It Might Be Your Dream Home, But Are You Prepared For These Realities Of Buying A Rural Property?

Rural life holds a lot of appeal for many of us. As well as tempting benefits like plenty of fresh air and privacy, rural properties themselves tend to be bigger and more picturesque. They often come complete with ample amounts of land. 

It’s easy to fall headfirst in love with a property like this. However, as with all relationships, these houses aren’t always as perfect as they seem. In fact, rural properties that have often been left to rot can hide more problems beneath the surface than that moody boy you dated when you were eighteen. 

That’s not to say this can’t still be a wonderful love story. It does mean you need to prepare yourself by facing the following potential realities of a rural property head-on. 

# 1 – Sharing Your Home with Rodents

There’s always a risk that you’re going to face rodents like rats and mice pretty when moving into a rural home. 

This is a big problem if a property sat empty for a while, as rodents are harder to get rid of the more established, they are, and the more damage they’ve done to your home. When you first move in, look out for signs of infestation that might include evident droppings, claw marks, or scratching sounds. 

If you notice any of these, contact a professional who can find precisely where rodents are getting in, and inform you of the best ways to make sure you’re the only inhabitants of your new home moving forward. 

# 2 – Raindrops Keep Falling on Your Head

Rural properties tend to be more exposed to the elements than homes in the city. As a result, they may develop cracks, holes, and issues that let unwanted leaks in.

When doing an initial walk around your home, inspect the attic for telltale signs of leaking caused by cracked or missing roof tiles. Equally, look at your walls for excessive areas of damp or water tidemarks around things like your windows. 

If you suspect leaks in your attic, contact a roofing company that can guide you on the need for repairs or roof replacements. Equally, if leaks seem to originate around your windows, it may be worth investing in a replacement to keep your home leakproof at last. 

# 3 – A Lack of Safe Water

There’s no guarantee that you’ll have access to safe drinking water when you move into a rural home, if you have water at all! 

Before your move, invest in water testing kits that will immediately inform you whether your tap water contains contaminants. If it does, stick with bottled water for now, and contact a plumbing professional who can install measures like a water softener, or even replace your pipes, to ensure healthier water moving forward. 

Takeaway

Moving into a rural property is a dream, no matter the issues you can expect to face there. Still, the best way to remain in love with your ideal home no matter what is to face these potential problems head-on with the help of these top tips.