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Originally Posted On: Mistakes To Avoid When Moving From A City To The Suburbs – The Pinnacle List

Getting away from a hectic urban lifestyle to resettle in peaceful suburbs sounds like a fantastic idea. The coronavirus pandemic has also brought a refined interest in escaping city dwelling and moving uptown where there’s more space. The younger generation has been leaving for suburbs even before this pandemic started. People realize the importance of abandoning urban surroundings dotted with crowded streets and deafening horn-sounds. Suburbs give you local communities to mingle with and a picturesque view for some domestic sightseeing. But this high-quality lifestyle can crumble with some common mistakes people make while moving.

Mistakes City Families Must Avoid

Let’s discuss these mistakes homeowners have repeatedly committed while trying to purchase domestic bliss in the suburbs. Since changing one’s residence is probably one of the hardest decisions one ever makes in life! You don’t want to trade a successful urban setting for an unsuccessful move to the outskirts of the city. So, watch out for the following pitfalls before you conclude your research. And this research must be immaculate, so you’re well-equipped to deal with all these future challenges:

1. Buying Too Much Space:

Life in the suburbs may seem like a dream come true. But that doesn’t mean you should rent/purchase space bigger than your residential requirements. A large house will consume more power for heating and cooling, thereby making you pay more for utilities. A massive mansion can become a financial burden for telecommuters, primarily if they work from home. As per one estimate, NYC residents pay less than $100 in June for electricity. But an average Westchester customer pays $110-130 every month. So, curb your spending free while house-hunting in the outskirts of New York and choose a humble abode for economic billings in the future.

2. Bringing Your Stuff On Your Own:

Some millennials have an inherent distrust of outsourcing different services and taking matters into their own hands. Politically, such a mindset works. But, when it comes to moving your stuff to a newly-bought home, don’t hesitate while hiring professionals. You can find many moving companies online with excellent credentials. These companies will bring your valuable, safe and sound from your ancient residence to the suburban dwelling. They’re licensed and provide insurance in case they lose your valuables, or something gets broken. They also hire qualified people to take care of your stuff and relocate it before moving into your new house.

3. Neglecting To Find A School:

Finding appropriate educational measures for your kids is a necessary task. So, be vigilant when you choose the future school of your child. Don’t just go after an institute that has good rankings. Find one you and your kid are comfortable with so he/she thrives appropriately there. You might like a school with many AP classes, numerous extracurricular activities, and other facilities. The size of the course also matters because some children don’t perform well in a crowded school. Here’s a pro-tip: Go to these schools and look at the parents dropping off their kids. Consider the behavior and wardrobe of these parents. That’s how you know if the right sort of children come to this school or not.

4. Focusing Just On The House:

Please don’t pick a town before you understand it well. You’re not moving because you’ve found an excellent suburban abode. Still, you want your kids to grow up in a friendly environment. The house needs to be associated with a friendly community where everyone knows your name. So, take a walk around town and consider whether you like the neighborhood or not. Check if your hobbies and interests can survive in these suburbs. Nobody wants to have a beautiful house but a miserable life among terrible people. You’re moving in to mingle with your new neighbors and become a part of society. So, spend some time in the area before you reach a final decision.

5. Spending Too Much On Décor:

Newcomers to the suburban lifestyle often become careless about their furniture expenditures. We’ve already talked about the disadvantages of living in big houses. City-dwellers shouldn’t purchase more furniture than their sitting requirements. But more space compels furniture enthusiasts to fill all their rooms with expensive furnishings. Such impulsive decisions damage the reason why homeowners have moved to suburbs in the first place. Consider moving in with your old furniture. Or spending on some secondhand material. Buying an unnecessary amount of domestic fittings will become a burden in the future on your credit card.

6. Not Buying A Car:

Instead of buying a bigger house or purchasing IKEA goods, invest in personal transportation measures. City-dwellers rely on public transport to commute. Life without private modes of locomotion doesn’t affect most urban settlers at all. And constant traffic jams also make office-workers more comfortable in public transit. But suburbs will require you to own a four-wheeler for dropping your kids off and traveling to the office. But, again, there’s no need to act over-affluent with buying a vehicle. A used car will do just fine in the commuter belt. While a new car can cost you around $40,000, you can spend only $20,000 to own a secondhand model.

7. Undermining Property Taxes:

Should you undermine property taxes while searching for a new home in the suburbs? We recommend against it. Property taxes constitute the most considerable portion of tax revenue collected by the state and local governments. In 2017, they accounted for more than 30% of all taxes collected from American citizens. And the outskirts of New York pay hefty sums as the median property tax received from Rockland and Westchester exceeds $10,000! Thus, even though suburban houses are cheaper, living in the suburbs may cost more. Fortunately, overall taxes are lower in the suburbs. Since NYC residents are liable to heavy municipal taxes, you won’t have to pay.

8. Only Calculating Commute Time:

Don’t just calculate how much time it’ll take you to reach your workplace. Also, factor in the commute quality. What sort of roads lead to your office? How’s the traffic on ordinary days? Commute quality can increase/decrease the commute time you’ve calculated. So, don’t choose a home just because it’s nearer to your workplace. A not-so-dreamy commute quality can fill your entire trip to the office with misery. So, don’t rely merely on Google Maps or published timetables for trains. Conduct some research about the parking situation in town. Call the town office and inquire beforehand about the waiting lists and parking permit costs.

Conclusion

Switching to a more peaceful lifestyle in the suburbs has become trendy among millennials. The Census Bureau revealed that thousands of millennials moved away from major cities in 2018. These young homeowners in their 20s and 30s resettled in less expensive pastures for greenery and tranquility. In 2016, over one-third of our nation’s homeowners belonged to the millennial generation. You, too, can embrace a suburban lifestyle with more space, less crowded streets, and superior social gatherings. But make sure to factor in the neighborhood and not just the time. Consider the commute time and quality. Keeping these precautions will make your suburban experience more peaceful and flourishing.