9 Things need to Know When Moving to a New Neighborhood

15 December 2017

Moving to a new neighborhood can be daunting. Just because a neighborhood looks inviting does not necessarily mean peace of mind. Ever gone phone shopping without knowing the specifications and how it will meet your needs? Shopping blind means you may go home with something less than ideal for your needs.

The same goes for looking for a new neighborhood to move in. You can’t call your agent after moving in a couple of days to say you do not like the place. Before you sign a lease or mortgage do your homework first.

Thanks to the internet, you don’t have to worry about how to find a job based on your geolocation. I mean, online Ghanaian job postings for employers have facilitated the search for jobs.

Nevertheless, searching for the neighborhood of your dreams means you have to consider a lot of other things. For instance, you might want to consider safety, amenities, architectural style, just to name a few.

These are some questions to ask yourself before moving to a new neighborhood. These questions will help you to streamline your search in finding the perfect neighborhood with your specifications.

Question 1

Does the neighborhood have sidewalks?

Reason

A lot of people do not think of sidewalks when searching for a new neighborhood. Sidewalks actually say a lot about the neighborhood. Sidewalks suggest an active presence of your neighbors. It means amenities are easily accessible either by walking or jogging.

Sidewalks also mean the neighborhood is safer. This is because you are less likely to get hit by a car when taking a stroll. The safety of sidewalks makes it extremely desirable especially if you have children and pets.

Question 2

Do you have to take care of taxes and other expenses?

Reason

Most often than not, we focus on buying a home but forget additional expenses. These costs should be an important factor in your decision to move to a new neighborhood. For instance, you may be responsible for your pricey home owner’s association fees when moving to a condo or country club. Some of these fees come with rules so you need to understand these before making a decision. If the association forbids parking of motorcycles in driveways and you happen to own one, it is time to consider.

Property taxes are another important cost people overlook particularly if you escrow and pay as part of your mortgage payment. Property taxes are taxed based on the value of your home. Therefore, they can increase if you escrow which changes your monthly payment. Prepare yourself to make sure your budget can handle such increment.

On the other hand, if you decide to move to a declining housing market, your taxes may decrease. It has its own perks as well. Moving to such a neighborhood means less access to good public services.

Question 3

Does the neighborhood have amenities for you and/or your family to indulge in activities?

Reason

This is a pretty obvious question. Whether you’re single, have a family with children or is retired with your spouse pretty much sums up what you should look out for in a neighborhood. You will want a new neighborhood that has everything to suit your lifestyle.

For families with children, they might be interested in communities with parks, a swimming pool, libraries, and others. A young single person with a dog might want a neighborhood with a dog park or bike trails. If you enjoy a good movie at the cinema and you have to drive a long distance to access one from the new neighborhood you might want to reconsider.

On the other hand, a new neighborhood may not have some amenities. You will have to compromise in some situations. Make sure the necessary basic amenities are within your reach.

Question 4

Does the neighborhood provide you with convenience?

Reason

Convenience is walking to a shopping center nearby and accomplishing several errands within a very short period. Convenience is getting easy access to stores you frequently visit. The biggest convenience is the ease to commute to work daily.

In other words, the more convenient your neighborhood is, the more it affects your happiness. Moving to a neighborhood that has your favorite stores within reach is a plus. Not only do you save money on gas, but you also get to patronize these services at your own time.

Ask yourself this, do I have to double my commute trip to work or to school if I move to this neighborhood? Is it really worth that trouble?

Question 5

What are your plans for the future?

Reason

The neighborhood may look great in the present but may be liable to change in the future. In a neighborhood you move into, living in the here and now may be a good outlook on life. However, it does not necessarily mean a good neighbourhood.

Check with your local planning office about future developments in your area. It is because you may not want to purchase a new home only to find out it’s in the middle of a new community college. Visiting the planning office and inform you of any future construction project that will affect the neighborhood.

So you like the quiet private nature of the neighborhood with mature trees lined up along each side. Probably in the future, these trees will be cut down to build another subdivision. So even if your lot is not directly affected, it may impact the serene environment you’ve come to love. All this may affect your decision of moving to the neighborhood.

Question 6

Is the neighborhood situated in a noisy place or has a bad smell?

Reason

Your well being and health is one important factor when choosing a neighborhood to move into. Visiting the neighborhood several times during the day is extremely important. On paper, the place might be a perfect fit for you, but visiting the place will reveal its secrets.

