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Community Checklist

Affordability

[   ] Is the general cost of living in line with your income and personal tastes?
[   ] Are there unusually large minimum lot or building size requirements?
[   ] Are there overly stringent Building Code requirements?
[   ] What is the Property Tax rate, and how is it based?

Education

[   ] What is the quality of the school system in the area?
[   ] Are there good colleges?
[   ] Pre-schools?
[   ] Continuing education facilities?
[   ] Quality day care
[   ] What is the quality of the local and county library system?

Safety

[   ] Is there a local police department?
[   ] Does the community rely upon county/state police or sheriffs's departments?
[   ] Can you routinely inspect the police blotter?
[   ] Are crimes reported in the local newspaper?
[   ] Is there a volunteer or professional fire department?
[   ] Is there a volunteer or professional first aid squad?

Health & Health Care

[   ] How good are the local hospitals and other health services?
[   ] Does your health plan cover the doctors, hospitals, and other area facilities?
[   ] Are any special facilities you need (dialysis, etc.) available?
[   ] Senior care facilities?

For detailed information regarding the quality of the public drinking water supply in your Zip Code area, click here.

Utilities and Services

[   ] Is there municipal water?
[   ] Sewers?
[   ] Natural Gas (or propane service)?
[   ] Recycling?
[   ] Garbage Collection?
[   ] Yard waste collection?

What other services are available?

[   ] Senior Dial-A-Ride
[   ] Churches
[   ] Synagogues
[   ] Meals-on-Wheels
[   ] Other

Business and Recreation

What is the local economy like? Is it based on:

[   ] Manufacturing / Mining (possible hazardous waste, etc)?
[   ] Tourism (could be awfully busy in season)?
[   ] High tech?
[   ] Agriculture?
[   ] Other? __________________________________________

Considering your lifestyle, are there sufficient facilities for:

[   ] Shopping malls
[   ] Strip malls
[   ] 24 hour convenience stores
[   ] Juvenile recreation facilities
[   ] Theatres
[   ] Adult recreation facilities
[   ] Cable/other high-speed Internet access
[   ] Cable TV
[   ] Other ____________________________________________

Are there present or potential eyesores or nuisances?

[   ] Nearby airport or Rail Line(s)
[   ] Nearby industrial or commercial facilities (all night deliveries, etc)
[   ] Sewage treatment plant
[   ] Other ___________________________________________

Reports on farm animal wastes, air pollutants, and other potential contamination sources are available at Scorecard.org, an arm of the Environmental Defense Fund, a lobbying group.

Is any part of the community in a designated flood zone?

If so, you'll need flood insurance if your proposed building site is in a designated flood plain. Find out if your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Plan (it's the only game in town).

Are there any restrictions regarding

[   ] Architectural style?
[   ] Building Materials?
[   ] Paint Colors?
[   ] Landscaping?
[   ] Are you allowed to park your pickup, store your RV, boat, etc. on your property?
[   ] Can your son play basketball in your driveway (some communities prohibit it)?
[   ] Can you have a laundry line?
[   ] Are above-ground swimming pools allowed?
[   ] What other restrictions are there (and would they inhibit you in any way)?

Hazardous Weather

Tornados almost never occur in the west, seldom in the east, but they're a fact of life in the central states. To see just where, visit the FEMA site.

For maps showing the location of recent major storm disaster areas, click here

Environmental Hazards

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates a range of business, government, and other facilities -- everything from power plants to Fotomat Kisoks. For a list (and details) of all regulated facilities in your Zip Code area, click here.

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Community Checklist

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