Thinking of moving? Before you pack up your entire life and relocate to a new home, it’s important to understand if you are moving for the right reasons. Make sure you are moving to a new home that will better suit your needs and
lifestyle, and one that will make a significant positive change for the road ahead. Read through the following key reasons to move, to get a better sense of why moving now might be the right choice for you.
One of the most common reasons to move is that the size of your current home no longer meets your needs. Whether your family has grown with the arrival of children or downsized as a result of divorce, it’s important to live in a home that’s comfortable for you and your loved ones. Many young couples for example,
initially purchase a cozy two or three bedroom, 1200 square foot condo or townhome that suits their situation perfectly. It has just enough room to entertain their many guests. As they start a family, their first child moves into the guest bedroom and toys take over the living area. The perfect house for two becomes too small for three or more.
The area in which you live usually determines where your children will go to school, as all schools have district boundaries. This can be great for your children as their friends will generally live in close proximity to their school neighbourhood. It’s also great as children become older, as they can eventually walk or bike to school with their siblings or friends. A school nearby can also make dropping off and picking up children simple and efficient.
A common reason to move is a change in employment. Whether it’s out of the city or even out of the province, most people will only commute so far. To keep travel time to a reasonable rate, moving closer to your place of employment may be the only viable solution.
It takes plenty of time, money and patience. Remodeling will always have two factors which are unavoidable: the inconvenience and the decision-making. The inconvenience can be as little as a few days or as long as a few months for more major renovations. For many people, even the slightest inconvenience can be too disruptive to their lifestyle, and therefore moving may be a more appealing solution instead of enduring the hassle.
Neighbourhoods tend to evolve over time. As long-time neighbours move out, new ones move in, and the type of people in your community can change. Having parks, community centres and shopping close by, may now be a priority for you when they weren’t before. New industrial buildings or other unattractive structures may have been built over time that detract from the area’s appeal. Most features of your neighbourhood cannot be changed, and therefore it is wise to find a neighbourhood that meets all of your needs.
Instead of moving, you may have considered remodeling your current home. Due to structural barriers, building codes and lot size, you may be very limited in the changes that you can make. Oftentimes, it can become very costly when redesigning a floor plan for your home. Sometimes it’s just not worth the time or the effort.
For many people, the yard is an essential part of a home. It’s a place to enjoy the great weather, entertain, dine, garden and play. If you’re currently in a condo or condo townhome, you may be longing for a large green space to call your own. On the other hand, a large yard may require more maintenance than you would like, and you may therefore be looking to downsize your outdoor area. Regardless of size, most people want a yard that will accommodate their living style; a space for people and pets to enjoy the great outdoors.
Remodeling can increase the value of your property, if you make the right home improvement choices. Often remodeling can be expensive and time consuming, and there is no guarantee that you will see a good return on your investment. Remember, it’s always better to be the home of lesser value on a street of higher value homes. It’s better for resale.
You may have already completed some home renovations in the past, and your home is the best on the block. If you’re looking to stay in your home for years to come, you will enjoy the benefits of your investment. If you have been remodeling to accommodate the extra bedrooms and bathrooms you need, then making a move to a larger home may be your best financial decision yet.
If there were a wrong time to renovate, it would be right before you move. Don’t go through the expense and the inconvenience of remodeling and then put your home up for sale. Moving right after a remodel can be costly unless you managed your remodel project very carefully to minimize the cost and maximize the market appeal of the work. Also, moving immediately takes away one of the biggest benefits of remodeling: enjoying the results. If there is a reasonable chance of you moving in the next 24 months, it may be better to move now to get
the house you really want.
