Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

Here is a new blog post from a guest author contributing to
Lang’s Kitchen & Bath’s website.  We hope you find this topic helpful!

For many of us, 2020 changed the way we look at the places we live and the way we work. It made many of us dread staying indoors after spending months being unable to leave. But that dread also caused many individuals and families to leave crowded cities behind in favor of a calmer, quieter life in the suburbs.

If you are considering joining them, what questions do you need to ask yourself before you sign on the dotted line and begin your new suburban life?

1.   What Does My Budget Look Like?

Before you consider moving to the suburbs, you need to take a closer look at your budget. Suburban living is often touted as more cost-effective than city life. On the surface, that might sound like a great way to save money. But there are some hidden costs that many people overlook.

Your spartan apartment furniture, for example, will not be enough to fill up the more expansive square footage of a suburban home. Keeping these larger homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer will end up costing more as well.

Additionally, unless you are choosing to rent, you will have more maintenance costs to contend with. You will not have a landlord or building manager that you can call on to carry out expensive repairs if something breaks. Take a close look at your budget before deciding.

2.   How Long Will My Commute Be?

As things slowly start to return to normal, we may find ourselves having to commute back to the office. Keep this in mind when choosing your suburban locale. If you are too far from your office, the cost of your commute could become prohibitive.

It becomes even more expensive if you do not have a car and need to purchase one to make the trip to and from work every day.

Keep that in mind when you are looking for the perfect suburb. It is a good idea to talk to your employer, too, and find out what their plans are for working conditions post-pandemic. If they are sticking to remote work, then moving to the suburbs can be a great way to cut costs and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

3.   What Do the School Districts Look Like?

If you do not have kids, feel free to skip ahead to the next question.

If you have kids, another important thing you will need to consider is what the school districts look like in your new neighborhood. Everyone wants their kids to have access to the best schools available, and the school your child or children can attend will depend on your address and what school that address is zoned for.

Take the time to research everything from schools to playgrounds and day care facilities, especially if you have younger children and might need child care. This will end up being one of the most important variables to consider when you are deciding whether to move to the suburbs.

4.   Will I Have Access to Everything I Need?

One of the biggest benefits of living in the city is that you have everything you need at your fingertips. Everything from restaurants and shopping options to hospitals and options for medical care is all a short drive from your home.

While the suburbs are more developed than they may have been in decades past, with some sources even calling them the new cities, your options for schools, shopping, and doctor’s appointments are a lot more limited.

Take an objective look at the services you use frequently. Do not think about things like fast-food restaurants. Instead, look at the things that are necessary for your health and wellness, from doctor’s appointments and classrooms to groceries — especially if you have specific dietary needs.

If there are specific things that you want or need access to, make sure they are within driving distance or that you are willing to make the trip.

5.   How Much Space Do I Need in My New Home?

Moving from a small city apartment, where space is at a premium, to a larger suburban single-family home can be a bit of a shock.

How much space do you really need in your new home? Do you need multiple bathrooms or are you living by yourself? Maybe you are living by yourself but want a secondary bathroom just for guests.

What about a kitchen? Do you need a lot of room to prepare food, or are you going to spend most of your time eating takeout in front of the TV? On that same train of thought, will there be enough local places for you to get takeout in the suburbs compared to what you are used to in the city?

6.   Am I Worried About Maintaining My Social Life?

People love living in the city because it gives them access to a bustling social nightlife, from clubs and movies to theaters and anything else in between. You can still maintain a social presence and an active social life from the suburbs, but you will need to work at it.

If you are not worried about this element, then this question does not matter as much. If you are, then just be prepared for the amount of work you’ll need to put in. It can be worth it if that sort of thing is important to you.

Moving to the suburbs does not necessarily mean you are doomed to the soccer-mom-apple-pie life. It will just take a bit more work to maintain it.

7.   What Can I Live Without, and What Are My Priorities?

The world’s cities and suburbs have some things in common, but they also offer entirely distinctive environments. There are many aspects of suburban living you just cannot find as easily in a city, if at all.

Consider the appeal and importance of green spaces. Not every city prioritizes these during urban design, despite well-founded claims about the physical and mental health benefits. If you regularly feel the need to spend time among trees, you will find it easier to do in the suburbs.

What about water? If you value proximity to lakes, ponds, forests and hiking trails, the suburbs put you one step closer. If you have ever dreamed about owning and customizing your own pool and deck, you can probably forget about doing that in the thick of city living.

You are still not as close to nature as you would be in a purely rural area, but you will find it more convenient than if you live in a dense metro area without a car or other means to escape city limits.

Looking Forward

Moving to the suburbs is becoming increasingly popular as more people switch to remote work. If you are considering this option, make sure you take a look at everything, from the kinds of services you use regularly, to whether or not you’ll be required to commute back into the office once things start getting back to normal.

If you want a calm and quiet life, the suburbs might be the best choice for you. If you prefer the hustle and bustle of the city, you might want to hold off on buying a new house in the ‘burbs.