7 Things You Want Close To Your New Home

Posted On Thursday, 05 November 2020 21:35

Choosing a new home isn’t all about just loving the kitchen, having the right number of bedrooms, or ticking off all of your “must-haves” inside the place itself, the distance to other specific places plays a big role in finding that perfect home for you and your family.

So, before you sign off on a new home, do a little research on the surrounding area, and think about your most traveled locales to make sure your dream home doesn’t become a headache for your day-to-day life.

A great looking home for the right price is a good starting point, but if you find you are running yourself ragged just trying to get to and from your necessary destinations, that beautiful home may not be a good fit for you.

Below we will cover the 7 most important things that you want relatively close to your home to make your everyday living smooth and easy.

1. Your workplace

If you work at a specific location, you will likely be heading back and forth to your workplace probably at least 5 times a week.

So, if the commute is too far, those hours spent getting to work can really add up, putting tension in your day and cutting down the extra time available to spend time with your family or indulge in some much needed “you time”.

Many people can shrug off a lengthy commute when they are really trying to make a home work, but consider that 6 months down the road, that long ride to work can start seeming longer and longer.

Before signing on that dotted line, input the home and your workplace location into google maps, and be sure to select the approximate time you will be commuting to see what kind of time you are getting yourself into.

2. Good schools

Making sure that good schools are nearby is a no-brainer for those of you that have children, but, in reality, this should be important for everyone looking to buy a home.

If you do have kids, you don’t want to waste you and your kid’s time and energy on a long bus ride or drive to the school every school day.

Also, if you don’t have kids at the moment, you still want to look for the future of when you may want to have kids, and be able to get that going without the added pressure of moving house.

Even for those that are not interested in having children, or have already raised their kids, making sure a home is in close proximity to good schools will make it infinitely easier to sell or rent out your home in the future, as it will better suit the needs of those looking to buy or rent a family home.

3. Your hobbies and interests

Making sure that your home is in close proximity to your hobbies and interests may not be at the top of your house checklist, but we think it should be.

Engaging in fun activities helps you relax and unwind from the working week, and the closer these locations are to your home, the more often you will head out to decompress and have some fun.

Whether your happy place is hiking in the mountains, lounging at the beach, or taking in a film at the theatre, it will lend to your quality of life to make sure the commute to your favorite activities is not a far one.

4. Good medical care

Having ready access to good medical care is another one that should be on your home buying checklist.

Aside from making sure there are good general practice doctors and dentists around for the regular checkups and maintenance visits, you want to be sure there is quick access to emergency care in the event of an emergency.

For those looking for home in a more rural setting, medical care can be less available, and you may be able to utilize telemedicine services for certain non-emergency conditions to help fill in the gaps, but emergency care should always be a reasonable distance from any potential home.

5. Nice walking areas

Getting outside and taking an afternoon stroll, walking the dog in the morning, or pounding the pavement to train for that marathon you want to attempt can all lend numerous benefits to your life in terms of overall mental and physical health.

So, making sure that nice walking areas are available at a reasonable distance from your new home can really help make a home fit perfectly into the life you want. Survey the surrounding area when house shopping, and do a search for local parks to see if you would feel comfortable strolling, walking, bike riding, or running around your neighborhood.

If you have kids, this may be even more important to ensure that they have a fun and safe place to play and enjoy the outdoors.

6. Your preferred grocery store

Everyone shops for groceries regularly, and some may find themselves popping out to the grocery store more often than they would like to admit for a forgotten ingredient, or just a late-night ice cream craving.

Making sure that the stores that you prefer to shop at are pretty close to your new home can ensure that you can pick up what you need in a pinch, get the weekly shopping done in a snap, or just elevate your day with a fun impromptu treat.

7. Signs of development

When you are choosing a home, you have to look way beyond the building itself, and even the lot. Signs of development in the surrounding community could be the difference between your house declining in its worth, or building up into a nice little nest egg in the future.

More homes being occupied than not, signs of new business and residences popping up in the surrounding areas, and care is taken to repair or update infrastructure are all good signs that an area is on the upswing and will likely be a good investment long term.

Bottom Line

Choosing a new home is much more than just liking what is on the inside, location is a big factor as well. Being relatively close to work, leisure, and errands can help you get things done and develop a healthy work-life balance. Look into the locations of things like your workplace, good schools, grocery stores, medical care, nice outside areas, and your preferred hobbies to help choose a great home that fits not just your personal design style, but your lifestyle too.

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