As REO Speedwagon said back in 1984 ‘I can’t fight this feeling anymore’.
The irony of this is they were talking about falling in love, but if you’re thinking about moving home, it may be for exactly the opposite reason. The fact is, whilst we may love a home when we first buy it, our needs and priorities often change over time, and sometimes that means the initial love affair with our home ends.
So, what are some of the indicators that it’s time to consider moving home?
You’ve reached bursting point:
You’ve tried to juggle your existing floorplan, and you’ve attempted every storage hack you can find on Pintrest, but there comes a time when you have to concede defeat; your house is simply not big enough to cope with your growing family. Once you’ve acknowledged this, there’s lots to think about. If you want to stay in the same locale, chances are you’ll be paying more for a larger house, so finances become a consideration. If you need to keep your financials at a similar level, this may mean a move to a different suburb and for many, this combination of change can be overwhelming. Write a list of what’s important to you in a home and a suburb, so that you have a solid point of reference for when you start doing your research. On the flip side, if you’re an empty nester, your home might have become too big for you. The world’s your oyster but consider thinking big picture and looking at single storey homes, and one’s in amenity rich locations that will continue to be suitable well into your twilight years.
Your children don’t want to bring their friends home:
Don’t fear! This doesn’t indicate that they’re embarrassed to have their friends meet you, nor that they think their home isn’t up to standard; sometimes it just means they don’t feel they have a place that they can entertain with a little bit of privacy. If this is the case, it might be worth looking into a home with more living areas and zoning between adult and children’s spaces. Perhaps you’ll be fortune enough to find one with an external retreat, so they have their own area, and you’ll be able to enjoy quiet time without their noise. Extras like pools are also a great way to increase the odds of your kids entertaining at home. You may be paying a fortune in feeding a horde of hungry teenagers, but at least you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing where they are!
You feel like you have no time for important things:
Every minute of your day is accounted for, and you still feel like a 9-day week wouldn’t be enough. If these scenarios ring true, consider the options. Your commute to work is undeniably long and you’re exhausted by the time you get home; find a suburb in easier reach. You live in a property with land and lots of garden, and the upkeep is constant; find a home on a lower maintenance allotment. You have a large mortgage and you’re bound to a high-pressure job to meet your repayments; find a home that allows you more financial freedom. Remember we cannot buy time, and the pressures felt by scenarios like these cause stresses that can reduce your lifespan, so where possible, take action to alleviate them. Life’s about making memories with family and friends. These are the things you and your family will remember over time, so try to find a balance.
Your location no longer matches your lifestyle:
Whilst some will be lucky enough to start in a place that continues to meet the needs of their growing family, others won’t. You may have a child who has special needs that can’t be met near your current home. The schools within your area may not be as reputable as you’d like, and you need to be in the designated neighbourhood zone to attend the ones you prefer. Your children may be involved in sport that requires training a number of times a week and you feel like you spend more time in the car than in your home. Or perhaps you live inner city and just want more open green spaces to enjoy. If these ring true, it doesn’t matter how great your home is, there’ll always be periods where you feel unrest, so do some investigating and look at the feasibility of moving. Obviously, if you have more than one of these in play, there’ll be a greater level of complexity; life wasn’t meant to be easy apparently – sigh!
Buying a new home and moving can be stressful but staying in a house that no longer feels like home can be just as bad. Be true to yourself and don’t ignore these feelings as it costs nothing to investigate your options. And who knows; your new happy place could be closer than you think!
