Everyone loves their new home when they first move in. However, as time goes on and your living situation changes, it’s normal to find certain things about your house no longer work for you. Even if there’s nothing wrong with the building itself, as you have more children, or the children you already have start to get older, little things that didn’t bother you before start to become troublesome.
Maybe your kids have moved out on their own and the place starts to feel too big. Perhaps you’re working from home with your new job and need a private office.
One or two minor issues by themselves aren’t a reason to move, but lots of little things can quickly add up to an overall feeling of dissatisfaction with your house, and then it’s time to think about an upgrade.
Is it time to buy a new home?. Only you can determine that for sure but let’s take a look at some of the signs to watch for; things that could mean you’re starting to outgrow your current home.
Your Family Has Grown
This is usually one of the main reasons why someone will start to feel dissatisfied with their old house. As your family grows, you’re going to need more room. As the kids get older, they’ll naturally start expanding their need for space from toy rooms to homework space. If their new school is further away, the travel time to drop them off is starting to become trickier, and you find yourself wishing that you lived closer.
If you have older kids, they’ll be off to college or moving out on their own. This can make your current house feel outsized and even a little empty, and some parents prefer to move to be closer to their kids. Alternatively, now that you no longer have to make school runs, you’re able to move closer to your workplace and cut down on your own commute time.
Your Space Feels Cluttered
No matter how much you tidy up or move things around, you find a lot of your stuff just doesn’t seem to have its own place anymore. If your home feels cluttered, you can alleviate this somewhat by having a yard sale, donating some old things or simply throwing out things you no longer have any use for.
However, you can only get rid of so much, and if you’re still feeling like you don’t have enough storage space for all your things – even after you’ve gotten rid of as much as you can – then this could be a sign that your lifestyle is changing and a home with more storage space will better suit your needs. Certainly one of the benefits of building a new home is designing it to perfectly fit your furniture and storage needs.
You’re Dreaming Of A Different Neighborhood
Your lifestyle isn’t the only thing that can change – the neighborhood surrounding your current house will naturally change over time as well. Perhaps a quiet nearby area is now bustling with people thanks to a new mall or office building, or new road construction nearby has suddenly caused a lot more traffic that’s passing by.
Maybe it’s just lots of small things, like the surrounding trees have gotten too big and now your yard gets no sunlight, or they opened up a nearby green space for residential building and now the view you fell in love with just isn’t the same anymore.
The neighborhood surrounding your home is just as important as the home itself, and if you no longer feel comfortable in your neighborhood and find yourself wishing you lived somewhere else, it’s a sign to start checking out your options. If you’re already shopping around, it’s definitely time to get serious.
Home Repairs Seem To Be On The Rise
As a homeowner, it’s not unusual to do regular repairs to your home. The amount of necessary repairs will naturally tend to increase over time as the home gets older, especially if you are the second or third owner of the home.
It’s only a matter of time before something needs a major renovation. Consider moving before a new roof or a new heating and air system is needed; you don’t get these costs back when you go to resell your home in the future.
If you’re finding those repairs are creeping into more major – and costly – projects, it’s time to consider how much more work, time, and money you want to put into your current home, and whether it’s worth upgrading to a brand-new home that not only needs fewer repairs but is also covered by an extensive warranty.
A little more upfront now could save you a great deal more money and stress further down the line.
You’re Seeing All The Negatives…
This one might seem a little vague, but if you find all the little annoyances with your old house piling up and you feel like you can’t change them, consider that a sign it’s time to move on to a place that’s more suited to you and your lifestyle.
Whether it’s the drive to work or a better floor plan, at the end of the day, your home has to fit your needs. If it’s not, then it’s time to change. Your home is a big investment, it should make you smile and be something you are proud of.
You Have The Money
Maybe you purchased your first home a couple of jobs ago, or back before you got that promotion and the raise that came along with it. You shouldn’t automatically spend every paycheck that comes in, of course, but you need to feel comfortable and happy in your home.
If an upgrade to the brand-new home of your dreams is something you find you can afford – particularly if you’re noticing some of the other issues we’ve covered in this article – then it’s worth exploring your options. Not only is a new home a great financial investment, it’s also an investment in your future happiness and peace of mind.
Living in a place that doesn’t feel right can affect your overall sense of well-being, and can leave you feeling unsettled. Your home should be a sanctuary; one you look forward to returning to at the end of the day. If your house just doesn’t feel this way to you, it’s time to start looking for a home that does.
