Moving is no easy feat, but sometimes it’s necessary. Think you might be on the brink of a move? Here are 11 telltale signs it’s time to start searching for a new home and breaking out the moving boxes.
1. Bursting at the seams
Have you outgrown your home? Is your family growing? Are you getting tired of waiting in line for the bathroom each morning?
One of the top reasons for selling your home is to move to a larger one to accommodate a growing family. As your children move into their teenage years, they also want more space of their own, their own bedrooms, work areas, and play areas. That small two-bedroom craftsman just can’t carry the load anymore.
2. Empty nest
Do you find yourself walking into empty rooms, wondering when you last vacuumed? Having trouble deciding whether to convert your children’s old bedrooms into the sewing room, home office, or media room? You have too much house. Downsizing to a smaller home could be your reason to sell now.
3. Winter thaw
Did you vow last year that you could not, should not, would not go through one more six-month-long arctic winter in upstate New York? Have you been looking online at homes in cities that actually have sunny days year-round?
After weathering the sleet and snow (and shoveling driveways) for decades, many folks decide to sell so they can buy in warmer climates. You will just have to know for yourself when you hit that “freezing point.”
4. Meeting that special someone
If you’ve changed your relationship status, it might be time for a change. That cute little condo or bungalow was right for just you, but it’s not a dream home for your new mate. Not only is there just one sink in the bathroom, but the closet space is barely enough for your clothes, let alone your partner’s too. Getting married or cohabitating with a significant other may just be the right occasion to sell and move to that next home.
5. Upgrading your abode
Things are going well at work. You got that promotion or landed a few new clients. You have been looking at Houzz and Pinterest and drooling over kitchens with dual ovens and master baths with enclosed steam showers. It might be time to start looking for the upgraded house of your dreams (and preparing to sell your current home).
6. Last day of work
Are you thinking a lot about retirement? Can you do what you want to do — sail, golf, play tennis, hang out with the grandkids — where you live now? If not, you might be ready to head to a new house and new city.
7. Tight finances
Are you stressing about the utility bills, the repair bills, and a hefty mortgage? Moving from an expensive area to a more affordable home and community may bring you the peace of mind and less stressful financial footing you’re looking for.
8. The neighborhood is going to the dogs
Are you up all night from the neighbor’s barking dogs? Are you noticing a spike in crime or more police activity lately? A neighborhood moving in the wrong direction can be a very compelling argument for a sell and a move.
9. Seeking a shorter commute
Are you spending more time with your car pool buddies than with your spouse and children? Have you been daydreaming about walking to work or having a commute that doesn’t force you to listen to an hourlong podcast each way?
Moving closer to work is a big consideration when it comes to selling. If the long-term prospects at your current job look good, living nearer to work could be a great reason to pack it up!
10. DIY blues
Was last weekend entirely occupied by trips to the home improvement store? Is the “honey-do” list getting longer, not shorter? Maybe you are tired of hopping on that riding mower to trim your massive yard. These are all signs that you are ready to sell and move to a low-maintenance, repair-friendly home.
11. Cashing out
Is it payback time? After years of paying your mortgage and keeping up your home’s condition, you probably have built up equity. Ready to move some of that money into your cash and investment accounts? Selling and moving into a less expensive home can allow you to put that extra equity to work in other ways.
Are you considering a move? Which of these reasons — or others — have caused you to rethink your housing situation?
