Upsizing Home for Your Growing Family: Is It a Good Idea?
More and more families are finding that they need to upsize their homes as their families grow.
While this may seem like the logical solution, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of this decision before making a move.
However, there are several factors to consider that may help you make your decision.
What About Your Home’s Value?
One of the most important factors to consider when upscaling your home is the value that it will have in your current neighborhood.
If you decide to stay in your current home and just add on an addition, for example, you run the risk of decreasing the value of your home if you don’t do it correctly.
Yet if you decide to sell your home and move to a new one, that may be the best option if you don’t think an addition will increase its value enough.
On the other hand, you should think about selling your home in a hot real estate market. If you live in an area where home values are constantly increasing, it may be a good idea to sell your current home and upgrade to something bigger.
Whether you opt for home buyers for a quick sale or you sell it yourself, you will be able to take advantage of the rising home prices in your neighborhood.
Not only will you make a profit off of your current home, but you’ll also have the opportunity to buy a larger home for your family.
You should also keep in mind that if you’re planning on selling your home, you’ll need to make sure that it’s in good condition before putting it on the market.
Consider doing any necessary repairs and updates to attract potential buyers, while also keeping your property taxes in mind.
Hand and power tools like annular cutters, drills, nailers, screwdrivers, and other building materials are necessary to make DIY repairs. If you don’t have them already, you’ll have to invest some money to purchase them. The upfront cost may be steep, but it’s worth it knowing you can use them for a long time.
However, home buyers are usually buying a home as it is, so this may not be a huge concern for you or them.
Your Family’s Needs
Of course, one of the main reasons why you might be considering upsizing your home is because your family’s needs have changed.
If you’ve recently had a baby or are planning on having one soon, you might need a larger home to accommodate your growing family. You might also need a bigger home if you have elderly parents or grandparents who are moving in with you.
Other families decide to upsize their homes because they want more space. If you’re constantly feeling cramped in your current home, upsizing might be the best solution for you. You’ll be able to spread out and have more privacy, which can help you focus on your family.
However, it’s important to consider whether an upgrade is really necessary for your family. For example, if your kids are still young, maybe they don’t need a large backyard or playroom.
Meanwhile, if you’re planning on having more children in the future, you might be better off staying in your current home and making some updates to accommodate your growing family.
The Cost of Moving
While you might be able to make a profit off of your current home, it’s important to think about how much this will cost.
You’ll need to pay for movers, possibly hire someone to help with decorating or remodeling your new home, and might need to buy new furniture.
This doesn’t even take into account the hidden costs of moving, such as turning on utilities at your new home or transferring your kids’ school records.
You should also keep in mind that you’ll need to live somewhere while your home is being remodeled or updated, which can add even more to the cost.
The Cost of Living in a Larger Space
One of the biggest factors to consider when upsizing your home is the cost of living in a larger space. A bigger home means more square footage, which also means higher utility bills.
If you’re not careful, you could end up spending more money on your monthly bills than you’re comfortable with.
You should also think about how much it will cost to furnish your new home. This can include everything from furniture and appliances to window coverings and décor.
If you’re not careful, the costs of furnishing your new home could end up skyrocketing, which might not be feasible for your family’s budget.
However, there are things that you can do to save money when upgrading your home. Consider buying secondhand furniture or getting rid of some of the items that you already have at home.
You might also want to think about refinancing your mortgage to lower your monthly payments, which could help take some pressure off of your budget.
The Neighborhood, Schools, and Community
Another important factor to keep in mind when you’re thinking about upsizing your home is the neighborhood in which it’s located.
After all, this will affect your quality of life since you’ll be spending a lot of time here with your family.
You should ask yourself some questions before choosing a new neighborhood, including:
- Is this neighborhood safe and family-friendly?
- What are the schools in my new area like?
- How close is my new home to local businesses, parks, and other amenities?
- Are there any planned developments in the future that might be worth considering for your family?
If you’re not comfortable with the answers to these questions, you might want to continue looking. There are plenty of great neighborhoods out there that will be a great fit for your family.
On the other hand, there is the question of your job and your commute. If you work at home, a larger home may be ideal. But if your job is far away from home, commuting every single day can become costly and stressful.
The number of cars on the road means that gas prices will rise and traffic will worsen; you should also consider how much time this would take out of your day.
While it might seem like a natural decision to upgrade to a larger home as your family grows, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of this decision before making a move.
Some factors to consider include the cost of moving, the cost of living in a larger space, the neighborhood, schools, and the community. If you’re not careful, upsizing your home could end up costing you more money than you’re comfortable with.
However, it’s important to always keep the well-being of your family in mind when making big decisions like this one.
Choose a home that will be comfortable for your family and that you can afford in the long run.