Moving to a new area, neighborhood is exciting, but it is always a wise idea to find out as much as possible about the area before you decide to make the big move. Who lives in the neighborhood? What are the crime rates like? Do the people here look out for one another? Is it friendly? Getting answers to all of these questions will make it easier for you to determine if this is the right place for you and your family to live.
Some Key Safety Checks Before Moving to a New Area-
Find Out About the Neighbors-
People might appear nice and fairly normal at first glance, but the truth is that you never know what they might be hiding behind closed doors. Doing your research into the neighborhood will help you uncover if any of your potential new neighbors are hiding secrets or have unsavory pasts that you would not want around your family. For example, you can check the sex offender’s register to determine if there are any convicted sex offenders living nearby, and use Nuwber to find any criminal records for the people who you will be living close to.
Pay a Visit-
Paying a casual visit to the neighborhood is an ideal way for you to find out what a normal day there is like. In addition, doing this can also help you get a better idea of what to expect when it comes to neighborhood safety and how much you can expect your potential new neighbors to look out for you. If you’re in your car on the street and somebody comes out to ask you what you are doing there, this is a good sign that you’re going to be living in an area where people are attentive, notice things that are out of the ordinary and aren’t afraid to check on things that don’t seem quite right.
Check Crime Rates-
You can easily go online to find out more about the crime rates in the neighborhood and the type of crimes that are typically committed here more than others. Determining whether the neighborhood has a reputation for burglaries, car thefts, or drug crimes, for example, can help you make an informed decision about whether or not you still want to move there – and how you are going to proceed if you do. For example, if car thefts are common, you might want to consider opting for a house with a secure garage or getting CCTV and gate locks installed in your new home to deter these crimes from happening to you.
Check for Deterrents-
Finally, when you are visiting and looking around the neighborhood, keep your eye out for any signs of deterrents that are in place to put off potential criminals. Is the area well-lit? Do many houses have CCTV cameras and good home security systems? Is there a neighborhood watch group in place? Neighborhoods that have a lot of deterrents in place tend to suffer lower crime rates compared to those that do not. If homes have motion sensor lights at the sides and back of buildings, there is good street lighting, and lots of CCTV cameras in the area, chances are that thieves and other criminals are not going to see this neighborhood as an easy target and will stay away.