From City To Country - A Relocation

At some time, nearly everyone who lives in a big town or city will probably have dreamed of moving from the hustle and bustle of urban life to the slower pace of life in the country. But, as many have found, the move from city to country takes a lot of research and planning to make sure you get the right property and location for you. Here are a few hints and tips on how to make your move a successful one.

Identify the lifestyle you want to achieve 
Lots of people's dream of life in the countryside involves a secluded farmhouse amid acres of land. But, while that sounds idyllic, is it a practical choice for you and your family's lifestyle? Think long and hard about whether you want to be truly "in the middle of nowhere" or whether you would prefer to have a few neighbours. From secluded cottage, small hamlet, village or even a small market town - before looking at individual properties, take some time to look at a variety of lifestyle options to help you decide what you want to achieve from your move. Once you've established this, then you can start looking for individual properties.

Research, research, research 
Once you've worked out what you want your property to be, you can start looking for your dream home in your dream location. Things in the country can be very different to the city and you should investigate whether the place you want to life has all services you are used to or will need. Some important things to check are:

Education 
If you have children, you will need to find out what schools are in your chosen area and what, if any, transport is available to them. Are you happy to do a long school run in the car twice a day, or do you want to live within walking distance of a school?

Local services 
If you are used to living in the city, with everything you need virtually on your doorstep, then rural life can come as quite a shock. Spend time researching the availability of things like the nearest doctors, dentists, shops and pub. Are there buses to the nearest towns or will you have to drive everywhere? Where is the nearest petrol station?

Communications 
How is the broadband and mobile connection in the area? If you are planning on working from home, having a good fast broadband service is important.

Journey time 
If you are planning to commute or do a regular school run, do a few practise runs to establish the actual time it will take. Don't just base it on the distance - driving times on country roads can be a lot slower than on main roads and motorways.

After the move 
Once you've found your dream home and moved in, it's really important to get to know people and to let them get to know you. Neighbours and your local community will be invaluable in helping you settle in and find out about country living. Introduce yourself in your local shop and if you have neighbours, invite them round for drinks or coffee.