Moving to Cornwall (an in-comers view)
Cornblogger - blogging about Cornwall
10 important things to consider before moving to Cornwall |
| Posted on Jun 23 2008 >> Back |
Before moving home most of us compile long lists “For” and “Against”.
Below, is a list of 10 important things you might want to consider before you move to Cornwall - or anywhere else for that matter!
1. Why are you moving?
For some it’s work related and for others it’s a retirement dream or a desire to downsize and get out of the rat-race.
Whatever your reason, be sure it’s the right one, as moving in a hurry when not properly thought through can result in a great deal of stress, heartache and financial loss.
2. How will you feel about leaving your friends and family behind?
Leaving people you know and love can be a heart-wrenching thing to do for everyone concerned.
Mums, dads, grandparents, neighbours, brothers and sisters will probably all miss you! Some might even try to dissuade you and convince you not to go. So is moving away the right thing for you to do?
Of course the answer is rarely simple (unfortunately) but you should consider how you and your friends and family will feel when you have gone.
3. If you have children, have you considered the loss of your support network?
Children are amazing (we have two at the time of writing!) and they have the wonderful ability to move on and accept change.
However, when you have been living in an area for a long time, you (the parents) build up a hidden layer of support via friends and family or even just a routine that you adhere to.
When you move it’s likely that all of this will be left behind and it’s worth considering what it will be like on your own until you develop your new “support network”.
4. Are you moving out of your comfort zone?
If you’re used to living in the middle of the countryside or a tiny fishing village, you need to as yourself whether it’s a good idea to move to a large town or city? This obviously works in reverse too.
My point is, if you’re used to living in a city it can be amazing how quiet and isolated a “place in the country” can seem.
5. Have you researched the place you are moving to?
Research always pays off, be it for schools, colleges, work, builders, shopping or buses.
Cornwall is a long way from most of the UK and sometimes it seems to operate at its own pace.
This can be one of the reasons to move but when you need something done in a hurry, Cornwall is not always the best place to be!
6. Are you moving somewhere based on holiday memories?
We all, at one time or another, have come back from holiday wishing we could stay there for the rest of our lives.
It’s a wonderful feeling and drives many people to move back to the “place of their dreams”.
This can be a good and a bad thing depending on the accuracy of your memories, so I would always advise going back to see if you still feel the same about it now or in the winter maybe.
7. Is Cornwall physically suited to you?
Cornwall has a varied and beautiful landscape. Some of it has a rugged, rocky coastline whilst other parts are rich and tropical in nature. Mainly though, it’s a lot of ups and downs and wiggly roads!
When looking to buy a home in Cornwall, make sure you can cope with and are happy to live somewhere which is not based on convenience stores and shopping centres. Be prepared for very narrow lanes, no parking outside your home and a tourist influx in the summer.
Car sickness can also be a problem, especially if you have children who are not used to it. We have had to slow right down to prevent the children being sick in the back of the car!
8. Have you budgeted for future expenses and can you wait for builders to show up?
Money - if you have it is great but if you don’t, well be sure to buy somewhere that doesn’t require a lot of work or maintenance.
Many of the properties in Cornwall, the older ones anyway, have been neglected by their owners for decades!
As long as you are not in any hurry and the roof is not about to fall in on your head, then buying an older property can be very rewarding. However, if you are the impatient type, either be prepared to wait or buy a property that doesn’t require any building work.
9. Have you considered that you might stay here for the rest of your life?
Sometimes the excitement of moving can blur any thoughts about identity and where you belong.
Picture this. You’ve lived in Hertfordshire all your life and you’re used to the gentle rolling fields and open landscape. One day you wake up thinking how boring it has become (no offence meant to those living in Hertfordshire) and you decide to move to Cornwall.
When you get here you suddenly feel you are a Hertfordshire boy or girl at heart and not Cornish but moving back is not financially possible.
10. What now?
What happens if it doesn’t work out?
Last but not least, what will you do if you decide that Cornwall isn’t right for you?
Maybe you just can’t consider this right now but Cornwall is quite different and can take some getting used to.
Just a thought!
Have you thought about any of the above before?
Let me know if you have and if you have any other points you’d like to pass on to others.