There are several factors to consider to assure your Charlotte relocation is a success for your entire family. Everyone count but there are always priorities.
1) Safety - How do you know if you will feel safe in your Charlotte home? Their are many standard Realtor canned answers but let's just get to your point. First, everyone is different and everyone has a different idea of safe. This is true and simple enough. What I recommend is visiting the local grocery store. The local grocery store will be reflective of your neighborhood. The local grocery store pulls people from your immediate area. If you visit a Target or Walmart please consider that people travel much further for these stores so they may not really reflect your neighborhood. This is the best way that I have found to get a "feel" of an area before moving. Try this in your own home town. See what I mean?
2) Charlotte Schools - The most important thing to consider are the kids. The odds are either you or your spouse is relocating due to a job. You have a financial incentive and will be around a familiar environment. If you are a banker, you will again be around other like minded people. Now look at your kids. The odds are they have spent their entire lives in one specific home/environment. You turned their worlds upside down. The schools you choose will likely determine the rest of their lives. Please choose carefully. "I want a good school." is what I often hear. What is a good school to you? Everyone is unique. I suggest going to www.ncreportcards.org to compare the schools. Ask your Charlotte Realtor about the website. If your Realtor is not familiar with the website perhaps you may want to consider another Realtor that sees the big picture like you.
3) Your wife's opinion trumps all other opinions when buying your Charlotte home. Ignore all of that foolish bravado. Women are nesting animals. The home is her nest. It is that simple. A woman has an emotional attachment to her home; a man has an investment attachment to the home. Yes, we want our man cave but trust me, she wants you to have a place to be out of her way also. If she has a smile on her face when she pulls into the driveway, you are a happy man. Enough said.
4) Commute times to work - Every minute that you spend on the road is time that you are not enjoying your home and family. You will create frustrations at home and it will not be pretty. Please practice driving during your normal work schedule hours and see if the commute is bearable. Ask your Charlotte Realtor about commute times and the discuss the rush hour traffic. Words of reassurance are nice but please go beyond those words and try the drive.
5) Do not over spend - Many Charlotte Relocation home buyers are surprised how inexpensive Charlotte Homes for Sale really are. They then over spend and discover that their new Charlotte home is nice but way too large. Be reasonable and honest to your self
If you follow these basic guidelines you your Charlotte Real Estate transaction will be soo much smoother than you ever imagined..