A TREE CHANGE – is it for you?
Clean air, wide open spaces, and blissful peace and quiet. Who wouldn’t want to live in a place like that?
Well, clearly many people feel the same, as we’re seeing more and more people through our offices in Gisborne and Launceston opting for a tree/sea change. We were curious, so we asked these clients why they were moving from the suburbs of Melbourne or Sydney out to the Macedon Ranges or Tasmania. Some of the responses we received were:
- Cheaper housing. We can sell our place in the suburbs, buy a new home further out, and have a couple hundred thousand bucks left over to pay off debt or save for retirement.
- It’s a better place to raise kids. We want to have a decent backyard and more of a community spirit you just can’t get in the city.
- We can work from anywhere. Why not live somewhere we love to be? Fresh air, away from the rat race, traffic and high density living.
Sound like this could be you? Want to make your tree change a reality? Here’s our experience from those who’ve made the change.
The good: You can start afresh, build a new social network, enjoy a change of pace, live for less with more affordable housing, and enjoy a community feel – and you’ll probably save money without Uber Eats!
The bad: You might be moving away from friends and family, increasing your distance from hospitals and airports, limiting your job opportunities, lengthening your commute – and of course, losing Uber Eats.
Before you make a move, there are a couple of things it might help to consider.
Location. You can live anywhere in the world if you want, but you might want to consider your family and your health. You might have to sacrifice travel time on weekends to see family and friends if you move away. What type of services do you personally need nearby – medical expertise if you have a health condition, good internet access if you work online, etc.
Work. Can you secure a job in the locale you’re moving to? Many employers these days are flexible, and allow you to work remotely part- or full-time. Are you starting your own business? If you love your current job, why not create a plan to work from a remote location and pitch it to your boss.
Home. You may want acreage to start a hobby farm, or you might be content with just a good-size block with enough room for your home and a decent backyard. The initial and ongoing costs will vary dramatically between the two, with the more land you want leading to higher price initially, and ongoing maintenance costs to consider, as well as infrastructure like equipment and machinery, and more investment of your personal time.
Finally, what extra costs might you face on your tree change?
- Relocation costs. A mover’s truck, travel to your new home (be it plane tickets or fuel), pet housing, etc.
- Housing. When selling you’ll have agent fees, advertising fees, and legal costs. When buying you’ll face stamp duty, mortgage fees, and legal fees. There may be cleaning costs required.
- Time. You will need to take hours to relocate and get setup, and that’s time off work, away from leisure, and may take longer than you hope.
- House to home. You probably want to give your new home a personal touch with alterations and improvements – be it blinds, carpets, renovations, new furniture and electronics, or cutlery.
In the end, a tree change will always be a bold new step. Consider how your family and friends might help, and if you’re struggling to decide whether to take the plunge, we’re here to help.
June 28, 2019
