How to choose a great country house for the summer

1. Distance from the city

Consider two important factors:

How will you get to the site. If by your own car - the distance does not matter. It's a different matter if you are going to use public transport exclusively. Check how far the house is from the train station or bus stop: will you be able to cover this path on foot or will you have to call a taxi? And remember that if a difficult epidemiological situation persists in the summer, the site can only be left if absolutely necessary.
How often do you plan to get out into the city. If, nevertheless, from time to time it will be necessary to leave the cottage, it is better to rent real estate next to the road and not too far from the city.

2. Shops within walking distance

Look at panoramic maps and make sure there are:

Grocery store. You will hardly want to go somewhere far just because you run out of milk or bread.
Hardware store. If you need to buy dishwashing detergent, sponge or something similar. Perhaps you will find a chain supermarket: there will be both groceries and manufactured goods.
Pharmacy. Of course, it is worth leaving the city with a first-aid kit, where there will be essential medicines: antihistamine, antipyretic, enterosorbent. But a pharmacy within walking distance is also good.

3. Closeness to nature

Ask the owner of the house or the real estate agency if there is a forest, lake or other body of water near the property. If it's too close, there may be a lot of insects: mosquitoes, midges, ticks. Be prepared for this and arm yourself with repellents in advance.

In general, being close to nature is always more a plus than a minus. There will be places to go for a walk, you can look for mushrooms and berries in the forest, and if you're lucky, you can also swim in the lake.

4. Distance to hospital

The infirmary should be within easy reach, not on the other side of the river or a few hours away. This is absolutely important in case something unexpected happens that requires urgent help. For example, a leg injury, cut, poisoning, exacerbation of a chronic disease.

5. Condition of the patio

If you are moving out of town for a month or for the whole summer, it is important that the adjoining plot is well-groomed and spacious. After all, you are not moving closer to nature in order to be locked up all day.

Ideally, there should be a table and chairs around the house so that you can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just drink tea while sitting in the fresh air.

The condition of the patio is especially important if you are with children. It will be unsafe for them to play in an unkempt and overgrown area: the tall grass can hide dangerous debris, such as glass shards, plus it is so easy not to notice the roots sticking out of the ground, stumble and fall.

6. Condition of communal systems

Relaxing for a couple of days or a week in a simple country house without the benefits of civilization can be an interesting experience. But it will be difficult to spend a month or a whole summer in such conditions.

To relax in comfort, check before renting:

how often in a dacha association or village where you are going to rent a house, power outages;
is there in the house bath or shower or all hygiene procedures - only in the bath;
which toilet on the site - connected to the sewer or street with a cesspool;
have you been brought into the house water or it needs to be drawn into the tank from the well;
how often the water is turned off.

7. Amenities at home

The minimum set of equipment is a refrigerator and a stove. It is very good if there is a washing machine and a fan.

To be able to come and check in light, check if there are dishes in the house: mugs, plates, salad bowl, saucepan and frying pan, cutlery, kettle, as well as bed linen and towels.

8. Internet quality

Sometimes in suburban areas the signal is caught very poorly and only at one point, somewhere near the apple tree or in the attic. If you plan to work remotely, be sure to discuss with the owner of the house about connecting to another provider. Another option is to find out what offers for unlimited Internet your mobile operator has.

9. Availability of insurance

Check with the landlord if the property is insured. If not, this is not a reason to give up the perfect house. You can take out insurance yourself, and online.

The process is almost the same as for regular home insurance. The only difference is that when completing the contract, in the column "Beneficiary" you will indicate not yourself, but the owner of the property. If you do not know the exact details of the owner, you can take out insurance "At the expense of whom it follows". In this case, the name does not need to be indicated, and the owner of the house will receive compensation after providing supporting documents.

It is imperative to spend money on insurance - for your own peace of mind. If something happens to the house, such as a short circuit and a fire, at least it will be possible to get a refund.

And remember: wherever you are - in your apartment or in the country, you need to follow basic safety and personal hygiene measures, especially if the epidemiological situation is still difficult. There is no need to immediately invite all neighbors to barbecue and invite friends from the city upon arrival. This is just as important as having insurance.