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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah is diverse and so are the schools, making it a hard decision for some as they look to buy a new house. Jonathan Cohen helps people relocate to Utah in his work for Coldwell Banker.
Cohen says when picking a house, "Schools are either the No. 1 or No. 2 priority."
Cohen says there's no one way to pick the right school, but he suggests: visiting the districts' websites, looking up test scores, visiting schools and chatting with the principal -- Coldwell Banker relocation agents even come along for this visit. But he says talking to parents might be the most helpful.
He says, "Everyone's different and has different needs."
For instance, one family may feel a certain athletics, music, drama or special needs program makes one school a better choice for them; others are specifically interested in the number of advanced placement classes available and the scores.
"Every school has a different philosophy and different way of teaching children. It's really about what's best for our children," he says.
Cohen also says don't forget private and charter schools, and open enrollment, which may change where you finally decide to buy your house.
Finally, Cohen says if you don't have children, you still need to consider the resale value of your home.
Cohen explains, "Sometimes they don't realize the impact that the school, its reputation or the district might have on a home's resale value."
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
