicks of the mouse. Remember the old adage, “forewarned is forearmed.” Know what you are getting into before you make a decision you’ll come to regret.
