Moving to a new city can be exciting and worrying at the same time. And when you do it with your family, those sentiments heighten. After all, Sydney is a popular Australian city with almost five million inhabitants and millions of tourists each year.
These numbers make people think very carefully about which neighborhood would be the perfect fit for their family. So, if you are facing this dilemma, here is how to choose the right place in Sydney to move to with your family.
1. Do some research
Go on the Internet and start doing a comprehensive research. Look for the topics that include a detailed description of Sydney suburbs and people’s recommendations. Try to find as many information as you can on the neighborhoods that made it to the shortlist. Look for the safety issues, parks and schools in the areas that will help you decide to move your family there.
If you know someone in Australia, ask them for an opinion and recommendations as well. It’s always the best to ask locals for advice and it will also help you to figure out prices of real estate. Additionally, see what you can expect from a legal standpoint in order to prepare everything for a smooth transition.
2. Find the right schools
If you have kids, this means that you will have to think about schools. Now, the education system varies from country to country, so be prepared for this as well. Australia’s school education only slightly varies from state to state and between territories.
Primary school lasts seven or eight years and starts in the Kindergarten with the Preparatory level. The secondary school has three or four years, which are referred to as Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10. And in the end, there is the senior secondary school which lasts for two years which are called Years 11 and 12.
Schools’ official language is English, although some offer bilingual programs for foreign students. When it comes to studying in Sydney, the city offers a variety of high-end colleges and universities recognized globally. With the Australian Qualifications Framework, students can move easily from one study level to another, and even change institution to fulfill their academic desires.
3. Consider house sitting
While renting and buying are the obvious options for your family, think about the third one as well. House sitting appeared on the market as a viable and affordable alternative that might help you find your bearing in Sydney. This way you can save for a deposit to buy a home for your family, or save up some money to rent the perfect place.
In most cases, you won’t have to pay the bills as well so this does sound like an ideal option for those who are not financially ready to rent or buy. Additionally, this is a reasonable solution if you need to be in Sydney at a certain period and you still haven’t sold your home to buy a new one. So, include this into your research as well.
4. Hire a reliable real estate agent
A good real estate agent can save you a lot of trouble, stress, and money. However, to choose the one that best fits your needs is a process. There are a lot of quality real estate agents Sydney has to offer and it may take some time to pick the one.
This is also a perfect time to rely on recommendations and online reviews, but check the realtor’s social profile and business page as well. Conduct series of video calls to interview the potential real estate agencies and narrow the list of candidates. This is a process, so take your time if you can.
Once you choose the real estate agent, give them all the information they will need to find you a perfect home. It’s best to even go a little bit overboard with demands, but also prepared to pay more for it as well. The real estate agent will help you with bureaucracy as well by recommending a property solicitor and informing you about the details.
5. Pay attention to commuting options
Sydney is a city of five million citizens, but it has well-developed commuting network and schedule. The city suburbs are well connected between themselves and the downtown with numerous lines. However, the traffic jams still happen and commute time may take longer.
This means there is a big decision ahead of you since you have to think about the distance to work and schools at the same time. Your real estate agent will help you come to the best decision, but if you come from the smaller city this can be overwhelming. Just like in any metropolis in the world.
All in all
Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities with a fusion of different cultures and traditions. Moving there may seem like a handful, but once you choose the right neighborhood for your family, you will see the benefits. After all, every move to a different place is challenging for a family but also manageable.