So you’ve looked into the real estate listings and have talked it over with your spouse. But are you certain that this new neighborhood will be a good fit for you and your family? It’s not enough that you’ve consulted the tarot cards or that you’ve always wanted to experience living there because it was used as a location for your favorite film.
Uprooting your family and starting life anew elsewhere is a serious business. Take time out and see whether this move is as good as the cards say it is.
1. Is the weather something you can live with?
Moving from one state to another usually means a change in the weather. If your family has been used to seeing snow and likewise being involved in snow-related activities like ice skating and sledding, how much of a stretch would it be for them to live suddenly in a sun-drenched state like California or Florida? The opposite is also true. Sun worshippers may find cold winters a drag so make sure you take into consideration the weather as it has a very defining effect on a person’s mood and wellbeing.
2. Are you on the same vibe as the place?
Take time out to get to know a place and its people before moving into it. Hang out in public areas like parks and cafes. Check out what sort of commercial construction is in the works or wherever else you are planning to move into. This will help you know what sort of community it caters to. Can you imagine being young and vibrant and ending up in a place filled to the brim with retired senior citizens?
3. What’s the crime rate like?
You’ve got to be realistic and sober about these sorts of things. No matter how idyllic it looks during the winter or how great the restaurants are, the crime rate index should be one of the top things to know before making that great move.
Vigilance must double if you have young kids going to school. You want to make sure that the place you are moving into is as safe and secure as can be, someplace where you know you can leave the kids at home with peace in your mind and heart.
4. What is public transportation like?
Especially important if you will need to make the commute to work. You need to note the traffic situation and how long it will take you to get to work and back home. A city can bowl you over with its beauty, but if it means getting to work late and exhausted from bumper-to-bumper traffic, well, maybe you need to rethink things.
These are just a few things that you must take into consideration before making that big move. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies, no matter how romantic starting anew in a new place seems. There’s the change to think about, the long haul to consider. Most often, it’s the tiny things that you take for granted that will make the most difference in the end.
