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How to decide where to live: 10 things to check ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ

How to decide where to live

How to decide where to live: 10 things to check

Introduction ๐Ÿ‘‹

Finding somewhere new to live has got to be one of the most exciting and hectic experiences!

But how do you actually decide which area is best?

Today we’re going to explain 10 things you should check when researching places to live, to help you to decide. ๐Ÿ‘ฃ

Disclaimer: This website provides information for guidance and educational purposes only. The Grown-Up School does not provide regulated financial advice. You can seek independent financial advice from a suitably qualified and regulated professional advisor. Check out our disclaimer policy for more information.

1. Prices๐Ÿ’ธ

Whether you’re renting a home or buying a home – prices are really important.

How much you can pay, helps you to decide which homes you can live in.โœจ

It’s important to make sure that you consider areas that:

2. What’s nearby? ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ

Every location will have a mixture of different services and businesses nearby that will make your life more convenient. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

This could include things like:

  • Supermarkets/food shops ๐Ÿ›’
  • Parks ๐Ÿž๏ธ
  • Doctor’s surgeries/hospitals ๐Ÿฅ
  • Dentists ๐Ÿฆท
  • Vets ๐Ÿถ
  • Hairdressers โœ‚๏ธ
  • Gyms ๐Ÿ‹๏ธ
  • Shopping centres ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
  • Schools ๐Ÿซ
  • Restaurants ๐Ÿœ
  • Beaches ๐Ÿ–๏ธ
  • Woodlands ๐ŸŒฒ
  • Hiking places ๐Ÿฅพ
  • Entertainment e.g. bowling, cinemas, watersports ๐ŸŽณ

You might not be able to get everything you want close by, so make a list of what is the most important to you! ๐Ÿ“ƒ

If you have children, you might also want to check:

  • How good the schools are ๐Ÿซ
  • What extra activities there are nearby – e.g. kids clubs, sports teams ๐Ÿ“
  • If there is a good community nearby where your child can make friends ๐Ÿšธ
  • If the local area is safe for children ๐Ÿ‘ถ

3. Transport links๐Ÿš‰

Whether it’s:

  • getting to work ๐Ÿ’ผ
  • going on holiday ๐Ÿ–๏ธ
  • travelling to events ๐Ÿ’ƒ
  • visiting friends/family ๐Ÿ‘ช

it’s important to be able to get where you need to from your home! ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ

This means that it’s really important to keep an eye out for the nearest:

  • Train stations ๐Ÿš‰
  • Trams ๐Ÿšƒ
  • Taxis ๐Ÿš•
  • Buses ๐Ÿš
  • Main roads/motorways for driving ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ
  • Airports ๐Ÿ›ซ
  • Parking spaces for cars ๐Ÿš—

when deciding on a place to live.

4. Nearby workplaces ๐Ÿ’ผ

If you’ve got a job, it’s great to live near your workplace, to make work travel a bit easier.

But also –

The chances are that you’re not going to stay in the same job forever. ๐Ÿ‘ทโ€โ™€๏ธ

So – when you’re picking a place to live, it’s important to think about nearby places you might want to work in the future. ๐Ÿ”ฎ

The more workplace options there are, the less likely it’ll be that you have to move house when you’re looking for a different job.

Your dream home should ideally be near lots of places you might want to work! ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ

5. Green spaces๐ŸŒด

Green spaces have a hugely positive impact on our wellbeing – but some areas don’t have many nearby. ๐ŸŒณ

When choosing somewhere to live you should look out for nearby:

  • Parks ๐Ÿž๏ธ
  • Sports pitches
  • Woodland ๐ŸŒฒ
  • Lakes
  • Ponds ๐Ÿธ
  • Beaches
  • Allotments/community gardens
  • Fields ๐ŸŒฝ
  • Hiking paths
  • Nature reserves ๐Ÿฟ๏ธ
  • Wetlands
  • Outdoor activity centres ๐Ÿง—โ€โ™€๏ธ

6. Natural disasters ๐Ÿ’ฆ

Natural disasters happen, and it can turn the best home into a nightmare! ๐Ÿ˜Ÿ

When considering places to live, it might be worth looking at how likely natural disasters are for that area like:

  • Flooding – is the home at the bottom of a hill? Are there rivers nearby? ๐ŸŒŠ
  • Tornadoes/severe storms ๐ŸŒช๏ธ
  • Trees falling down ๐Ÿชต
  • Wildfires ๐Ÿ”ฅ
  • Earthquakes ๐Ÿ—ป
  • Land that sinks (subsidence) โฌ‡๏ธ
  • Droughts โ˜€๏ธ

7. Crime ๐Ÿฆนโ€โ™€๏ธ

It’s really important to feel safe and comfortable where you live. ๐Ÿ”’

Checking the crime statistics, and types of crimes common in the areas your considering, might help you to decide where you’d prefer to live.

Choosing an area to live in with low rates doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be a victim of crime – but it might help for you to feel more safe.

You could also check things like:

  • Is there enough street lighting at night ๐Ÿ’ก
  • Are there police services nearby ๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™€๏ธ
  • Is there a neighbourhood watch in the area ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ
  • How friendly are the neighbours – could you trust them to help you? ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘

8. Closeness to your family/friends ๐Ÿ‘ช

You might find the perfect home, but if it’s far away from the people you love- you might not love it for very long. ๐Ÿ˜Ÿ

It’s important to consider who from your friends/family will be close by, particularly for things like:

  • Social events ๐Ÿ’ƒ
  • Emergencies ๐Ÿš‘
  • Help with pet care ๐Ÿ•
  • Home sitting whilst you’re away ๐Ÿก
  • Help with childcare ๐Ÿ‘ถ

9. Air quality ๐Ÿƒ

Bad air quality can make your home feel less welcoming, and also impact your health! ๐Ÿ˜’

Areas with bad air quality might have nearby things like:

  • Busy nearby roads with lots of traffic, cars, and trucks ๐Ÿš—
  • Factories ๐Ÿญ
  • Dust ๐Ÿ˜ท
  • Mold spores ๐Ÿ„
  • Volcanoes ๐ŸŒ‹
  • Wildfires ๐Ÿ”ฅ

10. Environment ๐Ÿž๏ธ

If the area you live in isn’t looked after, it could soon become an unpleasant place to live. ๐Ÿ˜Ÿ

When looking for places to live you should look at the environment and check for things like:

  • Potholes in the road ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ
  • Sewage ๐Ÿ’ฉ
  • Rubbish ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ
  • Street lighting – (Is there enough lighting at night? Does it work?)
  • Tourists or crowded areas full of people๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘
  • Loud noise ๐Ÿ”Š
  • Abandoned homes ๐Ÿš๏ธ
  • Unpleasant neighbours ๐Ÿ˜ก

Conclusion ๐Ÿ‘

So that’s it!

When looking for a home it’s important to check:

  1. Prices๐Ÿ’ธ
  2. Whatโ€™s nearby? ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ
  3. Transport links๐Ÿš‰
  4. Nearby workplaces ๐Ÿ’ผ
  5. Green spaces๐ŸŒด
  6. Natural disasters ๐Ÿ’ฆ
  7. Crime ๐Ÿฆนโ€โ™€๏ธ
  8. Closeness to your family/friends ๐Ÿ‘ช
  9. Air quality ๐Ÿƒ
  10. Environment ๐Ÿž๏ธ

If you know any friends or family members who might benefit from learning about what to check when deciding where to live, share this post with them!

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