People who live in the city often have a romanticized idea of what it will be like to live in the country. With thoughts of organic gardens and sipping lemonade on the front porch from a mason jar dancing through their heads, many urbanites start shopping for rural homes without really understanding the challenges associated with acclimating to country life. Here are two differences between city and rural like to help you prepare for the change.

Getting Internet Service May Be Challenging

Internet service in the city is as omnipresent as air. You typically have multiple providers who can patch service through to your home and almost every business offers free Wi-Fi. And if neither of those are available, you can still use the data plan you have through your cell phone provider.

The same absolutely cannot be said about rural areas. Since populations in country towns tend to be smaller, many internet service providers don't feel it's profitable to provide service to those areas. This means many rural towns only have one or two providers at most, and sometimes none at all. Even getting data through your cell phone company can be tricky if your provider doesn't have a tower in the area.

That doesn't mean you have to give up on your dreams of living in the country. You can still typically get internet service through a satellite provider, though you may experience trouble getting online on stormy days. If your cell phone company has a tower in the area, you can usually buy a wireless data package, though be prepared to pay for the privilege.

In some cases, an internet service provider will run a cable to your home, but installation can cost several thousand dollars. On the plus side, though, you will probably get more money for your home when it comes time to sell it if you choose this option.

Take Out Isn't Always an Option

As a city dweller, when you're hungry and don't feel like cooking, chances are good you can just call the local pizza or Chinese food restaurant and have something delivered. Additionally, there's always a fast food place on the corner where you can drive to get something quick.

Like with internet services providers, the population in rural towns don't always justify building a lot of restaurants, fast food or not. Thus, you need to be prepared to cook your own meals 7 days a week when you move to the country, since the availability of quick meal options may be abysmal.

Since you'll be spending a lot of time in the kitchen, be sure to look for country homes that support your style of cooking. For instance, if you love to bake, consider getting a kitchen with a double oven so you can cook more in less time.

For more information about moving to the country or help with finding the perfect rural home for you, contact a real estate agent.

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