EuroAfrica Relocations
TechProsLA LLC • Europe & Africa Relocation Specialists
Neighbourhood Research Checklist
Complete before committing to any area • [email protected]
Know Your Neighbourhood Before You Sign
Use this checklist to evaluate any neighbourhood you are considering. Visit in person if possible — at different times of day. Rate each category and use the final score to compare multiple areas side by side. Share your completed sheet with our team at [email protected] for personalised guidance.
Use this checklist to evaluate any neighbourhood you are considering. Visit in person if possible — at different times of day. Rate each category and use the final score to compare multiple areas side by side. Share your completed sheet with our team at [email protected] for personalised guidance.
1 Neighbourhood Being Evaluated
2 Safety & Security
⚠ Research local crime statisticsCheck government or expat community sources
Visited at night as well as daytimeAtmosphere, lighting, and foot traffic after dark
Nearest police station locatedDistance and response time noted
Building / compound security assessedGuards, CCTV, gated access, intercom
Spoke with local residentsAsk about safety, noise, and community feel
Checked expat forums / Facebook groupsRecent posts about the area from other expats
3 Transport & Commute
⚠ Tested commute to workplace / schoolAt peak hours — not just Google Maps estimate
Public transport options confirmedBus, metro, tram, matatu — routes and frequency
Ride-share availability testedUber, Bolt, Taxify — wait times in this area
Walkability assessedPavements, crossings, distance to daily needs
Parking availability (if driving)Street parking, secure parking, cost
Airport / train station distance notedFor frequent travellers — time and cost
4 Daily Essentials
Supermarket / grocery store nearbyWalking distance or short drive
Pharmacy / chemist located24-hour option noted if available
Bank / ATM access confirmedInternational card compatibility checked
Restaurants & cafes availableVariety, price range, and quality assessed
Market / fresh produce accessLocal market days and location noted
Laundry / dry cleaning nearbyIf in-unit laundry is not available
5 Healthcare & Wellbeing
⚠ Nearest hospital / clinic identifiedEmergency room distance and quality noted
English-speaking doctor availableGP or general practitioner in the area
Dental clinic locatedInternational standard preferred
Gym / fitness centre nearbyCost, equipment, and opening hours
Parks / green space accessibleWalking, running, or outdoor recreation
6 Community & Lifestyle
Expat community presenceOther internationals in the area — social ease
Language barrier assessedEnglish spoken in shops, services, and by neighbours
Schools / nurseries (if applicable)International school options and distance
Places of worship (if applicable)Nearest relevant place of worship located
Noise level assessedTraffic, nightlife, construction — day and night
Air quality / pollution notedEspecially relevant in large African and Asian cities
7 Infrastructure & Utilities
⚠ Power reliability checkedLoad-shedding or outage frequency in this area
⚠ Water supply reliability checkedConsistent supply or rationing in this district
Internet providers availableFibre, 4G/5G — speeds and providers in this area
Road quality assessedPotholes, flooding risk, accessibility in rain
Waste collection regularRubbish collected reliably — no open dumping nearby
8 Neighbourhood Scorecard — Rate 1 to 5
Rate each category 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Use this to compare multiple neighbourhoods side by side.
9 Final Verdict
Key Pros
Key Concerns