What to Consider When Moving (Besides Your New Home)
Published by Chris Townsend
A lot of different things can factor into your decision to move to a new home, especially if you’re relocating to a new city or state. There are so many unknowns that it becomes somewhat of an adventure, which can be both exciting, and a little intimidating. Which is why it’s important to consider all angles of what you’re like will look like after you move to a new area. With that in mind, here are five things you should consider when moving that don’t have anything to do with your home itself.
Crime Rate
Safety is important anywhere you live and it’s certainly something you should consider when moving. Even nice-looking areas can have crime problems so it’s not something you can necessarily tell through the eyeball test. Look up crime statistics for any city you’re considering and try to narrow it down to specific neighborhoods you’re looking at too. If you’re moving a family with kids, you’ll want to be sure that you’re going somewhere that you won’t have to worry about them or the safety of your home.
School System
The quality of school systems can vary widely in different parts of the country, even within the same city or state. There are plenty of resources online where you can find ratings and statistics about local school systems and the quality of education they provide. Don’t just consider academics though—if you’re kids like to be active, play sports, music, or get involved in other extracurricular activities, you’ll want to know what options exist for that too. Talking to other parents in online groups can be a real benefit here, since you’ll be able to get input from people who are currently involved in the education landscape.
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Taxes & Cost of Living
It’s no secret that some states have higher taxes and a higher cost of living than others, and that should factor into your plans too. Even taking a slight pay cut can be beneficial if you’re moving to a state that has no income tax or is just generally cheaper to live. This ties into real estate prices as well since more affordable states will naturally have cheaper options when it comes to renting or buying a home. Even things like grocery and gas prices can fluctuate in different areas so that’s also something to consider.
Quality of Life
All the things mentioned here can ultimately affect your quality of life, which is the idea behind considering them. You have to take a hard look at the places you’re considering moving to and see if it fits with the image you have in your head of what you want your future life to look like. For example, you should consider the climate when moving. Are you an outdoorsy type that likes year-round mild weather with access to beaches or state parks? Or perhaps you don’t mind the changing of the seasons and the different weather that comes with them. Consider the community too—do they have events, festivals, concerts, fine dining, or other activities you’ll want to take part in?
Friends & Family
Being close to friends and family is a key factor for a lot of people when moving, if not the primary reason in many cases. It’s nice to be surrounded by family and having good friends that you enjoy spending time with is important too and these things are just as true for your kids. If you’re moving a long distance, consider that you won’t be able to see nearby friends and family as much as you once did.