Moving can be both scary and exciting; what makes it scary? Not knowing what you might be getting yourself into. The best way to combat the unknown is to get as much information as you can before making the decision to move. You may have found the perfect home, but what about its location? Here are some great ideas of how to scout the community you are interested in moving into.

General things about the neighborhood:

• Talk to shop owners and ask them questions about the town.
• Visit neighborhoods at different times during the day to see what it looks like at all different hours.
  • Are there ever any annoying sounds or smells?
• You can talk to the local police department to find out crime rates of different areas and things to be aware of.
• Check the area; is it a family-oriented neighborhood? a bachelor pad? or a bunch of crazy teenagers?

Does it have a good school?

• Make a meeting with the local schools to tour them.
  • Pay attention to teacher-student ratios in classes.
• Check test scores of the local schools.
• Talk to local parents about the school’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Attend a school board meeting to learn more about the local schools and the concerns they might have for the area.
• Pay attention to all schools, not just the current grade your child may be in, because if you stay in that neighborhood long enough they will grow up and go to the junior high and high school in the area too.

What Amenities are Available

According to you and your family you might be interested in different aspects of a neighborhood so check for the following things that might interest you.

• Does it have a library nearby you can get books from or take your kids to for fun book clubs?
• Do you or your children do karate, yoga, ballet, lift weights, or anything else that might need a specific type of gym?
• If restaurants are important, do they have the ones your family frequents?
• Check the local park district to see if they have recreational activities you can participate in.
• Depending on whether you are an early bird or a night owl you might want to check the times your favorite shops open and close in the area.

Convenience

• How close is the nearest grocery store?
• What kind/is there any public transportation available?
• How far away is work? and school?

After thinking about what aspects of a neighborhood are most important to you and your family, you’ll be able to compare that to the things you see and find with your own eyes, as well as recognize and discover the best place to move. Curious about homes and neighborhoods by McArthur homes? Feel free to ask us questions and request more information!