The perfectly lined trees behind the house may be hiding a major road. Train tracks, restaurants, clubs and all that create noise that may be a menace. These bothersome noises will never go away. So while you may get used to them is a gamble.

In addition, in the eventuality that you want to move from the place, it is usually harder to sell a place with so much noise. While you are listening, you may want to get a good whiff of the air in the neighborhood. A stagnant lake, sewage problems, and even a corner BBQ joint can create some odors that do not go away.

Question 7

What is the crime rate in the neighborhood?

Reason

This is for your own sake and safety. You do not want your new home to feel like you are trapped in a war zone. It is also easier to know the crime rate of the neighborhood as they are many websites available for that.

This makes it especially easier for you to decide if you are stuck between two neighborhood choices. If you find a neighborhood you love and to your dismay, you find it has a questionable crime rat, you should speak to your local police office for more details. It could be just a small area away from your new home acting as a crime magnet.

Question 8

Are they good schools?

Reason

This is a very important question to ask if you have children. The presence of public and private schools from kindergarten to high schools affect the value of a home. If you do not have children, it is very important to understand that the quality of the school system in that area will affect the resale of your home.

Also, good schools may add unnecessary costs to your rent if you do not have children. If you do have children, research about the school by seeking advice from fellow parents in the neighborliness. Most schools give tours as well, so might want to take advantage of this. Also, inquire about school activities and extra-curricular activities the school permits.

Question 9

What is the neighborhood culture?

Reason

So you’ve found a neighborhood that fits your budget, has low crime rates, great reviews and all that, what of the culture? Your dream neighbourhood isn’t about statistics and information, is about how the place makes you feel.

If you are used to a hip urban neighborhood, you may not be happy in a quiet, family-oriented neighborhood. Doing so means you have to compromise on some things if that’s your wish. The bottom line is, you won’t be happy moving to a neighborhood that does not fit your lifestyle.

Make sure the neighborhood you choose has the right culture, then other pieces may fall into place.

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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Edmonton Landscape Maintenance Tips

A healthy and well-maintained Edmonton landscape comes with a sense of formality, stability, and elegance. One of the best ways to contribute to the value of your property is through a healthy landscape. It also improves the total appearance of one’s neighbourhood. A healthy landscape also provides your family with a safe, natural surface where they can relax and play. Your children will also have a place for picnics, to play or aimlessly wander around to enjoy the garden. Your landscaping requires some ongoing maintenance to make it tidy and presentable even after many years. You can maintain your landscape by keeping it healthy to be beneficial to your environment by following these few simple tips. Top Dress Your Lawn: Make plans ahead for the coming of spring. Be sure to top dress your lawn during the early fall. You can make use of topsoil or a thin layer of compost for this. This is also the most favorable time to include grass seed in your lawn. With the use of slow-release fertilizers or compost, the growth of your lawn will be promoted against the next spring. Watering: Watering your lawn deeply helps to encourage deep roots. There is no specification about the amount of water to apply on an Edmonton landscape because it depends on the type of temperature, mowing height, wind, soil type, species of grass and some other factors. Use a rain gauge to sprinkle water. An inch is generally considered to be an adequate soaking but makes sure to add more water to south-facing slopes and high spots areas. Shady areas with less than 4 hours of sunlight per day should receive less water. Make sure to water early morning since you won’t lose much water to wind and evaporation. Doing it in the after wastes a lot of water Mowing: It is true that buzz-cutting your lawn makes it look really cool, like a golf green, but in the long run, the health of your lawn will suffer. Not only will a short lawn dry out and quickly burn, but it not have the ability to combat invasive weeds. Be sure to sharpen your blades every spring and slightly set them higher. The root system of your lawn is only as efficient and deep as the length of your grass’ blades. This is why your lawn should about preferably 2.5 to 3 inches high when you mow it. Go For Durable Materials: The landscape is all about plants for majority of home gardeners but another way to contribute to the ease of maintenance is through a good landscaping. This is why you need to spend some quality time to research the maintenance requirement of the materials you use and their durability. Check the pathways, edging, decking and so on. You should consider the ability of your materials when it comes to withstanding the extremes of your climate during your materials selection process. Conclusion: Everyone leads a busy lifestyle with sports, work, hobbies, school, housekeeping, and the lists appears endless, which is why a lot of house owners don’t have enough time to fiddle with endless blooms that are deadhead or with fussy plants. If you decide to do your landscaping work yourself, you should go for more easy-care plants, which will require minimal maintenance of your landscape and less hours of work. However, if you don’t really enjoy yard work and also have small extra dollars to spend, you can pay for the services of others such as Terra Nova Edmonton to do the work for you. This means you can as well include labour-intensive plants. The services of a professional also ensure good design, diverse and beautiful Edmonton landscape without you sacrificing several hours of your previous time. Read Also: Landscape Edging In Sandy/Beach Areas Create A Stunning Outdoor Space With These Residential Landscape Lighting Tips

