Have You Outgrown Your Home?

7 Signs It May Be Time to Move

As life changes, the home that once suited you perfectly may no longer work as well as it used to.

Before deciding whether to renovate, stay put or move, take some time to think about what you need from your home now and what you may need over the next few years.

If you're wondering whether you've outgrown your home, these seven signs can help you decide whether it's time for a change.

1. Needing More Space in Your Home

Perhaps your family has grown, you're working from home more often, or you simply need additional living, storage or outdoor space.

If you're constantly trying to make a home fit your needs, it may be worth comparing the cost and practicality of extending or renovating with the option of moving.

2. When There’s More House Than You Need

Sometimes the opposite happens.

Bedrooms may sit unused, the garden becomes harder to maintain, or you find yourself cleaning and looking after areas of the home you rarely use.

Downsizing doesn't necessarily mean compromising. It can mean choosing a home that better suits the way you live now.

3. Changing Priorities and Lifestyles

Think about what mattered when you originally bought your home compared with what matters today.

Your priorities might now include being closer to family, having a smaller yard, better accessibility, more entertaining space, less maintenance or a different location.

Write down what you would want if you were buying a home today. You may be surprised by how different that list is.

4. When the Location No Longer Works

A great home in the wrong location can still become frustrating.

Work, family, schools, transport, lifestyle and social connections can all change over time.

If you're regularly travelling away from your area to do the things that matter to you, location may be just as important as the home itself.

5. Is Renovating Really the Answer?

Renovating can be an excellent option, but not every renovation makes financial or practical sense.

Before committing significant money, consider whether the improvements will genuinely give you the home you want and whether you're comfortable with the likely cost, disruption and timeframe.

Sometimes improving the existing property is the right decision. Sometimes moving is.

6. Maintenance Is Becoming a Burden

Large gardens, pools, stairs, ongoing repairs and general maintenance may have suited you at one stage of life but become less appealing later.

Your home should work for you, not leave you feeling as though every weekend is spent working for it.

7. Signs You May Have Outgrown Your Home

If you regularly find yourself looking at properties, researching other suburbs or imagining life somewhere else, it's worth asking yourself why.

It doesn't necessarily mean you should sell. It does suggest there may be something about your current home or lifestyle that isn't meeting your needs anymore.

Before You Make a Decision

Moving home is a major financial and lifestyle decision, and there isn't one right answer for everyone.

Before making changes or putting your property on the market, understand your options. Consider what your current property may be worth, what improvements are worth making, what it would cost to buy elsewhere and whether staying, renovating or moving gives you the better outcome.

If downsizing is one of the options you're considering, my Essential Guide to Downsizing covers the key things to think about before making a move.

If you'd like to talk through your options, call Jodie Brooks for practical, personal property advice.