Interested In Moving To A Rural Area? Proactive Advice For Buyers Searching For Their First Home In The Country

For those who have previously lived in sprawling subdivisions or bustling urban areas, the lure of living a more peaceful life in the country can be strong. While life in a rural setting is sure to offer the benefits of a somewhat slower pace and offer less noise and traffic congestion, there are other important differences that prospective home buyers should be aware of when viewing or considering the purchase of any rural home for sale. 

Rural homes are often served by their own septic and water systems

One of the most important differences noticed by those who are new to rural life is that many of the homes available in rural areas are served by their own private water and septic systems, instead of being served by a municipal sewer or water provider. 

Prospective buyers who are nervous about purchasing a property with its own private water well or sanitary septic system can protect themselves by: 

• Making all offers on these properties contingent on the results of professional inspections of these systems by properly qualified inspectors
• Requesting any available well and septic systems installation and maintenance documentation that sellers may have
• Reading seller disclosure documents carefully for possible red flags
• Taking time to educate themselves on how these systems work and how they are maintained by discussing them with installers and maintenance professionals 

While ownership and responsibility for home water and septic systems can be a new experience for those previously accustomed to subscribing to municipal services, systems that are installed and maintained properly rarely cause issues. In addition, it is important for rural homebuyers to remember that owning these systems can save them money by eliminating the monthly service fees they were paying when living in urban or suburban areas. 

Rural home ownership can mean longer response times by emergency services 

Another difference that can take some time to adjust to when moving from an urban area to a very rural one is that emergency services response times can be lengthier. Prospective buyers who have health concerns that could be affected by this should determine where ambulance and emergency medical services are based from in the rural area they are considering and then work toward selecting a home within a comfortable radius of these bases. 

To learn more about life in a rural area and ensure that the rural home you ultimately choose will fit your needs, prospective buyers will want to work closely with their real estate professional or a firm like Springfield Realty Group of Keller Williams. These agents can take your needs into consideration and help focus your attention on rural homes that will be both convenient and comfortable for your families.

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