Interior Designing: A Great Art To Make Your Home Look Beautiful

Home is the most exquisite place, one can imagine living in. Have you ever thought, what makes home a desirable living place? Obviously, people residing in it and the other significant thing is its interior design. The way you keep the design reflects your personality on your guests. As per the studies, if you want to discover someone personality. You don’t have to evaluate their past, just simply pop in their house and see what type of interior they got and you will get your answer right away. It’s good to be choosy when it comes to decor your home interior. There are numerous tricks which are available to transform your home interior design: Use bright colors: Choosing the right amount of color for your room is an art. But they are the most significant component, in terms of interior designing. If you have a smaller room, it would be ideal to go with a bright color. By practicing this you would be able to get a new and spacious look for your room. This technique has been used by a seamless number of people and the review they got after was remarkable. Use decorative mirror: The living area is the center of attraction for the guests. That’s the first meeting point, where you can entertain your guests. You have a great opportunity to leave a remarkable impact while not hampering your budget. A small improvisation can bring the difference even. By simply hanging a decorative mirror on the wall, you will get a completely new look of your living space. Read also: Convex Mirror – An Essential Thing For Your Daily Needs Hang beautiful chandeliers: Hanging chandeliers, either in your living space or in your bedroom provides good lighting experience and bring a glow to your home. Procuring them can be considered as a right time investment. Numerous design with varieties of lighting option is available to obtain. Some innovative and creative designed chandeliers will desperately draw your jaws and it would be hard for you to resist without them. Read also: Different Types Of Conversions To Make The Most Of Spare Space In Your Homes Custom old Antiques: Everybody loves the products which speak out the long tale of history. And keeping antiques in your home, for decorative purpose, you can provide a different and unique look to it. Antiques, you can procure in the form of statue and furniture as per your home interior requirement. Designed curtains: Curtains play a very crucial role vast range of curtains are available to lift up the spirit of your home interior. As per the experts, bright color curtains provide more charm. But still, it is an individual choice, what they prefer to have. LED or dim Lights: Believe it or not, but LED can change the night view of your home Interior. These lights are easy to get install and their lighting can be adjusted as per the requirement. The ideal spot to get them installed would be either in your bedroom or in the living space. Their frequency of lighting can be adjusted as per your requirement. Read also: 5 Perfect Ways To Create Size Illusion In Room With Home Accessories Artificial Flowers: This is the most effective and economical way to decorate the home interior. These artificial flowers can be easily available from your local shop. You don’t have to devote your time to caring them such as watering, trimming the extra branches and all. Most of them are available in numerous fragrance. Spot them on your center table, so that fragrance can spread evenly. Home decoration is an essential part of life and which needs to be modified from time to time. As per the latest trends, some affordable methods have been searched by me. You can try the up-mentioned method and see the difference all sudden. Read More: Home Decor Is An Art Itself – Things To Know How To Make Your Home Look Like A Splendid Hotel? Interiors To Reduce The Heat Build-Up In Your Homes

