Shabby Chic Boho Choosing the right location for your new home isn’t just about the vibe. Although they need to be immaculate, too. It’s about everyday logistics, not “lifestyle goals” which might feel like it’s perfect, but could, in reality, be extremely impractical. And this level of stress would quietly build day after day until your dream home becomes a living nightmare.
Location is vital when choosing your new home, whether you’re moving into an existing home or building something new from scratch. And, the points below are worthy considerations for everyone in the throes of finding the perfect location for their new home.
Commute and Travel Times
Start with your work commitments. Childcare and family school needs. Then head to your chosen location and travel them in real time. Do the school run at school run time, drive to work at the same time on the same days if you can. Because often “travel times” are estimates based on perfect conditions, not typical traffic movements through areas. This gives you a much better feel for what you can expect on a day-to-day basis.
Local Amenities and Services
Ignore what the realtors want you to know and look at whether your location has what you need. Grocery stores, medical care centers, pharmacies, playgrounds, outdoor space, gyms, etc.
Then walk the routes. Can you easily access them on foot? Do you need to have the car to get anywhere and find out what a realistic day would look like when you’re running your normal errands to make sure it doesn’t make your life harder?
Outdoor Space and Environment
This can be overlooked in relation to other important factors, but where you live matters, and the outdoor space on your doorstep is important. If you want green spaces or access to areas that bring you into nature, can you easily access these spaces? If you’re moving to a more rural or coastal area, what does this look like in reality when you’re not basking in ideal conditions? It might be bustling and beautiful in the summer during tourist season, but in the winter, it could be completely different. You need to find out what’s it like living on the coast before making your decision.
Future Needs
No one has a crystal ball; however, you can predict what you might need based on how you want life to go. Do you have family plans and will need a home that can easily become a family unit? Or will you be wanting aging parents to move in with you? Or is a job change on the cards in the future?
This will dictate what you need, i.e., being in a certain school district, close to medical care, etc.
Safety
Safety is important; you don’t want to live somewhere you don’t feel safe. Take some time to research crime rates in the area and the type of crime. Visit your location and move around at different times. What it’s like at 6 am can be greatly different at 9 pm, and you might not like the change in area after dark.
The more you know about what to expect and the safer you feel, the easier it will be to make the right decision.
Featured image: Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-grey-and-red-wooden-house-164522/
