If you've ever bought a home of any kind, you know about home buyers checklists. But you can't change property location, size, and exposure to sun and wind. Keep in mind that many "nice-to-haves" can be added later. Or they have non-negotiable needs when it comes to off grid toilets. Some people just don't like the idea of a property on a highway. Or maybe you just can't stand the idea of having neighbors nearby. For example, maybe your heart is set on a property overlooking the water. Once you've completed your wish list, identify your non-negotiables. Separate Your "Must-Haves" From Your "Nice-to-Haves" If you have opposite ideas about what you want in an off grid home, now's the time to find out. And make sure your husband or wife shares their thoughts about living off the grid too. Maybe this could include the type of home, type of heating, view (or not) location, on a lake or stream, with neighbors (or not), treed or fields, etc. List everything you want in your ideal property. And don't worry (yet) if they seem kind of "out there" or extreme. Now comes the fun part - making your off grid home wish list. So before you put in an offer to buy property three hours from the nearest hospital/school/work, think about whether your family can really "live anywhere." Make An Off Grid Homes Wish List Other things to consider include access to off grid internet, off grid communication, and the costs of moving off the grid to the area. That's one reason our hopes to move off the grid and homestead in northwestern Ontario failed. However, one of our children has a serious chronic illness and requires easy access to medical care. And living far, far away from anyone else. I work from home to make money off the grid, we homeschool, and we love the idea of being self-sufficient. Many of the people we know who live off the grid (including us) are still within an hour's drive of a town, for four big reasons. However, unless you're single and independently wealthy or you have your own business, your reality may not match your dreams. You plan to hunt, fish, forage, and garden to secure your food supply. You know, one with an outhouse for potty facilities and a wood stove for heat. Maybe you dream of moving your family to a cabin in the woods way off the beaten trail. Sometimes, (okay, most of the time) your fantasies and your reality are pretty far apart. Start by writing down your reasons for wanting to buy an off grid property and refer back to them when you're evaluating each property. Or they like the idea of off grid luxury homes equipped with the latest off grid appliances in spectacular locations. Today, many people are embracing minimalism, and want a basic, back-to-the-woods lifestyle. Maybe an off grid home is the only way to afford a property. Homesteading Off The GridĪnd others just want to try their hand at homesteading the "old-fashioned" way. Or they can't stand being dependent and are ready to pursue a more self reliant lifestyle. Some people simply want to get away from the noise, pollution, and fast pace of city life. Our friends include off grid homeowners who could be considered preppers, survivalists, or backwoodsmen. There are many different reasons for choosing this type of lifestyle and property. Knowing exactly what you want (and don't want) will save you time choosing the best property for your situation, even more than if you're buying a traditional home. Why Do YOU Want to Get Off The Grid?īe really honest about why you want to live off the grid. Next, use these tips in this post and in our Free Resource Library to help make a wiser decision when you're looking at off grid properties. Start by identifying your family's off grid living and homesteading needs. Picking the wrong off grid property or homestead can be an especially costly mistake that will leave you and your family miserable. If you're seriously considering moving off the grid, think carefully about what you want and need in a property. (We also have a propane stove and cooktop. And to fine-tune our woodstove cooking and heating skills. We had to learn how to troubleshoot our old boiler, as well as our new one. This includes solar panels, generators, and an inverter. And we had to learn how to navigate the systems that run our home. After a couple of years away for work, we returned in 2017 and have lived here ever since. We bought our own home off the grid in Canada's Northwest Territories back in 2013. The picture you see with this post is part of the view from our back deck. Having a great view was important to us, and we definitely got one.
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