How To Choose The Right Neighborhood

 

 

 

How To Choose The Right Neighborhood.

 

And here we are again at Sweet Blog, the sweetest blog online.

The place to be for all fans of the 'Home Concept.'

 

Today, following several questions we received in this regard, we intend to discuss one of the most important issues related to your home:

How to choose the best environment (neighborhood) in which it will be located.

 

The importance of choosing a suitable residential neighborhood cannot be overstated.

It's a critical decision that will affect your and your family's everyday life most directly and essentially possible, so you must make the wisest decisions.

 

Like most things in life, here, too, preparation is an essential key to success.

As Abraham Lincoln once said: "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my axe."

It is precisely what we plan to do in this article - help you with preliminary preparation so you will get the full information to help you make the best decision in this regard.

This article will present the things you must consider when choosing a residential area.

Due to the differences between each person, some of you will be more associated with one argument, while for others, the same argument will be almost irrelevant. That's fine. Nevertheless, Try to extract the information that is particularly relevant to you.

While we're well aware there are plenty of spread online articles on this topic, this one will still be different in that it won't just present you with a 'shopping list' of things you must consider when choosing a place to live. It will do much more - When discussing each parameter, we will also present its less critical aspects, all in order to allow you to deeply examine its advantages and disadvantages and thus be able to make the best decisions for you and your family.

 

As always, later in the article, there will be a refreshing infographic presentation and a video summarizing its content for you.

So what are you waiting for?

 

'How To Choose The Right Neighborhood.'

Hop on!

 

 

1. It's All About The Numbers.

 

 

Joe Bernard show once said:

It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics

 

Preliminary research is one of the most effective tools for properly conducting any process. And it only makes sense that such an action would be of utmost importance concerning our article's topic.

One of the first things you must do as part of checking a potential residential area is to find out about 'Residential Data.'

Some would call it 'Neighborhood Profiling.'

 

'What is it exactly?' You must be asking.

'Neighborhood Data' can provide deep insights concerning a specific residential area. This information may contain, among other things, local demographics, crime rates, public transportation, per capita income, The frequency of arrival/departure to and from the neighborhood (which indicates stability and the desire to stay there), housing, and points of interest.

In addition, the percentage of graduates in the various educational institutions and the ranking of those institutions compared to the national level.

There are many other examples of neighborhood data. Still, the guiding principle is clear - any measurable stats that can reflect on the neighborhood's condition to a certain extent.

Therefore, the first action you need to take as part of your preliminary inquiry about potential neighborhoods is to understand the relevant data in the deepest way. It will help you a lot in formulating your decision.

Once you have received all the statistical information regarding the neighborhood you are considering, you will, without a doubt, be much wiser.

 

Do your homework (with numbers)!

 

'And where do I get this information from?' You might be asking.

Well, Nowadays, this information is easy to obtain.

If you are a US resident, the first place to look is in Uncle Sam's official information.

Here, you will also find another source of information to help you obtain the data in question.

Another excellent source of information is City-Data. It's also very user-friendly, so you will easily get along with it.

Each of these search engines has unique characteristics. Try them all and see what works best for you.

By the way, Although We are fully aware of the well-known downsides of a "cold" view based only on numbers and the lack of the human dimension for decision-making models - We still believe that data-based analysis has considerable weight regarding decision-making processes.

Therefore, obtaining the statistical data regarding the neighborhood that interests you - as part of your preliminary investigation procedure - will be very effective while combining it with the more "human" tools, which we will expand on later.

 

 

 

2. Stay Close.

 

Another equally important component that you need to take into account is the matter of location, And to be more specific - The nearness to places/services required for your daily routine life:

Educational institutions, hospitals, government offices, public transportation, community centers, good supermarkets, family parks, cultural centers, workplaces, etc.

The guiding principle is you must thoroughly analyze Your expected daily routine in order to manage your day effectively and whether the neighborhood you were thinking about is close enough to all those desperately needed services.

Let's say, just for the sake of argument, you will be required to make an exhausting journey every time you need medical treatment since the nearest clinic is an hour's drive from your neighborhood -Sucks!

Suppose the nearest bus stop is about half an hour's walk from your house - be prepared to be frustrated.

And the same goes for the school's distance and more (a lot more).

Please list all the above services and find out exactly how far they are from the neighborhood in which you are considering living.

 

Don't be lazy and measure distances!

