Wanting the best for your kids means giving them a living environment that’s comfortable and safe. When looking for a new home, one of your priorities should be neighborhood safety. While there’s no way to guarantee that a neighborhood is 100 percent safe, there are definitely precautionary measures you can take. These are some tips for finding a neighborhood that’s safe for your family to move into.
Crime Rate
You should have as much information about the neighborhood crime rate as possible. While crime doesn’t stick to just a couple areas, there are definitely neighborhoods which are more prone to it. Do research on crime rates in your neighborhood. If you see a high number of violent crimes such as murder and robbery, stay away from that neighborhood. You can even check to see whether or not there are any sex offenders in the area. Because they’re on the registry, you’ll be able to see how close they are to your home. After all, you don’t want to risk yourself or your family being caught in a dangerous situation.
Retention
It isn’t a good sign if a neighborhood has people constantly fleeing from it. That indicates that people have serious problems with it. When looking at a new home, ask about how long the current or previous owners had it before deciding to sell. It can also be worrisome if a neighborhood is full of vacant, abandoned houses. A safe neighborhood is one that people are proud to stay in.
Appearances
You can tell a lot about a neighborhood just by looking at it. If it’s dilapidated, with litter and graffiti everywhere or even if it looks a little run down, it might not be particularly safe. These things can pose dangers to your children. For instance, if there’s broken glass or needles around, they could accidentally step on them. Take the time to look at present-day photos of the neighborhood and see if it looks like a safe environment.
One way to get a feel for the neighborhood is to visit the closest park to your home. Does it feel like a safe play area for your kids? Do the people that visit the park seem like people you’d feel comfortable with your family being around? Try to interact with different people in the park as well. By checking out the park, you’ll be able to know whether or not the neighborhoods near it are sketchy.
Testimonials
Sometimes, the best way to find out about a neighborhood is to ask questions. Ask your real estate agent about the safety of the neighborhood. You might need to press them for a more detailed answer if they’re being at all vague or avoidant of the question. If they aren’t disclosing any useful information, speak with people who have lived in the neighborhood, either presently or formerly. They should be able to give you a good idea of whether or not you should move there.
Also, if they neighborhood you’re moving into has an HSA, contact them. You can email them or start a discussion on their Facebook page.
When you focus on neighborhood safety, you do a tremendous favor to your family and to yourself. Your family deserves to live in a place that will treat you well. With these tips, you can help find the right neighborhood.
