Moving can be stressful. We all know it. As excited as you surely are to be finding your new home in Richmond, there are a lot of important decisions to be made, and many of them aren't easy.

If you're a parent, there may be no more important decision than where your children go to school. That means you need to find not only the perfect home in the area, but also the perfect school. We understand the challenges, which is why our real estate agents are eager to share these tips for finding the right school.

6 Tips for Finding the Perfect School

There are two basic strategies for finding a great school in a new city. Either you can find your dream home and then look for great schools nearby, or you can find your dream school and then look for great homes nearby. Either option can work for you, but it's good to start out with a solid plan of attack.

1. Do Your Homework
   It would be great if you could actually see each school ahead of time in person if you can, by all means do – but that can be difficult if you're moving from across the state, or even across the country. Luckily, there are a lot of online resources that can help you learn more about schools, and find the one that's just right for your kids. Greatschools.org is an excellent resource for finding the highest-ranked schools in any given city, while NeighborhoodScout.com breaks cities down into neighborhoods and provides detailed information on each neighborhood, from school rankings to crime statistics.
   
   
2. Look Beyond Test Scores
   It's easy to browse through online information about schools and make snap decisions based on how well each school ranks in terms of standardized test scores. But don't be too hasty. Just because one school is a few points lower test-wise doesn't mean that school doesn't have great teachers, wouldn't be a good fit socially, or isn't located in a great neighborhood. Don't ignore test scores completely, but remember that they aren't the only factor.
   
   
3. List Your Needs and Wants
   Every child has different needs and every parent has different ideas of what their child's needs are. So take the time to really think out what you're looking for in a new school – a great arts program, lots of extra-curricular activities, top-ranked athletic teams, small classroom sizes? Make a list of "must-haves" and "like-to-haves" that you can use to objectively evaluate each school.
   
   
4. Contact the Schools
   Calling up a school and asking questions is a great way to get a feel for what a school really offers. Talk to a principal or school administrator, and have all the questions you want to ask written down so you don't forget any. Remember to ask about things beyond academics. Does the school have a lot of after-school activities? How do they handle bullying?
   
   
5. Have Reasonable Financial Expectations
   If money is no object, that's great; but if you live in the real world, you know that there's a limit to what you can pay for your new home. You probably also know that the best schools aren't always located in the areas with the cheapest housing. You shouldn't have to settle for a home or a school that you're not entirely satisfied with, but the process will be easier if you know what you can afford, and keep that information in mind moving forward.
   
   
6. Talk to Your Real Estate Agent
   An experienced real estate agent is arguably the best resource you have for learning all there is to know about your new city, neighborhood, and home. The agents at Napier ERA have a wealth of knowledge that will make it easier to find the ideal school for your kids, and we're always happy to help!

Contact Napier ERA today to learn more about the process of relocating to Richmond, VA. Our team is here to help you every step of the way, from locating your dream home to living your new life to its fullest!