Picture this: it’s Saturday morning, it snowed the night before and you’ve been looking forward to hitting the slopes all week. One problem: Your driveway is snowed in.
You have two options: 1. Spend the morning shovelling or snow-blowing, potentially missing those precious first tracks. Or, 2. Leave the driveway clearing for later on. But will you really want to come home and shovel your walkway afterwards?
Your time is likely better spent relaxing your muscles and enjoying your après-ski of choice.
That’s where maintenance-free living comes in. In this post, we’re covering everything you need to know about living in a maintenance-free community in Utah.
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What is a Maintenance-Free Community?
As the name implies, a maintenance-free community is a planned neighborhood with a homeowner’s association that takes care of the maintenance and upkeep of the area. These communities take some of the pressure and burden off homeowners to maintain the property, freeing up your time to anything other than shovel snow, cut grass, etc.
Who is Maintenance-Free Living Made For?
The short answer is everyone. In our busy lives, any spare time we can carve out is precious. So why spend that valuable time on chores when you can leave it to someone else? Anyone who lives in Salt Lake City, or even all of Utah for that matter, will tell you about the importance of downtime and recreation.
People live here to enjoy the spectacular natural wonders and year-round outdoor activities. We value our free time. In any given maintenance-free community, you might find:
- Avid outdoors people – From hiking and biking to skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, and beyond. There’s so much to do here all year long there’s barely enough time in the day to fit it all. This is why many active people choose to live in a maintenance-free community.
- Families – ‘Busy’ doesn’t even begin to describe the calendar of your average Salt Lake City family. From schoolwork to after-school activities, sports, birthday parties, you name it. When your schedule is filled to the brim with other commitments, living in a maintenance-free community feels like heaven with one less thing to worry about.
- Retirees and Empty Nesters – For many people of a certain age in Salt Lake City, retirement can feel like a new beginning. Selling your family home in favor of a property in a maintenance-free neighborhood allows you to try new things, expand your horizons, and enjoy your golden years to the fullest.
If you’ve got real estate on your mind, here are a few more posts you might find interesting:
- When is the Right Age to Rightsize?
- Move-Up Buyers: When is the Right Time to Buy a New Home?
- Home Inspections—Are they Necessary?
What is Covered by the HOA in a Maintenance-Free Community?
The extent of what’s provided in these planned communities depends on the community itself. They can include any combination of condo apartments, townhomes, or detached homes—perfect options for the diverse range of residents mentioned above.
When you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, you can expect to pay a fee each month to cover the maintenance items offered.
Some of the most common items you can expect an HOA to cover include:
- General upkeep and maintenance of the building and its common areas (for condos)
- Building insurance and utilities (typically condos only, but it means you have fewer monthly bills to worry about)
- Snow removal (either for parking lots or personal driveways)
- Lawncare and landscaping (grass cutting, flower bed maintenance, pest control, etc.)
- Maintenance of amenities (some communities have clubhouses, pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, and other amenities that might need attention)
Thinking about making the move to Utah? Learn more about our relocation services here.
Is Living in a Maintenance-Free Community More Expensive?
The nice thing about living in a planned community is that there’s something out there for everyone. For example, are you an avid golfer? There are numerous maintenance-free communities planned entirely around beautiful fairways and greens. Do you live for days on the slopes? Some maintenance-free communities are within walking distance of pristine ski hills.
The cost of living in a maintenance-free neighborhood is impacted by the regular things that affect home prices such as property size, type, age, location, amenities, etc. More amenities, a sought-after location, and a larger home will always be more expensive than smaller properties with fewer amenities.
That said, maintenance-free living in Utah is ubiquitous at any price point. So much of our local culture is rooted in the outdoors and enjoying recreational activities that maintenance-free living is quite popular.
Whether you’re looking for high luxury in the brand-new Deer Valley East Village, or you prefer tranquil 55+ living at Salt Lake City’s Wasatch Hollow, or maybe you’re looking for a unique community to raise your family at Terraine in West Jordan, there’s a community for your unique needs and budget.
Living in Salt Lake City is all about the lifestyle! To find out what it’s really like to live here, read these posts next:
- What is Salt Lake City Like in the Summer?
- Salt Lake City Community Guide
- Top 4 Mountain Bike Trails Near Salt Lake City
- Our Favorite Spots for White Water Rafting Near Salt Lake City
- 5 Quintessential Winter Activities in Salt Lake City
How To Find a Maintenance-Free Community in Utah?
This is where we come in! If the idea of maintenance-free living appeals to you, the first step is to speak with a local real estate agent. Someone familiar with the Salt Lake City real estate market can help you expertly navigate master-planned communities, HOAs, and more, ensuring you find the right home in the right neighborhood so you can spend less time worrying about chores and more time doing the things you love!
Looking for maintenance-free communities in Salt Lake City and the surrounding area? I can help! Give me a call at 801-949-9878 or send me an email at Julia@JuliaSplan.com.
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