You already know that the most important thing to look for in a new home is the location. After all, just about anything can be changed about a house except for where it’s situated and let Cord Moving and Storage agents for North American Van Lines help get you there.
But what exactly does it mean to look for a good location? Does it mean physical proximity to goods and services? Low property taxes? Great school districts? A vibe that you get as soon as you enter?
Choosing a neighborhood is very much a process of YMMV (your mileage may vary), so you should always keep your family’s preferences and tastes into mind. > Lifestyle: The most important neighborhood factor is the lifestyle it promotes. An outlying suburb with big lawns and shared cul-de-sacs tends to appeal to families hoping to hold block parties and give their kids a place to get out and play. A gated community with a shared recreation center and pool might appeal to retirees who want all the luxuries without any of the upkeep. A hip downtown condo with restaurants and bars a block away tends to work best for young professionals. > General Upkeep: Some neighborhoods boast white picket fences and carefully tended lawns. Others are more remote and overgrown. Still others are meticulously maintained in keeping with the HOA regulations. Choose an aesthetic that fits your life. If you aren’t going to be willing to dedicate ten hours a week to lawn care, you may want to choose somewhere less strict about upkeep. If the sight of weeds and DIY yard projects make you crazy, go for the HOA option. > Friendliness (or Not): Some communities pride themselves on being friendly and open, with regular meetings and parties to bring everyone together. Others provide a quieter, more private setting where people tend to stick to their own business. Depending on your preference, you may want to choose one or the other. > Transportation Options: Suburbs often require that families have multiple cars with good gas mileage. Parking in a city center can be a nightmare. Proximity to a train station might make commuting easy, but the noise can be overwhelming. Determine how people in a neighborhood get where they’re going, and then figure out if that’s something you’re willing to incorporate in your lifestyle. > Amenities/Services: Where you live determines a lot of things about your access to services—things like police stations, fire stations, hospitals, schools, shops, restaurants, and more will vary depending on location. If it’s important to you to be near one (or more) of these things, find a neighborhood that matches.
Another feature to watch out for is trees.
We know, it sounds strange, but trees are one of the few things you can’t just add to a neighborhood and start enjoying right away. Those cozy, tree-lined streets take up to a hundred years to become perfectly shady, and if you’ve always dreamed of a tree swing in the yard and an apple tree out back, these things need to already exist. The age of your neighborhood will often dictate what the local landscape looks like, so take that into account during your search.