The decision to move house is one that should never be taken lightly, particularly if you’re relocating to an entirely new area. As well as a new home, it’s likely that you’re looking at new jobs, new schools and new friends. So, if you’re looking to relocate, what are the important things to consider?
Practicality
The first thing you have to consider is: “is all this feasible?”
A house can take months, if not years to sell, and you’ll have to spend a lot of your time trekking up and down the country to find a new home. The wait could be endless. If you’re looking for a quick sale, you could always try selling your house online to a home buyer. This is a quick process and makes the chances of a quick move simpler. You may, however, not get quite as much money than selling a house on the open market – but getting a free estimate won’t hurt.
This way, you’ll know exactly how much you have to spend on your new home and you’ll be able to move quickly.
Job Prospects
Secondly, if you’re moving without the offer of a job, then you’ll need to ensure that you understand what the job prospects are like in that area. Again, moving home can be a drawn out process, so unless you’re planning to sell and move into rented accommodation, you may not be able to apply for a new job immediately as you’ll be unsure of your start date.
As a result, before you decide on a specific area, ensure you know what the job prospects are like in your industry. That way, you can make an informed decision on where’s best for you and your family.
School Quality
If you have children, then it goes without saying that they’ll be central to every decision you make. Although the quality of schools is improving, it’s still fair to say that there’s some level of discrepancy between the ratings of different schools.
As such, it is vital that you do your research on the quality of schools before you select an area (as well as entry requirements and catchment areas). All this can be done easily through the OFSTED site.
Crime Rates
Finally, you’ll need to thoroughly research an area, visiting it multiple times in the process. You need to get a good ‘feel’ for the area and learn as much about it as possible. One way to tell if an area is right for you (and to gain a great amount of local knowledge) is by checking the crime rate statistics – it could give you great peace of mind.
There’s so much to think about when you’re relocating. Ensure the move is feasible first, and then learn as much about multiple areas before making a decision. That way, you can’t go far wrong.
