Many house hunters are so focused on finding the ideal house, yard, and neighborhood, that they sometimes sacrifice one of their main objectives: a short commute to work.

At first, a long drive to the office may seem like a small price to pay for finding your ideal house, but your outlook might change when the tedium of commuter gridlock becomes a daily burden.

Fortunately, there are ways to ease the stress of being stuck in rush-hour traffic twice a day.

Car pooling: By sharing driving responsibilities with one or two other people, you can reduce the overall stress of your trip to the office. You can also save money on gas, highway tolls, and parking fees. Assuming you find carpooling companions whose company you enjoy, time will pass a lot faster. Then, of course, there's the advantage of less wear and tear on your car. Although carpooling may not be as idyllic as living 15 or 20 minutes from work, it can be an effective way to ease the burden of back-and-forth driving.

Telecommuting: As technology advances and more and more people are adapting to it, the option of working from home is becoming increasingly popular. When you consider the many options there are for document sharing and communicating remotely, you may have a strong case for proposing a work-from-home arrangement with your employer. Even though it may be necessary to meet face-to-face with coworkers, colleagues, and clients a few days a week, the ability to split your work time between home and office can save you time, money, and aggravation. As long as you can maintain your productivity working from home, it may turn out to be a life-changing arrangement! Granted, it doesn't work for everyone, but it may be well worth looking into -- at least on a part-time basis.

Public Transportation: If you happen to live close to a train station, then public transportation might be the perfect solution to an otherwise long, tedious drive into the city. Instead of concentrating on road signs and traffic conditions, you can read a book, listen to your favorite music, or prepare for a meeting or presentation. You can also check your email, get a head start on your work day, or even sneak in a few minutes of sleep or meditation.

While the best option for many people is to buy a home that's within 30 minutes of their job or business, that may be difficult to accomplish for couples working in different locations. Long commutes can infringe on important aspects of your life, though, including family time, relaxation time, and being able to get things done around the house. Not having enough time to "recharge your battery," every day, can eventually take its toll on your health, your relationships, and your outlook on life. If finding a house close to work is not panning out, then alternatives like telecommuting, carpooling, and public transportation may be, at least, a partial solution.

Selling a home usually requires various investments along the way. In fact, some of the most common house selling costs include:

1. Lawn Care

Maintaining a neat, tidy lawn is crucial, particularly for a seller who wants to stir up significant interest in his or her residence. As such, it generally is a good idea to account for lawn care costs as you put together a house selling budget.

Sometimes, home sellers hire professionals to mow the lawn, trim the hedges and conduct other lawn care tasks. If you decide to enlist lawn care professionals, you should explore all of the options at your disposal. That way, you can find a lawn care provider that offers a terrific mix of affordability and convenience.

You also can perform regular lawn care tasks on your own. This will allow you to eliminate the cost of a lawn care provider and ensure your lawn will impress potential buyers any time they see your residence.

2. Home Repairs

House repairs can be expensive, especially if an individual has failed to maintain his or her residence properly. If you dedicate time and energy to analyze your house, you can identify home problems and prioritize property repairs accordingly.

It may be helpful to conduct a house inspection before you list your residence. During a home inspection, a property expert will review your residence and identify any underlying issues. Then, you can use a home inspection report to determine how you can improve your residence.

Of course, you can limit home repair costs by completing property improvements on your own. On the other hand, if you want to hire a professional, there is no shortage of home improvement specialists available in cities and towns nationwide. And if you reach out to local home improvement specialists, you should be able to find one who can fulfill your requests.

3. Utilities

If you relocate to a new house but still need to sell your prior residence, you will need to account for the latter home's water and electricity costs. Remember, a homebuyer likely will want to test a house's faucets and toilets to ensure running water is available before he or she purchases a house. At the same time, it may be tough to show a residence to buyers if no electricity is available.

As you get set to sell your residence, it may be beneficial to hire a real estate agent, too. A real estate agent is equipped to help a home seller streamline the property selling journey. Thus, if you want to learn about home selling expenses, a real estate agent is happy to teach you about them. Or, if you have questions about the home selling journey, a real estate agent can respond to them without delay.

Want to sell your residence? Consider the aforementioned home selling costs – you will be glad you did. Because if you develop a house selling budget, you can boost the likelihood of enjoying a successful property selling experience.