Category: Daily Living
What's the best way to find out about a new area or apartment before you travel, move or sign a lease if you can't visit the area in person? I'm searching for a new apartment but having some difficulty finding out practical information about the walkability or transportation of the area. I know resources like Walkability Score and Google Directions can help but they don't always tell the whole story. For example, the public transportation of Google maps might tell you that the closest bus stop is .2 miles away which makes you think it's super quick and easy to get around, but it doesn't tell you that the outbound bus would drop you off on the other side of a eight-lane highway with no crosswalk or that the road leading to shops doesn't have any sidewalks.
What tips or tricks have you found to be helpful when exploring a new area?
Hi,
I'd never sign a lease on a place without visiting both it and the area first. Depending on where you are, a lot of areas have Wikipedia pages which will at least tell you a bit about the character and make-up of an area even if they won't give you the granular information about roads that you mention. Also, it's worth seeing if there are any websites, blogs, social networking groups etc connected with the area, members of these might be able to give you tips.
I come back to what I said first though. I'd never commit to moving to somewhere without visiting it first. Visiting it might seem unaffordable if it's some distance away, but moving to somewhere you either don't like or struggle to get around is much more expensive in the long run.
I totally agree with Ed. I would never move without exploring the area. I once was looking for an apartment and contacted the apartment managers of several complexes I was interested in. When asking them if public transportation was nearby, they would say things such as "I think I've seen buses go by here." Not really very helpful. So you need to see for yourself. But one suggestion you might consider, if you are talking about moving to a new city, try contacting the chamber of commerce to see if they can give you any more detailed information and if they can put you in touch with anyone who can help. Also see if the area has a rehab facility or independent mobility teachers who can work with you to show you the area.
Unfortunately, visiting the area isn't always an available recourse. Sometimes you have to move, and either don't have time or can't afford to go and explore every detail of the environment. I'd call the bus company and ask them about where the bus drops off. Call cab companies and ask about their services. Find out if there is door to door services where you're moving to. Call the local police department, not with the 911 number, but with the switch board number, and ask them about crime and the environment you're moving to.
Checking out a new area before moving may seem unattractive either because of the time or expense needed to visit it. However, I still maintain that there is a risk in ending up in either an unsuitable area or living space if you don't, and any saving will soon start to look like a very false economy indeed.
That's all well and good if you have the money, but if the money doesn't exist at all, then its a moot point.
You might decide you don't have the money, but what happens if you move somewhere that proves to be totally unsuitable and then either can't function there or need to move somewhere else perhaps having to pay off a lease? In my view it's akin to saying you can't afford insurance. It's all very well to do that and you might be ok most of the time, it can get very expensive if something goes wrong though.
there have been some good suggestions here, but I can't stress how valid Ed's point is. moving without first evaluating the area you're potentially moving to, isn't a good idea. I can empathize with not having money, yet, strictly going off of other's word of mouth is only one answer.
That's why you do other forms of investigation beforehand. Phone calls are much cheaper than plane tickets.
My roommates and I have been looking for places to live in this town we already live in. They used google maps to see the places and how close they were to other places. The bus website has maps they used to see how close the bus stops were to the apartments.
I had a lot of issues finding places on my own when i first move here and just started to ask the people in the apartment offices if they could suggest places within price range and close to parts of towns I wished to live in. Get a list of addresses and call the bus station and ask them how close stops are. If there is a stop within a block or two, most apartments knows because they use it as a saling point. If anything, Try to get hold of an O&M instructor or someone in that town. I had to do the same, move to a place without being able to check it out. I had to do it twice. It is what you got to do sometimes because it isn't possible to go check it out if your going to some place far away. Remember though, you don't sign the leace until after you actually move in, so you can get a couple of apartments set up, go check them out when you get there if you can then decide on the one you want.
HTH
the best folks to talk to are other blind folks. contact the NFB or ACB in that city and ask them. they will tell you if there are buses, highways, etc. also, look up the neighborhoods on google and check those out. it's funny but, when you ask a sighted person if the apartment is close to shopping, often times they will say; oh, yes, there's x y and z right nearby. so, you ask; exactly how far away? then they say; well, the grocery store is 1 mile away and, the light rail station is about 2 miles away.
you can also try contacting the local society for the blind and talk to an O and M instructor. they are great about letting you know if an area is accessible.
HTH
Wait. I get NFB and ACB. How do I find out about my local society of blind people though? I don't think I've heard of it.
I think they meant NFB or ACB mostly.