5 Ways to Make Sure You Choose a Safe Neighborhood

Are you looking to move? Do you want to find a safe and secure neighborhood to start or grow your family? When you live with children or you want to prioritize safety in your life, you want to choose a community that offers enhanced security features, like gated communities with gate access. However, if this is not in your budget, you still want to look for a neighborhood that is safe for your family. These are a few ways that you can make sure you choose a safe neighborhood.

Do Some Research

There are many websites that can help you choose a safe neighborhood. Sites like the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which will tell you about the crime in any neighborhood, are great for giving you real-time data about particular areas. You can do your research by searching for crime rates, sex offenders, and overall area safety online.

Check the Police Presence

While you want an area to be watched over by the authorities, you should also view it as a red flag if they are constantly present in a particular neighborhood. Seeing a cop pass by a neighborhood every once in a while is normal, but when they do this each day, you know you are in a bad area. If there is high police activity in a particular area, you should try to look elsewhere for your next home.

Look for Bustling Storefronts

When you want to move into a safe neighborhood, you should check the local shopping districts to see how busy they are. While you may not want the busiest street, you should check to see that storefronts are occupied and vibrant. If you notice abandoned stores, vacant parking lots, and loitering or graffiti, you should take this as a sign that you are in an older, outdated, or unsafe neighborhood. Choose areas that are thriving so that you know they are frequently visited by customers and safe for shoppers to enjoy.

Look for Kids Playing Outside

As you drive through prospective neighborhoods, you should look for people spending their time outdoors. When you see kids running in the streets, playing in their yards, or having fun with their friends, you know that parents deem their neighborhood safe enough for their children to play. This is a great sign that your neighborhood is both friendly, exciting, and safe.

Ask about Neighborhood Watch Groups

Many neighborhoods that pride themselves on their safety will take action to maintain that level of security. Ask for neighborhoods that have watch groups, which means that neighbors take an active role in surveillance of the community to keep it safe. When you want to live in a safe community, you should always talk to those who already live there to determine whether they also take pride and precautions to keep the area safe. You want neighbors that take an active role in reporting suspicious behavior to prevent crimes in the area.

By taking these steps, you can choose a safe neighborhood for your next home. If you want to hear more about our software solutions for gate access and community life, contact Safehouse Systems to hear more today.