Thinking about making that big switch from city life to country life? Moving to the country can be a wonderful experience for your mind, body, and spirit, and bring a sense of tranquility to your life that you’ve never experienced before. And while living in the country presents plenty of options for adventure and outdoor activities, it’s important to determine if this is a realistic move for you. In this article, we take a look at what you need to consider before moving to the country, so you can make sure that this is the best long-term decision for you and your family.
Get on the Same Page With Your Family
Never make any big decision without discussing it with your family first. Moving to the country is a huge lifestyle change, and it’s important to make sure your family is 100% on board for the drastic changes that come along with making such a big move.
We Think Rural tells us more about why it’s important to include your family in every step of the decision-making process when choosing to move from city life to country life:
“This may seem like an obvious first step, but before you invest a ton of time and effort in researching a move, make sure your entire family is on board. Relocating to the country is a major lifestyle change that will impact everyone, so be sure to explore the pros and cons and go through the planning process together. At this point, you’ll also want to have a conversation about what type of property you’re looking for (acreage, raw land, a rural neighborhood, etc.).”
Discuss Feasibility Based on Your Job and Finances
While living in the country may be a dream come true for you, you must determine if this is actually a feasible option for you. While purchasing a property outside of the city comes with many financial benefits, it also comes with an upsurge in the cost of maintenance. Plus, you’ll need to determine if your new country property is a reasonable commute from your place of employment if working outside the home.
Mike’s Backyard Nursery explains more about the new financial responsibilities of owning a rural home:
“Income is one of the major considerations in deciding to move. Homes and property in the country can be significantly more affordable than in larger cities. This means you may be able to stretch your income further when purchasing. It also means that you’re likely to get more bang for your real estate buck in terms of square footage and acreage. Also, consider that more property will require more upkeep and maintenance. Utilities to run a larger home are also likely to be more expensive. A larger home, outbuildings, and property can all be expensive to maintain. Can your income support these additional costs?”
Determine If Your Lifestyle Allows For Flexibility
If you work outside of your home, there’s a good chance you’re not going to be able to make it into work several times during the winter months. And if you do work from home, will you be able to withstand a possible disruption of your internet services for days at a time? Moving to the country warrants a good deal of flexibility, especially when the snow starts to fall, so it’s important to make sure that your lifestyle can accommodate that.
ModernHomesteading.ca tells us more about the inevitable disruptions to your daily routine that come along with relocating to a rural area:
“What would you do if you had a big project due and the power went out for three days? What kind of back-up systems will you have in place? Are you in a position to get out to another location that does have power and Internet connection? Is your drinking water well pump electric so you have no water if the power goes out? Are you OK with finding mouse poop on your counter in the morning? These are just a handful of the things you need to be able to deal with if you live in the country. But if you’re prepared, and willing to ‘go with the flow’, you and the rural life will get along just fine.”
Have you decided to take the plunge and make that move to the countryside that you’ve always dreamed of? We’re here to make that dream a reality! With over 30 years of experience representing buyers and sellers in the British Columbia market, we can help you find available properties in your price range that suit your needs. Contact Cascadia Pacific Realty, Ltd today to make the first step towards your dream property!