Follow Your Heart- Knowing When It's Time to Move House
Are you thinking about moving house but unsure if it's the right time? When should you take the first step? Are you putting it off because you just don't know if it's the right time? This article will help you decide when you should get the ball rolling to make your new home dreams a reality.
It is said that a homeowner will consider moving house for up to a year before they actually take the first step towards making that plan a reality. This means many homeowners could be toying with the idea of selling up and moving somewhere new, but they might not know where to start.
If this sounds like you, there will inevitably be reasons that you are considering selling your current home. Perhaps you need more space or are thinking of a change of location. Whatever the reason for thinking about moving house, it is likely that this reason isn't going to go away. So, are you just delaying the inevitable?
Selling your property can be a long process and can be fraught with stress, but it is also a time of opportunity. There is no need to put it off because you are expecting a stressful experience. These stresses can be exacerbated if you're against the clock, so it can pay to be organised. That being said, it is a big step, so don't rush into it. You need to be ready and sure, but once that decision is made, don't procrastinate.
Of course, that is easier said than done. Selling your home is a huge endeavour, so how do you know when the time is right?
Whilst everyone's circumstances are personal and unique to them, there are a few main reasons that homeowners decide to move:
More space - growing families never seem to stop growing. No matter how much you try, your children will get bigger, and they seem to need more 'stuff'. Unless you are ruthless about decluttering, your home is likely bursting at the seams and a bigger place might be on the cards.
Less space - empty nests can feel large and, well, empty. If you find yourself rattling around your large family home now that your family have grown up and moved out, it could be time to sell up. Downsizing can bring with it lots of other benefits. You might be able to pay off that last little bit of your mortgage, release some equity to enjoy in your later years or retire to the country, coast or wherever your heart desires.
Location change - You can change almost anything about your property. You can renovate, decorate or extend to your heart's content. But you can not change the location. So, if you find yourself wishing your home was somewhere else, it might be time to sell up and move.
Financial decision - Whether you are considering releasing some of the equity that has built up in your property or simply trying to reduce your monthly outgoings, selling your current home and buying a cheaper property could reduce your mortgage amount. This might release some of your equity, giving you a nice little lump sum, or if you keep your equity in the property rather than releasing it, you might be able to reduce the amount of your mortgage, which might reduce your monthly payments. If you find yourself a little financially pinched, selling your property could help relieve that tightness.
Change of circumstances - life can throw all kinds of curveballs and sometimes it becomes necessary to sell your home. Whether bereavement, divorce, redundancy or something else, these changes in circumstances are often not possible to plan for. It is also likely that if you are dealing with something like this, you might not have deliberated about selling the property. Sadly, that decision may well have been made for you and you probably won't have time to mull this over.
It is almost impossible to accurately predict the economy and housing market to time your sale with the peak prices. Moving house is an emotional process, not necessarily logical, so it is best not to try and play the system, forcing a move before you're ready because the market is strong.
If you have decided that the time is right for you, this is how to get started:
Arrange valuations on your property - give us a call and arrange a valuation of the property. This is the first step in the journey.
Declutter and stage - When getting ready to sell the property, you could start decluttering and staging the home so it is prepared for photoshoots and videos. It might take time, so getting ahead of the process is a great idea.
Make a plan for the future - Where will you move? What is your wish list for your new property? Do you know the location that you are looking in or the price range? It is time to start making a plan for your next home. Let us know what you are looking for, and we can keep you in the loop of new properties that are coming onto the market.
Give our office a call, and we will help you get the ball rolling.