Thinking about moving to the countryside?
We have visited more than 50 houses in the countryside in several countries in Europe,

here are 10 of our best tips for finding your dream home: 

1. Make a list of what is important to YOU
   Location, climate, neighbors, access roads, condition of buildings, number of buildings, size of land, quality of land, climate risks, access to water, proximity to amenities; all these criteria are important besides the price. Think about what your own permaculture paradise should look like. Make a mood board, talk about it a lot with your partner, family, friends.
2. Take your time
   Take enough time to find your own permaculture paradise. It took us more than 7 years to find the house of our dreams. We had a vague plan to start a permaculture farm, combined with testing innovative products that contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. Only after visiting many houses, areas and websites did our plan become more concrete.
   
3. Ask for Geolocation data
   Ask the exact location of the property before the visit and do thorough research online about the area around the house.
   We wasted a lot of time visiting great houses near pig farms, busy roads, quarries and other nuisances. If you can’t find the property on Google Earth, ask the agent.
4. Visit as many houses as possible
   It’s almost impossible to visit more than 3 houses a day in the countryside, especially in mountainous areas. Make sure you’re not in a hurry; this gives you time to really get to know the area.
5. Enjoy the search
   House hunting takes you to places you might never have visited otherwise. And it also gives you the opportunity to meet local people who can tell you more about the area. We really enjoyed this aspect of house hunting because it gives you a purpose and something to talk about. No holiday was complete without visiting at least one abandoned farmhouse or Maison de Maître.
6. There’s always a reason a house is cheap
   Remember: there’s probably a good reason a house is cheap, and the solution is always expensive – sometimes even impossible. During our house hunting we saw many ‘friendly priced’ houses. There were many surprises and disappointments along the way; imagine finding your dream house and it being infested with termites…
7. Always ask yourself ‘Is this the best place for my project?’
   Don’t be blinded by charm or location alone, they don’t pay the bills. Make a budget for the next 5 years, with the idea that you will hopefully become more self-sufficient. Even if you have enough money left over after buying, restoring and building, always make sure there is at least one good business opportunity, whether it’s renting out rooms or selling produce from the land.
8. Make sure the ‘Grandes Oeuvres’ are in order
   A leaking roof or a collapsing wall are great TV, but not so much fun when you’re struggling with a tight budget. Make sure the ‘Grandes Oeuvres’ are in order, as they say in France. That means roof, walls and floor/woodwork are in order. Unless you are prepared to spend a lot of time and money on renovation.
9. No Quick Fix for Abandoned Houses
   Many of the houses we visited were abandoned and had been empty for a while. An empty old house may look charming but will almost certainly have problems when it comes to the ‘Grandes Oeuvres’ mentioned above.
10. Follow your heart.
    Emotion is also part of looking for a house. You must feel at home somewhere, it has to have that magical ‘Je ne sais quoi’. Ask yourself: what if the property were to be sold to someone else now? Of course you can always find another place, but if the feeling is right and it meets most of the other requirements, what are you waiting for? Make an offer anyway! Or contact me for help.
    
    
    For questions and more information, please contact us. We may be able to help you find your dream home in Asturias!