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I've seen mixed opinions on the advantages/disadvantages of visiting before moving. For those of you who have done this, do you have certain questions lined up so you can compare? I know it's a good way to get a general feel for a place but I've also read that visiting a week doesn't really tell you much about how it would be to live there. Is it worth the expense or not really?
I do think having housing lined up beforehand is a plus but that can be done without visiting beforehand (at least for a rental)
This would be where a job is assured, so not totally blind.
I've seen mixed opinions on the advantages/disadvantages of visiting before moving. For those of you who have done this, do you have certain questions lined up so you can compare? I know it's a good way to get a general feel for a place but I've also read that visiting a week doesn't really tell you much about how it would be to live there. Is it worth the expense or not really?
I do think having housing lined up beforehand is a plus but that can be done without visiting beforehand (at least for a rental)
This would be where a job is assured, so not totally blind.
I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't be worth the expense.
You need to do things you can't do online.
Practice commutes during normal commute hours.
Walk up and down the street and knock on doors and ask questions that are important to you "Does this neighborhood have lots of kids? How many? Which homes?" for example, if you have kids and you want playmates for them.
Map out the ten places you'd visit for 90% of errands: grocery, walmart/target, home depot/lowes, pharmacy, doctors, gas stations, etc. What will this drive be like?
Drive around every block within a two or three block radius and identify anything that might bug you. For example, Is there a cement mixing plant nearby that releases dozens of big, smelly, loud, slow trucks onto your road every morning?
Any crappy neighbors who park their cars on the lawn, have a 100 foot ham radio antenna, boat in the driveway with an ugly blue tarp, etc?
Visit in person the elementary school: walk around, do the kids look engaged and cheerful, are the restrooms really clean, etc? Visit at the end of day when the parents are picking up their kids. You will see people in your community you will be interfacing with for the next ten years. Do you like what you see? Are they your "type"? Do they look snobby? Trashy? Professional? etc.
Hello, we are trying to relocate to Franklin county in Ohio.
How do converse with others here from that area? (if any)?
Thanks so much. Im not even sure how to "start a thread". 1st timer on forums etc.
Hello, we are trying to relocate to Franklin county in Ohio.
How do converse with others here from that area? (if any)?
Thanks so much. Im not even sure how to "start a thread". 1st timer on forums etc.
My brother in law lives in New Albany/Gahanna there.
It depends of course on how much it will cost for the pre-visit, how long you plan to stay in the area, and what matters to you.
When I worked contract at various nuclear plants around the country, I was alone, I rented a cheap house or apt. convenient to work, and didn't care about neighborhoods, schools, etc. etc. I was there to work the contract, get my loot, and hit the road to the next job. So I just showed up with my stuff in a U-Haul and found an apt.
When I moved out here, I stayed a few days after my interview trip, and scouted out the area pretty thoroughly. But I was planning on staying.
Offhand unless the pre-visit is really expensive, or there are no real choices on a place to live given the job, or if you are just passing through, I'd do the pre-visit if I could.
we can tell within a very short period of time if we want to live in a place soon after our feet have hit the ground there. you either like a place and see yourself there or not. so I vote yes. I was ready to move to costa rica sight unseen. we did take a trip there and by the first afternoon I knew I couldn't live there.
Thanks for the opinions. In our case, its expensive (though cheaper than making a mistake) because of the details getting from a smaller city to a smaller city so lots of connections, added hotel stops, pet boarding, etc. Schools aren't a consideration, just have to be in city limits for the program my one needs. I've had the same experience as hohulamaui - whatever my first instinct is about a place usually proves accurate. And I have found you might not get the whole story about the specifics from far away. Since it would be somewhat complicated I was wondering what other people who've done a pre-visit's experience had been like.
We spent a weekend in the area we were considering. Drove around within a 25 mile radius, checked out shopping in the various areas, including cost of items, medical facilities, taxes, and one important factor was what there was to do in the area: cultural, community, etc.
I agree with OP, you need to go with your first instinct.
I would insist on visiting first! I have traveled for pleasure and business all over the US. Every city has it's own 'feel'. There are places that I would never live, just because they didn't feel right - maybe it was an attitude or architecture thing - it may be strange to some. You can tell a lot about a neighborhoods and community just by visiting the local stores - 7-11, restaurants and grocery.
You really have to drive into the neighborhoods though and get off the interstates.
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New here & completely lost.
