https://unsplash.com/photos/sxNt9g77PE0
As much as you love your home now, you may not love it forever. This can happen for many different reasons. Perhaps you realize that your dream home is not as dreamy as you once thought. Maybe your family has grown larger than anticipated, and you need extra space. It could be that you feel like a change.
And the natural reaction to any of these is to move house. But, hold your horses for just a second. Moving house is not as straightforward as packing your life away into boxes and shipping them across town (or even across the country). Anyone who’s moved house before knows it’s much more complicated than that. If you want to make sure you’re ready to move, here are eight questions to ask yourself.
Do You Need to Move?
The first question everyone should ask themselves before moving house is whether or not they really need to move. If your home doesn’t feel big enough, or you’re just bored, wouldn’t it be easier to consider some home improvements to make your house more livable?
People get enticed by the idea of moving, and soon enough, they can only see themselves in a new home. But, this can be stressful and expensive, so consider your other options. While moving house can give you a fresh start, redecorating, rearranging, or renovating your existing space could benefit you just as easily.
Is Your Family Prepared?
You might feel ready to move, but what about everyone else who lives under your roof? Springing a sudden move on your partner and your kids can cause severe issues, and it could disrupt their lives in ways that they will struggle to recover from.
There is plenty of information about how to successfully move with children, but this often isn’t enough. Rather than make this decision for them, you should sit down and discuss your plans to understand if they are ready. They may not want to be torn away from friends or family, so bear this in mind.
Does The New Area Suit You?
You might already have an area in mind, but while the pictures look good, you must ask yourself whether this area will really suit you. It may feel like anywhere will be better than where you are now, but the grass is not always greener.
Consider things like school for your kids, as well as the overall culture. If you’re someone who enjoys going out for dinner every week, are there enough restaurants to keep you interested? Conversely, if you prefer a quiet environment, are you sure you won’t be awoken by loud noises on Friday and Saturday nights?
Can You Find a Job?
It’s also important to think about your career and your partners’ career. If you have kids of working age, will they be able to find a new job, too? Although many people currently work from home and there’s a significant focus on making this The Norm, you may still need to go into the office at some point, so is there the possibility of transferring, or will you need to find a new job altogether?
This will all depend on the job market of your chosen destination. Areas within and around the city will have plenty of opportunities, but the suburbs further afield may not have the plethora of positions that you hope for.
How Are You Transporting Your Stuff?
You never realize how much stuff you have until it comes time to move, so it’s worth thinking about how you will transport your stuff from your old house to your new house.
Many people will try to save cash by moving everything themselves, but this isn’t always possible for larger households, especially if you can’t easily go back and forth to collect leftover boxes. In this case, you’ll need to consider professional services like Tower Moving Company to ensure you get everything from one place to the other with no issues.
What’s The Right Time to Move?
Knowing the right time to move will also make everything easier. The majority will try to move in the summer and on a weekend so they get good weather and don’t need to rush around after work. However, this can be more expensive, and it might not always fit into what you need.
The cheapest days to move are usually a Monday or a Tuesday, although this can vary from place to place. Likewise, winter moves are less desirable, but this will also give you more affordable rates. You will, however, need to consider the chance of bad road conditions.
Can You Get Back Easily?
Moving away from your family can often make you feel guilty or selfish, especially if your parents are getting closer to old age. This is something to think about when deciding to move home. It’s okay being an hour or two away, but a five-hour-plus journey or an expensive flight may not be doable in an emergency.
You shouldn’t base your move entirely around this, and you should find a home that’s right for you, but it is something to consider for peace of mind.
Is There a Backup Plan?
As much as you hope your move goes by without any problems, you may encounter some issues during and after you move home.
You and your family might struggle to settle in your new home; the new job may not work out, or there is a serious emergency that means you have to get back. These are all factors that can impact the success of your move, so it’s important to have a backup plan so you can overcome hiccups and even go back to your old life if needed.
New Beginnings
The idea of moving to a new home is exciting, but it’s also stressful. No matter who you are, you don’t want to put yourself under more stress than you need. So, while the time might seem right to move house, it could be your restlessness tricking you. Before making any significant decisions, take a step back and consider these questions to help you get an idea of whether it’s the right time to move.