5 Tips for Those Relocating with Children to the Daytona Beach Area
by: Jacqueline Bodnar

Relocating anywhere can be a stressful time. But if you have children in tow it can make things that much more challenging and gives you more to consider. The last thing you want to do is to move your child into an area that you quickly realize was not a kid-friendly community, or that they are zoned for schools that don’t have a good reputation. Like any county in the country, there are good and not-so-good places in the county. Doing your homework first will help you land in one of the areas you won’t regret! 

If you have children you will want to consider the following:

• Schools. This is one of the most important things to consider if you have children and are relocating. You want to make sure you are comfortable with the school that your child will be zoned for. Check out this file for the 2014 school grades and accountability information for Volusia County elementary and middle schools. In addition to the statistical information, you can have a question posted on the Volusia County Moms Facebook page to find out how parents feel about a particular school.
• Communities. There are plenty of options to choose from, but you will need to know if you want to live in a rural area with some acreage or you want to live in a community. Plus, you may want to drive through the community on a weekend to determine if it’s a family friendly one. Some communities may have a higher senior population, with fewer young children. If this is an important issue for you, be sure to check it out ahead of time.
• Activities. Depending on the types of activities that your child engages in, this may also have some influence over the area that you choose to live in. For example, if your family is into surfing and your child is going to be taking surf classes, you may want to live within a closer distance to the ocean. Consider where the activities are that you will be frequenting, so you can take that into your planning now, rather than curse it later when you are driving all over the place.
• Crime. When you are considering any area of the county you should always consider the crime in the area. This is an important aspect, especially if you have children who will be relocating with you. Log onto Crime Reports and input the address of any place you are considering moving to. You can change the dates, so it goes back for several months, and shows all types of crime near that address. Also, check for sex offenders living nearby by going here.
• Expert. Whether you are looking to rent or purchase a home, be sure to hook up with an expert in real estate. Choose someone who knows the area well and has a good reputation. You can find them here in the VCM Marketplace. Let the agent know you have children, so they can help show you communities that will be best for your family.

Moving with children may give you more to think about, but if you do your homework prior to the move you should be just fine. The most important thing is getting them into a neighborhood where you feel safe and where they will be going to schools you are comfortable with. Beyond that, the rest should fall into place!