When you moved into your adorable home a few years back, things looked a little different – or maybe a lot different! Now that your family is growing, it might be time to move to a bigger house. When you’re moving to accommodate a growing family, there is a lot to consider — so we’ve compiled a list to help you get started.
How you’ll know it’s time to upsize
It’s one thing for the kids to share a room when they’re really small, but at a certain point, they’ll likely want their own space. If you’re adding a baby to the family and you already have growing children, it might be time to add another bedroom to the equation so the kids can feel ‘grown up’. You don’t want the older kids to be waking up with the baby in the night, and really, neither do they. Planning on having another child in the near future? You may also want to consider that in your home buying process, and save yourself the hassle of moving again in a few years.
How much room will you need?
Well, that all depends, right? Do you have pets who need space? Are you planning on having another child down the road? Do you work from home, or are you planning to in the future? How about your parents — will you be looking to have them move in at some point? If any of these are among your reasons to move, consider sizing slightly larger. It’s a lot of future consideration, but you’ll thank yourself later when you aren’t feeling cramped in your home with your two dogs and the children.
How much can you afford?
It’s nearly inevitable that a larger home will cost more — that’s just how things work in real estate. You’ll need to account for both the increase in mortgage payments as well as a larger space to maintain. So before you start perusing the open houses, take stock of your budget to account for two things: the costs of having a new baby, and how much you can afford to increase your mortgage payments. A few hundred dollars a month might not seem like much or it could be a lot if you’re already on a tight budget. Know your intended cost range and aim to stick with it. You’ll likely have to tighten the purse strings anyway with a new family member, so set yourself up for success.
Do you want to update your belongings, like furniture?
With a new house might come an opportunity to update your furniture. A new sofa, maybe a bigger dining room table is in order? Consider donating your furniture, so long as it’s in good shape, to a charity that can make sure it finds a good home with a family that will appreciate it. Many charities will even pick it up at your home, making one less thing for you to worry about. While you’re budgeting, consider if you’ll need new appliances. A growing family needs a well-functioning washer and dryer, that’s for certain — make sure yours are up to the task.
Planning the move…
Depending on your child’s due date, make the decision: do you move before or after the baby is born? There are pro’s and con’s to each, and you may have your own factors to consider. If there is flexibility to move after the new baby comes, you might be able to take a little more time to all settle in together and nest. If you need to expedite the move to be ready for the new baby, you have all the more reason to…
Hire the right movers
A team of professional, experienced movers will take a lot of the stress out of the process. The best moving services will take care of the packing, disassemble and reassemble your furniture, and do everything they can to make the moving day seamless. When you’ve got kids to take care of and a baby on the way, their professional support can really make all the difference.
Congratulations on your new addition – and happy house shopping!
