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He concurs that most clients find a better life away from the urban grind and believes that the

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He concurs that most clients find a better life away from the urban grind, and believes that the few who struggle haven't timed the move properly: "When people leave it too late to make new friends, the move is very difficult," he says. They want a higher quality of life and space to run around," he says.In Lawson's experience, most people are happy they made the move: "I don't think any of my clients who buy in the country have said: 'Oh God, I've made a mistake.' I've heard of people who have moved before they're ready and moved back in, but that's a pretty small percentage.'Jonathan Haward, managing director of County Homesearch, helps people find rural homes across the UK. In his experience the right time for many people is when tiny feet start pattering in their heads: "Many people think about moving out when they decide to have children. We also live 10 minutes' drive from glorious countryside, valleys swathed in apple orchards, mellow country pubs, excellent state schools - sounds blissful, right?Yes and no As my wife Claire has found, it's not an easy transition. While I wax lyrical about the joys of the countryside, she has found it much harder to settle. She misses the big-city buzz, the sense that she's at the heart of things. Her friends are mostly in London and she's much keener than me on the shops, cinemas, restaurants and galleries that, although only an hour away, seem much further.

Another big difference is that I'm London-born and bred, so have had my fill of it, whereas Claire grew up in a small town, so hates the thought of everyone knowing her business, rather than the protective anonymity of urban life.So is moving out for everyone? Is there a right time to do it, or a certain type of person for whom the move will be a success? I spoke to some property experts to find out. Mark Lawson is a partner at Knight Frank estate agents in central London, and specialises in finding country properties for well-heeled Londoners. need I go on? We could never have afforded a property like this in the capital - it boasts a 100-foot garden and cost just £225,000, which many of our London-dwelling friends have paid for garden-less, cramped two-bed flats. In addition, our house is two minutes' walk from a mainline station, so we can be in London Bridge in an hour for work or all the good stuff - arthouse movies, restaurants, bars, gigs, galleries - that the capital has to offer. No more urban ugliness, either architectural or spiritual; no dodging dog crap or looking over your shoulder as you hurry home from the station at night; no choking on carbon monoxide, road rage, cattle-truck Tubes, predatory traffic wardens, ludicrous property prices...

But by the end of that day, I fell asleep in a spacious three-bed Victorian property in Staplehurst, Kent, a very happy man. My wife and I had discussed making the big move for years, and finally we bit the bullet and did it. For me, every day since has been an affirmation of this decision - I love it here. need I go on? One morning recently I woke up in my cramped two-bed house in Plaistow, east London, as I had every morning for the past three years.

One morning recently I woke up in my cramped two-bed house in Plaistow, east London, as I had every morning for the past three years. Either of the two apartments would probably suit us, and property number three's location sounds particularly tempting. We have had enough of central-city living and would prefer to be based in a nearby suburb so that we can enjoy easy access to the countryside and the conveniences of the city when we want them." If you would like House Hunter's help, write to House Hunter, The Independent, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, or e-mail with full details: househunter independent.co.uk. As for the properties themselves; number two sounds very charming but is much too big for our needs and is also rather more than we hope to pay. We also like the idea of being in close proximity to other countries, especially Austria which we've also visited and liked very much.

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