10 things you need to know about living in the country
Thinking of moving to the Matakana area?
We love the country life here... the slower pace, living close to nature, the community and the quiet. But some aspects of rural living can come as a bit of shock if you've come straight from a city.
In this blog post, we wont be covering farm related issues, simply some of the things to consider if you or someone you know are considering making a sea/tree change.
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1. Mobile Phone Coverage
It is something you can take for granted if you've come from a city but phone coverage can be a bit patchy depending on where you are. Before buying or renting your country property, check what the phone reception is like, have a look at the coverage of a few different phone providers and make yourself aware of any “dead spots” so you don't get caught out, especially in an emergency.
2. Driveways
If you're moving onto a lifestyle block, the chances are that you're driveway will probably be longer than your average city street! Putting in or maintaining a driveway is an expense people often forget about when moving to the country.
We recommend a gravel driveway for rural properties. They are relatively inexpensive, can handle heavy equipment, and add to the country charm of most homes. HERE is a blog post we created, all about laying a gravel driveway.
Remember to maintain your driveway every year. We created a blog post all about it which you can find HERE. This may including fixing pot holes, levelling or adding more gravel. The Little Digger Company specialise in laying and maintaining gravel drives. We can remove pot holes with our Bobcat, deliver and spread new gravel and make sure that your drainage is working well so you don't have gravel wash away in heavy rain.
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3. Power cuts
Trees across the road cutting the power line on the way can be expected in winter.
We recommend having a torch for each person in the house at the ready and a bit of cash for getting emergency supplies. Spare drinking water is always handy. You can see where this is going, no power = no pump = no water. Otherwise you’ll be bucketing water from the water tank…
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4. Septic system
Something you may not have considered… know what kind of system and understand your maintenance schedule - know who to call when it goes to shit.. Literally. We have a Biolytix system, which suits us. I use worms to efficiently and other organisms to convert household sewage into garden irrigation water. Through dripper lines waters the fruit trees. But remember these little dudes need regular feeding - if you know what I mean!
5. Tank water
Many properties in our area are on Tank Water. It's a fantastic self sufficient way to live. But it can take some getting used to, especially in times of less rain where you may need to curb your water usage to see you through. Find out if you're property has a bore hole or if you are permitted to put one in. Know who are local water contracts, as water quality does vary. Artesian & Solway Water or Rhodes for Roads Water are our go to suppliers. During summer months we highly recommend you book water well in advance.
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6. Commuting to Auckland
Auckland CBD may not be too far away but if you plan to commute by car you will realistically need to leave home before 6am due to the traffic.
The Mahu City Express bus travels from Warkworth to Auckland and takes a bit over an hour. There are only two bus times in both the morning and evening so just bear that in mind if you've been used to the flexibility of regular repeat services.
Even if you're not planning to commute on a daily basis you will find yourself having to travel a bit further for things like kids sporting competitions, specialist medical appointments, specialty shops etc.
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7. Drainage
Find out what sort of drainage systems are in place on a property before buying or renting. There's nothing worse than having a muddy/boggy lawn, driveway or field. Look for things like culverts over driveways, swales to redirect water away from buildings, paths or the driveway. See if you can find drainage pits/grates around the property which will tell you whether there is under-surface drains in place. Take a look at our blog post all about drainage HERE.
Give us a call if your drainage seems to be inadequate. We can come out and assess what needs to be put in and do the digging for you!
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8. Speed of internet
A lot of rural properties are still on copper wire for internet. This can be slow and frustrating, so if you are planning on running a business from home, take a good look at your options. Also, if a storm comes through and takes out the lines you can be without internet for days and days. This is another reason to check the phone service and wifi coverage in the area.
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9. School Zoning
As in any area, if you have children, it's important to look at schools in the area and consider which school you will be zoned for. Also have a look at transport such as the rural school buses or whether there are buses to private schools.
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10. Build up a little black book
Whenever you move to a new area you need to start again from scratch learning and getting to know all the local services in the area. Personal recommendations are the best way to find trusted service providers.
Join your local Facebook community group. You can ask for recommendations for the best plumbers, doctors, electricians etc in your area. Put all your contacts into a “little black book” of sorts so that you can call on the best people for the job when that time should arise.
We hope that this list of 10 things you need to know about living in the country helps you or a friend when deciding to make the move. For anything building, landscaping or garden related give our team a call. Our aim is to make your life simple as!