Tips for Adjusting to Suburban Living after Moving out of the City

With years of the COVID-19 pandemic adjusting the way we live, it’s also adjusted how we think about our home and neighborhood.

In our area, experiencing city life by spending at least a few years living in Richmond VA is a rite of passage. Because cities quite literally pack a lot in, they’re a fun and convenient place to live. Your favorite restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and even your friends’ houses can be within walking distance.

Whether your job has gone remote, you’re longing for a large yard for your dog, or you’re ready for a new adventure, perhaps you’re considering the next phase of life: moving out of the city and embracing suburban living.

Interest in moving to the suburbs has been on the rise recently for a few reasons:

1) The housing market is hot: Even if you’re ready for suburban living, interest in living in Richmond VA remains high for plenty of homebuyers. That means if you own your place in the city, you’ll likely be able to secure top dollar when you’re ready to sell.

2) Remote work: For employees with the option to work from home, being in close proximity to the city-based office might no longer be a necessity. With a lengthy commute off the table, people are able to consider neighborhoods that weren’t an option before, including popular suburbs. And since most people who work from home need some sort of dedicated home office, it’s likely that a cozy city apartment just won’t cut it.

3) You need the space: Whether you’re considering having kids soon or just want more space for yourself, finding a home that fits the bill in the city might be a challenge. Moving to the suburbs is often accompanied by more storage space and sizeable yards which will likely make the next phase of your life a little easier, or at the very least a little roomier.

It’s not uncommon for people to consider living in the suburbs at some point, that’s not an entirely pandemic-induced phenomenon. But during the pandemic, we’ve seen people take that leap a little earlier than they might otherwise. Suburban living certainly has its advantages. But, if you’ve been living in Richmond VA for a while, you might be surprised by the transition period required to get into the swing of things after moving out of the city.

EMBRACE SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT 

Making friends in the city feels easy, with ample opportunities to make connections. You have a similar running route as a friendly-face down the street, so you strike up a conversation, or you chat with your neighbor while you check the mail. By contrast, after moving to the suburbs, you might realize that you feel a bit lonely. Fortunately, many suburban neighborhoods have online groups that open the door for connecting with others nearby. Click around your neighborhood’s online resources to see if there’s an upcoming gathering you can attend, a tradition you can take part in, or a club you can join. It might take a bit of trial and error, but you’ll find your place in your new community in no time.

ENTERTAIN AT HOME

If you’ve been living in Richmond VA, you might not be used to hosting. Sure, there are homes in the city where this isn’t the case, with even more on the way soon.  But with so many hip spots nearby you were probably more likely to meet a friend for a drink after work than to host a dinner party. There aren’t quite as many gathering spots when living in the suburbs, and most often you’ll probably be inviting friends over to your home. Be sure to keep this in mind when you’re house hunting. The ability to Live Up by welcoming friends to a home with an open floor plan or get together in a spacious yard are just a couple of the benefits of suburban living.

UTILIZE YOUR CAR

Walking to the grocery store or for your morning cup of coffee might not be in the cards once you’re living in the suburbs. As a result, you’ll likely be behind the wheel a lot more often than you’re used to with city living. Fortunately, a car broadens what’s available to you, especially in Greater Richmond. Depending on the neighborhood you choose, groceries, restaurants, and other conveniences are likely just a short drive away. Subscribe to a few new podcasts or make a playlist and you’ll be accustomed to using a car again in no time. Hey, maybe you’ll even try that just-out-of-reach specialty store that you wouldn’t have considered before. In fact, you might even find that suburban living actually broadens your horizons because more is within reach once you’re driving there.

CITY CULTURE IS STILL NEARBY

Living in Richmond VA is special, and the culture and atmosphere that comes along with living in the city is part of what makes it so hard to leave. Fortunately, moving to the suburbs doesn’t mean you’re abandoning all the culture you love. Richmond’s foodie and brewery-based culture seeps into the nearby suburbs, so you’ll still have access to some of the things you love about city-living. And remember that set of wheels we talked about? The things you miss about living in Richmond VA will still be just a short drive away. Maybe you won’t be visiting your favorite spots on a nightly basis anymore, but they’ll be waiting with open arms when you head into the city on the weekends.

CHOOSE A STYLECRAFT COMMUNITY IN THE SUBURBS OF RICHMOND

Choosing between the city and the suburbs isn’t always an easy decision, each option has unique appeal. Fortunately, whichever option you choose, there’s a StyleCraft community for you. If you’re a city-dweller through and through, The Outpost at Brewers Row combines the walkability and convenience of city living, with the open floor plans, ample space, and garage that you might otherwise look to the suburbs to find. Alternatively, if your plans include moving to the suburbs, we have a variety of communities around Greater Richmond to choose from. The Overlook at Hancock Village and Mosaic at West Creek offer plenty of space, thoughtful floorplans, and are conveniently located by shopping so that you don’t completely miss out on the convenience of city living.

Not sure which community is right for you? Contact us to learn more, or schedule your own, self-guided tours.