A young couple fresh out of graduate school may be well-suited for a two-bedroom condo, but a large family of seven will have completely different needs. Life moves fast, and it’s common to outgrow our space without even realizing it.
We’ve created a checklist of signs it’s time to move into a larger house, and if you check off one or more of these items, it may be time to call a local real estate agent. Whether you think it’s time to search for homes for sale in Phoenix or luxury mansions in New York, these are the primary signs to look for that it’s time to move into a bigger home.
Your Family is Growing
Your previous family of 3 has very different needs than your current family of 5, and having enough space for the whole family can be crucial to make a house feel like a home. When it comes to bringing more children into your home, whether it be through birth or adoption, you’ll not only need room in the house for things like a crib/bed, changing table, and dressers, but you’ll also want to make sure your whole family isn’t tripping over kids’ toys and diaper bags. If you currently feel like you can’t go a day without stepping on a lego, maybe it’s a sign to move into a larger house.
This doesn’t only apply to children, you’ll also want to move into a larger house if you are adding furry friends to your family and they just don’t have the space they need to roam. If you are fostering a litter of kittens or adopting a new puppy, you may want to look into expanding your space for things like cat trees, chew toys, food bowls, or even a bigger yard.
Lastly, if you have parents, grandparents, or in-laws moving into your home, you’ll definitely thank yourself for taking the leap into a larger house. Whether you’re adding an extra bedroom or buying a home with an accessory dwelling unit (ADU, a separate building on the same property), it’s important that each member of the family has the space they need to feel comfortable at home.
Things to consider for your new home:
- More bedrooms
- Larger yard
- An extra room for a playroom
- An accessory dwelling unit
You Need a Home Office
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more people across the country have been working from home. Sometimes all you need is a chair and a laptop, but many jobs require an expansive desktop setup, file cabinets, and other features that require their own space. The effect of remote work on the home search process has caused a number of home buyers to require their house to have a home office. If this sounds like you, it’s time to move into a larger house – particularly one with room for a home office.
Realistically consider how much space you need and how much privacy is required for your day-to-day work schedule. If you can’t get through one meeting without getting distracted by family members coming in and out, or the doorbell ringing, it’s probably best to try moving into a house with a closed-off, designated office space. In addition, studies show that it is better for overall work performance and mental health to separate where you work from where you relax, so keep that in mind before you simply try shoving your desk in the corner of your living room or bedroom.
Things to consider for your new home:
- Extra rooms with several outlets
- A sunroom
- A finished basement
Your Current Space is Feeling Cramped
If you’d compare walking through your house to walking through a Walmart on Black Friday, it may be time to move into a larger home. Whether it’s family members, furniture, or clutter making your home feel cramped, you may want to look into a home with more bedrooms, storage space, and/or square footage.
A comfortable home will have enough storage space so that all your belongings aren’t spilling into living areas, so if you have already had your annual garage sale and are still drowning in excess furniture or clutter, it’s likely time to upsize. In addition, look out for the number of people sharing one bathroom or how many times you bump into someone in the kitchen. If there isn’t enough room in the house for everyone to get ready for their day on time, that’s a surefire sign you need more space. After all, when you come home after a long day, the last thing you should feel is claustrophobic.
Things to consider for your new home:
- A larger garage
- Attached storage shed
- More bathrooms
- Larger shared living spaces (living room, family room, kitchen, etc.)
You Frequently Entertain Guests
Another common sign that it’s time to move into a larger home is if you frequently have guests over and never seem to have enough room for them. A huge part of life for many people is hosting dinner parties or having the whole family come together every week, and it’s important that a home is large enough to do that without stepping on each other’s toes.
When moving into a larger house for the sake of entertaining, you may want to look less at more bedrooms and more at a larger dining room, den, or living room. Maybe you do want to add a couple of guest rooms to your home. Either way, if you enjoy hosting people frequently but don’t have the room for it, that’s a sign it’s time to move into a bigger space.
Things to consider for your new home:
- A large patio or back deck
- An extra den or family room
- A sizeable dining room
- Extra guest rooms
You Have More to Spend
One of the most obvious signs that it’s time to move into a larger house is simply having more money to spend or invest. One of the best investments you can make is in a home, so if you are looking for a safe place to invest your money, a larger home may be your best option. Maybe you have looked at your dream house on your vision board for years, and that promotion at work finally puts you in a place where you can afford it; go for it! In addition to being a wise investment, having the home that you want is excellent for your overall quality of life.
If you are upsizing for this reason, make sure to do your research and fully understand the costs of moving and living in a larger house. You may have enough to simply purchase the home, but ensure you have enough saved to cover the costs of undisclosed problems in the house or other necessary renovations. If the numbers add up to your liking, it’s time to look for your perfect home.
Things to consider for your new home:
- A home with upgraded appliances
- An outdoor pool/lounge area
- Extra space for an at-home gym or office
You’ve Had a Lifestyle Change
If you’ve started painting as a new hobby or side hustle and you’re tired of accidentally splattering paint onto the dog, consider moving into a larger house to adjust to that new lifestyle. Maybe you started an entrepreneurial endeavor and need extra room for all your business needs, or maybe you began fostering animals and need more space for their toys, food, and accessories. Regardless of what your lifestyle change is, if it’s overflowing into living spaces that should serve another purpose, that’s a sign it’s time to move into a larger home.
When moving for a lifestyle change, you don’t simply want to pick a random house with more square footage. You must consider what home features would serve your hobbies the best, such as a garage for an auto repair, a basement for a game room, or a soundproof room for an at-home studio.
Things to consider for your new home:
- Extra rooms on the main floor
- A finished basement
- A large garage
- A bigger yard
- A house with soundproof insulation
The Market is on Your Side
When the real estate market shows that larger homes have irresistibly low sale prices or interest rates are at an all-time-low, your time to buy a bigger house may come sooner than you thought. Pay attention to the U.S. real estate market and ask your local real estate agent plenty of questions about whether or not it’s a smart time to buy.
This is a time-sensitive sign that it’s time to upsize your home, so the process may move quicker than usual. Let’s say you already own the house you are in, but decide to buy a new one due to market conditions. In that case, you’ll want to research the most efficient way to buy and sell a home at the same time. After all, even in the best market conditions, buying a larger home is still a big job and not something you want to do recklessly.
Things to consider for your new home:
- More square footage
- A better neighborhood or school district
- Other home features that you desire
7 Signs It’s Time to Move Into a Larger House
We hope that this list made you feel a little more comfortable making the choice to move into a larger house. Remember, the features you are looking for in your new home will vary depending on the reason for your move, so consider all your options before signing any contracts. If you have the opposite problem and need to downsize, we have plenty of advice for that in our moving from a house to a condo article.