10 ways to preserve your carpet’s beautiful design

When carpets are new, they stand out because every fiber is clean and flawless. However, as people walk on carpeting, the condition of its fibers changes, and this makes the pile less appealing. Carpet cleaning Environmental elements can affect a carpet's beauty as well by covering various fibers with microscope contaminants. If you want to keep your carpet in optimum condition in order to maintain its beauty, you'll need to follow 10 steps. 1. Vacuum: Dust and dirt gradually build up on carpet material. If a dirt or dust layer is very thick, it will make a carpet dull. To extract dust and dirt, clean your carpet with a powerful vacuum twice a month. While vacuuming, push the vacuum horizontally. Then, position the unit so that you can clean the carpet again vertically. The number of passes will vary depending on the carpet's condition. Select the best carpet cleaning technique can make things easier for you. 2. Prevent Mud and Dirt Stains: Most shoes have grooves that produce mud stains. If mud dries underneath a pair of shoes, it turns into dirt, and these particles can ruin your beautiful carpets. This is why you must place a mat that has stiff fibers near the front door. If everyone brushes their shoes against the bristles before entering your home, the carpets will stay clean. The dense bristles on the mat will wipe away any mud or dirt that lingers on everyone's shoe soles. 3. Clean Spills Quickly: When someone spills a beverage on your carpet, clean up the liquid fast. If you wait until the beverage dries, you'll have problems removing the stain. To clean up a spilled beverage, grab a paper towel, and dab it on the carpet fibers. Don't rub the towel on the carpet because you'll push the liquid down into nooks and crannies around threads. Whenever you need help eliminating a tough stain, treat the spot with soapy water. Then, dab a clean paper towel on the stain. 4. Keep Pets Off Delicate Carpets: Pets that spend a lot of time outdoors shouldn't relax on your carpeting until they take a bath. The big problem is that pets have fur that holds dust and dirt. If contaminated fur touches tall carpet fibers, dirt will transfer onto the carpeting, and some particles may reach the bottom of the pile if a pet rolls or sleeps on the material. 5. Change the Furniture Layout Occasionally: Furniture that's very heavy can damage delicate carpeting. Typically, the degree of damage is influenced by the length of time that a piece of furniture stays in one spot. The legs on hefty furniture can cause severe damage; they usually create crevices that make carpeting unappealing. In order to keep the fibers springy, simply change the layout of your furniture twice a year. If you can't move your furniture because space is limited, invest in rugs with patterns that compliment your main carpeting. Place these rugs underneath the heaviest furniture to give your carpet a layer of protection. 6. Pull the Fibers: Over time, as heavy furniture is pushed around a space, some areas of a carpet will buckle. If a carpet is very weak, ripples will also develop in isolated zones. These problems won't go away until someone pulls the fibers. Whenever you find rippling or buckling, implement procedures to correct the problems before creasing occurs. Creases can make the most attractive carpets less appealing because they create elevated zones that are tacky. To get rid of buckles and ripples quickly, let a seasoned carpet technician tackle the job. A professional can stretch out the carpet safely and efficiently without damaging the material. 7. Paint Interior Zones Strategically: Paint can ruin a carpet if it drops on its fibers. You'll have to deal with bigger problems if you accidentally smear paint on the fibers or step on a layer of spilled paint. Once pressure is applied to paint, it will adhere to the fibers more efficiently, and the process of cleaning it up will be very challenging. Whenever you're going to paint the interior walls around your home, you must prepare the space for the job. Place your paint cans and trays on a high counter or shelf so that no one will accidentally spill paint on your carpeting. While painting elevated areas, never coat your brushes or rollers will excessive paint. This strategy will prevent splattering as you apply coats on the high ceilings and walls. 8. Lease Carpet Cleaning Equipment: Deep cleaning is an essential cleaning job. The equipment makes a carpet beautiful by washing soiled areas with a soapy formula. As the water soaks the fibers with rich soapy water, a brush loosens the dirt by spinning against the carpet material. After a carpet is deep cleaned, no dirt lingers on its surfaces because a deep cleaning unit extracts the dirty water into a convenient tank. 9. Replace Air Filters: Air conditioning equipment uses ducts that can direct pollution into a home. However, all air duct systems are able to block contaminants before they enter a home using filters. When a filter is dirty, it must be replaced in a timely manner. If you replace your air filter regularly, thin layers of dust won't generate on your carpeting. Filters are the best carpet cleaning technique to make proper use of it. Carpet cleaning can make things easier for you to achieve your objectives. 10. Hang Blinds: The sun produces very harsh UV rays that can damage delicate carpeting. If a carpet is a light color, intense heat from the sun can create noticeable spots on the carpet. By hanging blinds on multiple windows, you'll shield sunlight and protect your carpeting. Car cleaning can make your ambiance more aesthetic than before. Read Also: Run Cleaning In Dallas: Why A Professional Cleaner Is Better Five Ways To Improve The Air Quality Inside Your Home Benefits Of Having A Cordless Vacuum Cleaner At Home

9 Things need to Know When Moving to a New Neighborhood

Question 1

Does the neighborhood have sidewalks?

Reason

Question 2

Do you have to take care of taxes and other expenses?

Reason

Question 3

Does the neighborhood have amenities for you and/or your family to indulge in activities?

Reason

Question 4

Does the neighborhood provide you with convenience?

Reason

Question 5

What are your plans for the future?

Reason

Question 6

Is the neighborhood situated in a noisy place or has a bad smell?

Reason

Question 7

What is the crime rate in the neighborhood?

Reason

Question 8

Are they good schools?

Reason

Question 9

What is the neighborhood culture?

Reason

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I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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