Long-Distance Moving: How to Research Neighborhoods Online

Moving

Whether you’re moving across the country or across the state, it can be hard to find the best house for you in the best neighborhood. For the brunt of your search, you won’t be able to look in-person.

Enter the internet. If you want to make the most informed decision possible about where you’re moving long-distance, you need to use the information that’s literally at your fingertips.

Long-Distance Moving Tips: How to Use the Internet to Find Your New Home

You don’t have to walk into long-distance moving blind. Here are resources to check out so you can thoroughly research and find the right place for you.

1. Read Local Publications to a Get a Sense of the Area

If you want an idea of what’s happening in the neighborhood, look up local publications.

Definitely check out the online news sites for the city or region, but also look up local blogs. This will give you a good picture overall. Note neighborhood events as well as news stories.

Focus on what matters to you. For example, does it seem like there’s a lot of crime reported? Or are there lots of gatherings and community involvement? Are lots of new businesses opening, or are any community improvement projects underway?

2. Research Basic Statistics

Stats will give you a bird’s-eye view of your prospective city and neighborhood. You can look up numbers like crime rates, population density, health stats, the average age of people living in the area, climate averages, and more through the U.S. Census Bureau.

3. Check Walkability Scores

With a tool like Walk Score, you can check out the walkability of any neighborhood or city in the U.S. The site uses data like the number of businesses, shops, and dining spots in the area measured against how easy it is to walk from one place to another. If you like walkability, you can narrow down neighborhoods with better scores.

4. Look at Maps to Prepare for Long-Distance Moving

When evaluating a neighborhood, don’t forget to look at maps of the area. Use your favorite map tool and zoom in on your potential street and the neighborhood. Look at how many parks and schools are close by, how far it is to necessities like the grocery store, the gas station, and the bank, and check out nearby hang-outs, like cafes and shopping centers.

5. Check City Guides

If you want a tourist’s view of your new city, look at city guides. Bloggers, journalists, and other travel writers regularly post them online – all you have to do is type your city name and “guide” into a search engine to find them. These guides provide inside information about the best neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants, and attractions in your city – great information if you’re a newbie.

Get Smart About Long-Distance Moving

Your long-distance move will be a lot easier if you do your homework. Get all the information you need in order to make the wisest, most well-informed decision possible.