Great question! As a father who relocated his family to the Charlottesville area over 12 years ago, I can tell you that I started by looking at schools first. The neighborhood and homes were second and third on my priority list.
Many agents will give you the mantra, Location, Location, Location. This is certainly important, but when you are considering location, schools play a very important factor.
My Kids are Grown
Sometimes I hear this from clients: “My kids are grown, so I don’t care about schools.” You may no longer have children in school, but this will become important because, at some point in time, you will be selling the home you are about to purchase. When you do, if yo’re in a less than desirable school district, this could greatly reduce your buyer pool and the resale value of your home.
Great Home, Great Deal?
Have you ever seen a great home that has been on the market for over a year and seems like such a deal?
You may think that other buyers have simply overlooked this “gem.” Check the schools and you may get the answer.
The Cart before the Horse
So, when you’re searching for a new home, it’s great to view homes online, but if you’re serious about relocating, don’t put the cart before the horse. Define your location, define your school, then your neighborhood choices. The home will present itself to you.
In order to help you find the perfect house in the school districts you’re looking for we have a convenient Charlottesville Homes by School feature link on our Charlottesville Solutions Site. Try it out today!
