Thinking of moving? Before you pack up your entire life and relocate to a new property, it’s important to understand if you are moving for the right reasons. Make sure you are moving to a new home that will better suit your needs and lifestyle, and one that will make a significant positive change for the road ahead. Read through the following key reasons to move, to get a better sense of why moving now might be the right choice for you.
1. Your Family Size Has Changed
One of the most common reasons to move is that the size of your current home no longer meets your needs. Whether your family has grown with the arrival of children or downsized as a result of divorce, it’s important to live in a home that’s comfortable for you and your loved ones. Many young couples for example, initially purchase a cozy two or three-bedroom, 1200 square foot condo or townhome that suits their situation perfectly. It has just enough room to entertain its many guests. As they start a family, their first child moves into the guest bedroom and toys take over the living area. The perfect house for two becomes too small for three or more.
2. You Want Better Schools for Your Children
The area in which you live usually determines where your children will go to school, as all schools have district boundaries. This can be great for your children as their friends will generally live in close proximity to their school neighborhood. It’s also great as children become older, as they can eventually walk or bike to school with their siblings or friends. A school nearby can also make dropping off and picking up children simple and efficient.
3. Your Work Commute Is Too Far
A common reason to move is a change in employment. Whether it’s out of the city or even out of the province, most people will only commute so far. To keep travel time to a reasonable rate, moving closer to your place of employment may be the only viable solution.
4. Remodeling Is Just Not for You
It takes plenty of time, money, and patience. Remodeling will always have two factors that are unavoidable: the inconvenience and the decision-making. The inconvenience can be as little as a few days or as long as a few months for more major renovations. For many people, even the slightest inconvenience can be too disruptive to their lifestyle, and therefore moving may be a more appealing solution instead of enduring the hassle.
5. Your Neighbourhood Has Lost Its Appeal
Neighborhoods tend to evolve over time. As long-time neighbors move out, new ones move in, and the type of people in your community can change. Having parks, community centers, and shopping close by, may now be a priority for you when they weren’t before. New industrial buildings or other unattractive structures that may have been built over time detracts from the area’s appeal. Most features of your neighborhood cannot be changed, and therefore it is wise to find a neighborhood that meets all of your needs.
6. You Can’t Remodel With Your Current Home’s Floor Plan
Instead of moving, you may have considered remodeling your current home. Due to structural barriers, building codes, and lot size, you may be very limited in the changes that you can make. Oftentimes, it can become very costly when redesigning a floor plan for your home. Sometimes it’s just not worth the time or the effort.
7. Your Current Yard Is Too Big, Too Small, or Non-existent
For many people, the yard is an essential part of a home. It’s a place to enjoy the great weather, entertain, dine, garden, and play. If you’re currently in a condo or condo townhome, you may be longing for a large green space to call your own. On the other hand, a large yard may require more maintenance than you would like, and you may therefore be looking to downsize your outdoor area. Regardless of size, most people want a yard that will accommodate their living style; a space for people and pets to enjoy the great outdoors.
8. Remodeling Is Not in Your Budget
Remodeling can increase the value of your property if you make the right home improvement choices. Often remodeling can be expensive and time-consuming, and there is no guarantee that you will see a good return on your investment. Remember, it’s always better to be the home of lesser value on a street of higher value homes. It’s better for resale.
9. Your Property Is Already the Largest and Most Attractive on the Street
You may have already completed some home renovations in the past, and your home is the best on the block. If you’re looking to stay in your home for years to come, you will enjoy the benefits of your investment. If you have been remodeling to accommodate the extra bedrooms and bathrooms you need, then making a move to a larger home may be your best financial decision yet.
10. You Plan to Move in the Next Few Years
If there were a wrong time to renovate, it would be right before you move. Don’t go through the expense and the inconvenience of remodeling and then put your home up for sale. Moving right after a remodel can be costly unless you manage your remodel project very carefully to minimize the cost and maximize the market appeal of the work. Also, moving immediately takes away one of the biggest benefits of remodeling: enjoying the results. If there is a reasonable chance of you moving in the next 24 months, it may be better to move now to get the house you really want.