What to consider when moving

If you’re getting ready to move, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Remember the fundamentals with this checklist to find the place that's right for you.

What do you most desire in your new community? Do you envision a bustling urban region with museums, cafes, boutiques, and other events that will fill your calendar every night? Do you envision living in a quiet area with more privacy and a slower pace of life?

If you currently have or are planning to have children, what are the educational options in the prospective community? Does the public school system have a good or poor reputation? Are there private schools within a reasonable drive if the public schools are lacking in quality?

If you haven’t found a job in your new locale, it’s tough to plan this aspect. Otherwise, consider how commuting will affect your overall quality of life. Do you despise driving long distances to and from work, or is this a relaxing time for you to unwind from the cares of your day?

Every household’s requirements for a home will be different. Know what you are not willing to settle on (your requirements) and what is negotiable (the options). For most people, having at least one bathroom is a requirement, but having solar panels on the roof is an option. Discern what your needs and wants are to find the right home for this next phase of your life.

If your household enjoys a two-person income, that’s wonderful, but life has a way of handing us the unexpected. Don’t plan to always be able to use both incomes to finance your new home. Try this: plan a preliminary budget for the purchase of your new home with just one income earned. Is it radically different from what you already had in mind? Regardless of the approach you choose, set a sticker price that you can easily fund, even if you live in the home longer than expected.