Nothing lasts forever. While your home might have had everything you were looking for once upon a time, things change. At some point in your life, you’ll need to sell up and move somewhere else.
The question is, how do you know when that time should be? Sometimes, knowing when you should begin looking at new properties hits you immediately, but that’s not usually how it happens. Moving towards the realization that it’s time to pack up and move is usually a slow process.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the telltale signs that your journey in your current abode might be coming to an end, and your new life in a more suitable property is about to begin.
1. You Have a Growing Family
Thinking of adding another member to your clan? Then you might need to begin searching the property listings. Even if you can accommodate another child in your home (say, you have another small bedroom), it’s worthwhile thinking about all the extra belongings that you’ll also need to store in your home.
That’s not to say that you should automatically move house just because you need more space. It’s worthwhile exploring smart storage solutions first or even looking at renting a storage unit. Though keep in mind that it might just be delaying the inevitable; it’s one thing to add a little baby to your home, but it’ll be another thing completely when they’ve become a teenager.
2. You Need To Downsize
On the other end of the spectrum, if your children are all grown up and have fled the nest, then it might make more sense to move to a smaller property. Living in a house with multiple bedrooms makes a lot of sense when you have a growing family, but it’s not usually a cost-effective way to live once there are only a couple of people in the household.
Moving for this reason can be a difficult decision, since, well, you’ll have plenty of happy memories of the house! But at some point, it makes more sense to make the decision with your head, rather than with your heart.
Don’t think of it as the end; think of it as the beginning of the next phase of your life. Plus, you can seriously elevate your spending power by selling a large property and moving into a smaller one.
3. You’re Undergoing a Life Change
You don’t automatically need to move home just because your life is changing. You can often stay right where you are. But there are some circumstances in which it’ll make sense.
For instance, let’s say you’ve decided to get serious with your romantic partner. Many couples choose to simply move into one of the couples’ respective properties, but it can be better to move to a “neutral” home. It’s easier to figure out how to co-exist when neither person already has a strict way of doing things.
Other life changes that might prompt a move include getting a new, better-paying job (or, on the other side, moving to a lower-paid job). Or maybe you have the exact same job, but you’re now permitted to work from home, which means you have the freedom to move to wherever you want, even if it’s not close to where you normally work.
4. The Neighborhood Is Changing
Neighborhoods, like people, change over time. That’s especially true in cities, where neighborhoods can change in a matter of years. But it’s something that affects suburban and rural areas, too.
If you’re beginning to get the sense that things “aren’t what they used to be,” then it’s worthwhile exploring the other options that are out there. It can be difficult to move away from a community that you once loved, but if you’re realizing that the glory days aren’t coming back anytime soon, it can be better to take the proactive step towards finding somewhere better.
5. You Find Yourself Browsing Property Websites
Sometimes, the hint that you’re growing tired of your existing home is a little more subtle. If you find yourself browsing property websites, then that could be an indication that there’s something about your living arrangement that’s not working for you anymore. After all, no one goes car shopping when they’re in love with their set of wheels. It’ll be even more of a sign that something needs to change if you’re looking at homes far from where you currently live. Looking at Harper Macleod properties in Edinburgh, or looking up rural homes in the south of Spain? That won’t just be a sign that it’s time to move house — or it could be a big hint that you’re getting itchy feet and that an adventure awaits.
6. The Commute Is Killing You
Most people can tolerate a long commute for a little while, but after several years, it can begin to destroy your soul. There are few things more annoying than having to take a long, traffic-filled ride to work each morning — and then back home in the evening.
It’s worthwhile calculating how much time you spend in traffic, and then weighing up whether it’s really worth it. And that’ll be especially true if you dread Monday mornings not because you don’t like your job, but because you know that another week of a soul-crushing commute lies ahead of you.
Moving home will be a last resort, of course. You can first discuss the possibility of working from home (at least on a part-time basis) with your boss or even look at getting another position that will cut down your commute time.
7. You’re Continually Undertaking Repairs
A home is never completely done; even the newest, best-built properties need a little bit of maintenance from time to time. But the key part of that sentence is ‘from time to time’; if you’re finding that you’re always undertaking repairs, and never seem to have periods when you just get to enjoy your house, then it might be time to move. It can be frustrating to give up on a home that you otherwise enjoy just because it requires maintenance, but you can trust that you’ll be happier having the ability to simply enjoy your weekends at home, rather than always having to get out your toolbox to fix something.
8. The Energy Bills Are Too Much
Most people have to spend a fair amount of their household bills on energy, but it’s just a fact that some homes require more energy than others. If you have an older, drafty property and live in a cold part of the country, then the rising energy costs mean you might be spending a small fortune each month.
That’s all good and well if you can afford it, or if all the other benefits of living in the house make it worthwhile. But if that’s not the case, then moving to a house that’s more energy efficient might be just the solution.
9. You Have Buyer’s Remorse
No one likes to feel like they’ve made a mistake. The process of getting your hands on a set of keys can be long and difficult, and once you have, you’ll plan to stay in the home for many, many years. But what if you figure out that you don’t love your house as much as you thought you did? A lot of people experience ‘buyer’s remorse,’ which is essentially another way of saying that they regret buying their home.
In that scenario, selling your home and moving to a property that you do like should always be an option that’s on the table. Of course, don’t move within a few months of landing. It can take time before you feel at home. But if things don’t improve, and you don’t think they ever will, then selling and moving might make sense.
10. You Have Major Renovation Plans
It can be exciting to have major plans about how you’ll reinvent your property. Moving an open-plan kitchen or adding an extension can be a game-changer for any home. However, those options also tend to be pretty expensive. It’s worthwhile factoring in the cost of the renovations, how long they’ll take, and the potential increase in value that they’ll add to your property. If none of those numbers makes sense, then it might simply be easier to look at moving to a home that already has the things that you’re looking for.
11. You’re Ready for a New Start
Finally, remember that you don’t always need to have a super valid reason for moving home. You can do so just because you feel like it. If you’ve been living the same way for more years than you can remember, and you’re looking to shake up your life, then well, there are few ways better to do that than by selling your home and moving somewhere new. A fresh start can breathe a lot of life into a person, especially if that person has been operating in their comfort zone. It can be a little bit scary, but it’ll be worth it!
Daily Deals from a Nerd Mom 
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