The idea of your own bolthole beyond the city limits is tempting, especially post Covid-19 if you’re able to work from home more regularly.
You’ll want somewhere that’s within just a few hours of your full-time residence. If it’s too far away, you’ll quickly lose interest in making regular trips. And it will be hard to re-sell when the time comes.
A property’s proximity to local amenities is another critical consideration. Nobody wants to drive for 45 minutes to get bread and milk if you’ve just popped down for the weekend.
As your real estate agent, we’ll be happy to discuss your needs and present some of the options available to you. We’ll guide you on buyer trends in the area as well as your potential return on investment.
Here are eight tips for choosing your ideal holiday home:
- Make sure the location is a comfortable journey from your primary residence to encourage regular use. Ideally, it should be perfect for weekends away.
- Proximity to local amenities is key. A beach shack needs to be near a beach. A chalet should have easy access to snowfields.
- Consider whether this is merely going to be a holiday home, or if you’d like to retire there one day. This will influence the type of property you’ll want to consider.
- Find a town with character and excellent amenities. The local area is a strong influence on the property’s value and its investment potential. Towns with a strong community and good amenities, weekend market, easy access to the beach, or ski fields and mountain walks, always attract keen buyer interest.
- Don’t buy too far outside of the local town. Constant trips to shops, especially during short vacations, become tiresome quickly.
- Select a property that’s easy to maintain. Whether you’re in the mountains or beachside, the elements can be harsh. Always have the home inspected by a professional before purchase. But you should also consider how much regular maintenance work might be required, especially if there’s a garden.
- Make sure the home has features that are capture your idea of a perfect getaway. Any property in the snow needs a decent fireplace. Likewise, a great deck for long summer nights is essential for a beach house.
- Check access to the mobile phone network and the quality of the local internet service. If they’re lacking, they’ll quickly become a source of frustration when it’s essential to stay connected.