In recent years, as more and more of us have been granted the flexibility to work from home, the demand for countryside living has increased dramatically. The Guardian reported last June that house prices in rural parts of England and Wales were rising twice as fast as those in more built-up areas.
This is an understandable phenomenon. If your work allows you to do you job from the comfort of your own home, there can be fewer incentives to stay in a crowded metropolis where you have to cram yourself into a giant underground tin can where your personal space is frequently invaded just to get anywhere.
It is quite an idyllic and even romantic idea to live surrounded by nature, in a cosy cottage that overlooks fields and the legendary Welsh valleys. You can live at a more relaxed pace, spend more time outdoors, and enjoy the peace and quiet.
But the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, at least not the metaphorical meadows anyway. There are plenty of examples from the last few years where city folk have upped sticks and moved to the Welsh countryside, only to find that it’s not for them, resulting in a costly re-relocation in the other direction.
To help save you the hassle, here are some factors to consider before deciding to move to the Welsh countryside.
Entertainment Options
Even though you’ll be working from home, it’s still work that still comes with many of the same stresses and strains. You will, therefore, want to blow off some steam and enjoy yourself at the end of the day.
Of course, thanks to modern technology, you have many entertainment options right at your fingertips. There’s almost every movie and television show ever created available at your command through streaming services like Netflix and Disney+.
You also have an abundance of gaming options, with consoles, computers, smartphones, and tablets all offering a myriad of different titles for you to enjoy. In addition to the big blockbuster releases like Call of Duty, FIFA, and Fortnite, there are also many casual games that can be enjoyed from home, the garden, or just about anywhere.
Online casinos also offer hundreds of different gaming options, including a mix of classic table games and modern video slots. Innovation and competition in the market has helped to drive casinos to offer slots with different RTP rates so players can find the ones that work for them.
It’s clear that, thanks to the internet, there’s always something to do. However, it’s still worth remembering being out in the countryside means your options for restaurants, pubs, and bars will be severely limited and nights out will require you to consider logistics and to give advanced notice to your friends. For some people, that’s ok, and if you’re going to be comfortable with it, then moving could be a good choice.
Internet Speeds Can Be Slower
While it is likely that this is only a temporary probably, internet speeds in very rural areas are often much slower than in cities. This is because it’s less practical and economical for telecommunications companies to lay the necessary cables to provide fibre broadband to properties that are out in the sticks.
Of course, there are programmes in place to eventually have high speed connections rolled out across the entire United Kingdom, however you’ll need to check when this is projected to reach your prospective property.
Additional Upkeep
If you live in an apartment in a city, there are pros and cons. One of the biggest pros is that many of the tasks involved in maintaining your property are taken care of for you. This is paid for by the service charge that you’ll pay to the management company, even if you own the lease.
When you move to a house in the countryside, you’ll have to take responsibility of this yourself. This means cutting the grass, trimming your hedges, painting your fences, maintaining the outside of your home, and taking charge of security.
They might seem like simple tasks now but when you’re not used to managing all this and you take on the extra roles, you quickly see how it can eat into your free time. This will be especially true if you plan to buy a large property or one with plenty of garden space to relax in.