Moving from one place to another can be a difficult thing, especially when it involves family. There are many things to consider – safety, accessibility, the school district, etc. when choosing a place to stay. When choosing a particular street, district or city, here are a few things to consider and tips on how to do your research:

Use the Internet – technology is a wonderful thing, and with a click of a button, you can find out all kinds of things about your new home. Some basic things you may want to check out:

• How close you are to supermarkets, entertainment, hospitals, parks or other services you use like gyms or churches
• Crime statistics – do a google search on crime statistics on the neighborhood or check out the crime reports in the local newspaper
• House values and estimated taxes – found out how much similar homes cost on Zillow, so you won’t be surprised when you see that tax bill

Visit the neighborhood – before the Internet, the only way you’ll be able to see your neighborhood is to actually go there. So what are the things you should do?

• Check out the conditions of the houses and lawns; broken windows and unkempt gardens are a sign of indifferent neighbors.
• Walk around and see how people act – are they friendly? Do they make eye contact? Do they greet each other hello?
• Try to visit at different times of the day. During the day, most people are at work or at school, but what about early morning or late at night? You’ll want to make sure you’re not moving next door to Keith Moon or Ringo Starr wannabes who bang their drums at all hours or the night.
• Drive from your home to the office and get a feel of the commute (try to drive during the times you would actually go) – is it easy to navigate? Is the commute long or short? If you don’t drive, see how accessible public transportation is
• Talk to people in the neighborhood – ask them about the schools, local services, likes and dislikes about the neighborhood, etc.

Visit or contact the local government, hospitals and police stations

• Find out how the local government works (council members, mayor’s office, etc) to get a feel of how it works
• You can also get a feel of the crime rate from talking to the local police
• See how far the local hospital is and what their response time to emergencies are, especially if you have family members who may need extra care

Ask people at work

• If you’re moving because of work, as co-workers where they live and if they recommend good neighborhoods
• Ask recommendations for local services too, like plumbers, electricians, contractors, even the best pizza places or chinese take-out

Check out local advertisements – yup you read that right! You can get a feel of local merchants, who may be able to give you better deals, rather than big box stores with impersonal service

Ask about future developments

• New buildings, commercial centers could increase the value of your property
• On the other hand, these can increase noise and traffic to your neighborhood as well

Estimate the cost of living

• Visit the supermarket and see how much milk, bread, egss and other sundries may cost
• Go to the local pizza shop and check how much a slice costs
• Drive around the gas stations and see how much a gallon of gas costs

In the end, the neighborhood really depends on what it is you value the most.