 

Don't be shy. Take a piece of paper and a pen and sketch out the distances and locations to clarify the big picture.

Once you've done these calculations and gotten an idea of how far these services are from your potential home, you can make better decisions about how good this neighborhood is for you (at least from that aspect).

Anyway, there is no disputing about the importance of this strategy regarding your question on choosing the 'right' neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

 3. Do Your Homework.

 

Jim Rogers once said:

If you want to be lucky, do your homework.

 

Although everything mentioned above indeed represents to some degree the concept of "doing homework" regarding your future residential neighborhood, this paragraph has "Homework" written all over it.

You should know more about some other technical issues when considering living in a particular neighborhood. It is what we mean by saying "Homework."

1. Are development plans or extensive infrastructure works scheduled for your area?

No need to panic. It's a simple inquiry to conduct at your municipal offices (construction planning department). If such works are indeed planned, you must know about them in advance since they can make the lives of any residents a living hell.

2. Are there enough parking spots around your neighborhood?

Trust us, the last thing you want to do at the end of an exhausting day at work is tirelessly look for parking just to finally find one somewhere in Kathmandu.

It can be checked simply by a pleasant night walk.

2. Does the cellular reception in the neighborhood in question remind you of Manhattan or Iraq during the Gulf War?

This clarification can simply be checked by taking a long walk in the neighborhood with your mobile phone.

3. The quality of municipal services:

Garbage removal/local water and electricity companies/cleaning services, and more - do they meet your standards?

 

Ask the right questions and be prepared!

 

Although these are only a few examples, the guiding principle is quite clear - You must ask as many questions as possible, and getting the correct answers will give you the essential technical information regarding the neighborhood in question.

Remember - Knowledge is power! This way, you can be more competent and consider the area's suitability in a more balanced way.

We encourage you to consider more questions like the above, which will give you a clearer view of the services provided within your potential neighborhood.

Indeed, thoroughly gathering information is required if - 'How to choose the right neighborhood?' - is a question you find interesting.

 

 

 

4. Take A Walk.

 

There is a well-known folk saying:

The best way to get to know an area is through your feet.

 

The quote meaning is that in the end, despite the online inquiries and materials/magazine reading, there is no better way to get to know a particular area than a simple walk.

Pick yourself up for a moment from the couch/computer or whatever else you're doing and take a long walk within the neighborhood you're interested in checking out.

For starters, no talking is necessary, only observation. Just Walk through the streets/between the houses/nearby markets - And try to notice 'things' quietly and deeply. 

Despite the meteoric progress of technology, there are things in which there is no substitute for the human touch. A walking tour will provide an accurate and comprehensive idea of all the "cold" neighborhood data you have already processed at home.

 



just take a walk and observe!

 

By the way, we need to emphasize that despite the "natural romanticism" of these walks, there are still clear instructions.

For this tool to be effective, the required number of walks is at least three.

At first, you should walk without any definite purpose or goal. Just try to 'feel' the neighborhood vibe without wanting to discover anything.

Trust us, even before all the data and questions, what your soul will feel is your first and most important deal breaker.

After the neighborhood passed the "Soul test," It's time to come up with the "tough" questions.

Be focused! All those things you could not find out from a distance, with the help of the stats and data, will now become clearer during your walks. 

After the above two, it's time for irreplaceable human interaction.

Go to parks/places of social gathering/take local taxis for short trips (taxi drivers are pretty chatty, They can be quite handy for the details you are looking for), and have a polite conversation with residents/shop owners, etc.

Tell them you are considering moving in and would love to hear their honest and unfiltered opinion about the area.

You'd be surprised to hear how vital of a resource this can be.

Sometimes, a good tip or two from a local can shed light on the neighborhood in ways you don't understand and practically save you from making a life-changing mistake. At the end of the day, they are the ones who live there and know best.

That way, you can also get to know your neighbors before you arrive, which is a huge bonus.

By the way, such an inquiry can also be made on social media online. However, it differs from the physical meeting for its many advantages.

We have no doubt that doing so will massively help you determine how to choose the right neighborhood for you and your family.

 

 

After reading this article - 'How To Choose The Right Neighborhood.' - we hope your search for a residential neighborhood will be much more efficient and easy.

And if you still encounter difficulties, our Sweet crib community is always here for you.

By the way, have you already checked our collections page today?

If not. What are you waiting for?

 

 

 

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