Ensure re-locating is right for you
Moving from the bustling streets of London to the serene countryside is a significant transition. The vibrant city life, full of energy and excitement, often contrasts sharply with the slower pace and tranquil atmosphere of rural living. It is a decision not to be taken lightly, and we certainly didn’t. This transition can be both thrilling and challenging, as it involves not just a change of scenery but also adjustments in lifestyle and mindset. So the first step to making your move is to be absolutely sure you’re ready! We did quite a few “staycations” in the countryside and villages to be sure on the kind of life we were looking for.
Figure out your non-negotiables
It took us a long time to work out exactly where we wanted to move. We wanted to feel confident that we were making the right decision, rather than simply escaping London on a whim. One of the first things we did was sit down and work out our non-negotiables. These will be different for everyone, but for us it meant staying within around an hour’s commute of London while also being within roughly an hour of our families. Once we had those boundaries in place, it became much easier to narrow down the areas we wanted to explore.
Beyond that, we were looking for somewhere that felt peaceful and picturesque, with good countryside walks nearby but still practical for everyday life. Being within around a ten-minute drive of a station was important, as was having some life in the village itself — ideally a pub or two within walking distance and perhaps a local shop.
When it came to the house itself, being on a quiet road was especially important to us. We had lived on a very busy road in London for ten years, and over time the traffic became difficult to live with. It also made our flat much harder to sell, so we knew it was something we wanted to avoid this time around. And a period house with character was also a must. We were fairly flexible on how much work a house needed, although we did not want to do a complete renovation.
One thing we quickly learned is that moving to the countryside does not automatically mean peace and quiet. We viewed several houses in seemingly rural locations that were still affected by busy roads, train lines or other sources of noise. It made us realise how important it was to spend time in each area, listen to what was going on around us, and think carefully about what day-to-day life there would actually feel like.
Visit your potential new area more than once
We probably visited around 10 different locations before settling on Hertforshire. And we realised specifically that we really loved the villages of Flaunden, Chipperfield and Sarratt. They all met our non-negotiables and we both felt really happy and at peace in these areas.
When you find somewhere you like, go back more than once. Try to see it at different times of day, visit the local pubs and restaurants, walk around the area and, if you can, chat to people who already live there. It can give you a much better feel for what day-to-day life might actually be like.
Set up Rightmove alerts
Once you have settled on your perfect spot, it is time to find that house!! Set up some Rightmove alerts specifically for the area you are looking for, with your budget and number of room requirements etc and that way any new houses that come on to the market will come straight to your inbox.
Good houses can go very very quickly, so get those viewings booked in as soon as possible. We left many weekends free for viewings and dedicated a lot of time after work to also make this happen.
Once you have found a house that you love, I would highly recommend seeing it for a second time at a different time of day before committing. You could get an entirely new perspective viewing the second time, or it could completely validate your first impression and ensure you clarity on your purchase.
Best of luck, it is quite the journey! 🙂