Are you ready to move out of the city and head somewhere new? If you live in the GTA, you might know friends who’ve made the leap and extol the virtues of their new homes. As more and more people leave for bigger homes and quieter places, and as prices continue to rise in Toronto, it feels like an increasingly desirable option. Nevertheless, leaving familiar neighbourhoods can feel like a big step.
Why It’s Time to Leave the City Behind
Everyone has their own reasons for leaving, but there are a few that appeal across the board. The GTA is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country, and even moving from a mid-sized city to the country means you get more space for your money.
But it’s not just the extra space that people are looking for. With many now in situations where they can work from home, they’re looking for places that are quieter, closer to nature, and best of all, with a lot less traffic.
Some homebuyers are looking to move to an adult lifestyle community somewhere out in the country where they can leave behind the hustle and bustle of city and suburban living. Adult lifestyle communities are neighbourhoods that appeal to empty-nesters and people who are well-established in their careers or approaching retirement.
There are no right or wrong reasons for moving out into the country. You deserve to live in a place that you love. When you have the freedom to go wherever you want, what’s stopping you?
Why Move to a Custom Home in Niagara?
With more room in your budget, you can get the home of your dreams. As experienced home builders in Niagara, we’re proud to work with homebuyers looking for a home where they can stay forever. If you’ve ever dealt with a fixer-upper or any kind of renovations on a property you’ve just purchased, you know how time-consuming and stressful it can be. There’s something incredibly relaxing about a move in ready home that already has everything you wanted.
When you move into a custom home, you pick everything you want: the cabinets, fixtures, appliances, countertops, paint colours, and personal décor.
Now that you know where to find the perfect house, why choose Niagara out of all the places you can move to? The region offers something for everyone. There are the beaches along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, hiking trails and natural features of the Niagara Escarpment, local dining and shopping in towns like Niagara on the Lake and St. Catharines, culture and theatre across the region, and the nightlife of Niagara Falls. Whatever makes life more enjoyable for you, you can find it in Niagara.
If you want to know what it’s like living in Niagara, the best way to start is to come visit and spend a few days exploring the area.
Stay Organized When You Move
Getting organized for move-in day will help you keep your head on straight when all of your worldly belongings have been packed up and loaded onto a moving truck. Stay on top of everything with some of these moving tips:
#1 Print a checklist
Everything’s going to be chaotic on move-in day. A custom checklist will keep you on track and on task. In the lead-up to moving day, write down everything that comes to mind. With a comprehensive To-Do list in hand, you’ll be unstoppable.
#2 Label boxes by room
Save yourself a lot of stress (and backaches) by colour coding your moving boxes according to room, so you or the movers can deliver them straight to where they belong, where they can wait to be unpacked.
#3 Fill a binder with boxes’ contents
Never forget where you put something again. As you pack, create lists of the contents of each moving box and collect them all in a single, master moving binder.
#4 Pack an essentials kit
Get everything you’ll need on the day-of together in one convenient kit. Toiletries, trash bags, credit cards, pet stuff, ID – all the little things you don’t want to have to root around for in the boxes later.
#5 Compile contact info for all of your utilities
Changing all of your utilities is a dreaded chore that comes with moving. Once again, a list is your best friend to keep things simple. Compile a list of each one and check them off as you update your information, cancelling old services and getting everything set up at your new home. Some builders, like Blythwood Homes will provide you with an orientation package that includes a list of the utilities you will need to contact
Get Out and Explore Your New Home
One of the biggest concerns that city dwellers have about leaving it all behind for more space somewhere else is that they’re leaving behind all the big city amenities they’ve gotten used to: the shops, the restaurants, the entertainment, the convenience. Everything’s right there when you need it.
The best way to overcome that anxiety when you move is to get out and explore everything in your new community. Walk around the neighbourhood and take a drive around the wider area. Stop for a cup of coffee, plan a few date nights around some local restaurants, and visit some of the shops. In no time you’ll discover new favourites.
Tips for Finding Friends in a New Neighbourhood
Moving into a bungalow in a quiet new neighbourhood surrounded by neighbours at a similar place in life is a great way to maintain your independent active life. A big part of it is keeping up an active social life.
While everyone at the moment is taking things easy as far as socialization goes, it’s only temporary, and the days when we’ll be enjoying the company of friends and family will come again. Some of the ways you can find friends in a new neighbourhood include:
- Volunteering in the community;
- Joining an amateur sports league;
- Looking for people who share an interest, like joining a book club or wine tasting club;
- Even taking your dog to the park can help you link up with people who live nearby.
You’ll find Niagara to be a welcoming place. Leave the city behind and enjoy the lifestyle in Canada’s Fruit Belt!