It’s Saturday morning, and the Moving House Monster rears his ugly head again. Not quite good enough to stay, but not quite bad enough to move, you sigh as you shake the thought of him away. You head to the master bathroom, but it’s locked. Downstairs is taken too. If only you had an en-suite. Cue Moving House Monster again. You’re in a stalemate, and you’re not sure of your next play. Here are a couple of options: get friendly with the Moving House Monster, and continue on this path. Or move to a home without monsters. Let’s look at some classic Moving House Monster scenarios, and see if it’s the right time for you to leave this niggle behind.
The out growers
You’re catching yourself peeking inside every bay window you pass, and you’re thinking of ways to remodel your home to help your growing family breathe. Later, you curl up on the sofa and doodle an elaborate two-story extension; you picture a lazy Sunday morning. You pour coffee, your hubby warms some croissants, and the little ones play contently in the indulgent kitchen diner. It’s togetherness, but with more space. Directly above sits a fourth bedroom, and it’s the perfect nursery for the new arrival. If you start the project now, you’ll be ready in time for Christmas. Then you wrinkle your nose at the thought of receiving the failed planning permission letter. And sacrificing half of the already modest garden would fail to impress the children. A construction site is no playground for early learners, so if your family isn’t getting any smaller, you need a home that can handle you getting bigger.
The opportunists
A young, professional couple choose their first home. It’s going to be a little scruffy, or squeaky new and hamster-cage-sized. The government scheme sways them to plump for the latter, and they’re happy; it’s not perfect, but it’s theirs. And they enjoy making it their home. Fast-forward three years, and they’re either pregnant or promoted. Or both. Either way, they’re more financially secure, and that hamster cage they once loved is now bursting at the metal seams.
Time isn’t a huge issue; their second bedroom will do for now, but they know in 8 months’ time, moving will be tricky. They routinely mooch on Rightmove, but recently the site’s been getting much more use. A ‘4 bedroom detached’ tab is always open on the laptop, and they’ve both got the app to browse on their morning commute. They default to the same filters as usual, but the results aren’t tempting enough to warrant a closer look. As a last resort, they increase the price band, then filter the search low-high. There are 221 more potentials within budget, and one, listed at just £95 over their default price band, is more than a potential. It will be their next home. The moral of this story? If your top Whatsapp chat is peppered with house links, or your idea of a lunch break is swiping through Rightmove, you’ve got an itch that only a move will scratch.
The relocators
Your eldest has just turned four, and you find yourself changing the subject every time someone starts the school catchment small talk. But, annoyingly, the elephant just keeps coming up. And it’s getting bigger and heavier with every month that passes. You’ve shortlisted the potentials, and in spite of their close proximity, you’re surprised at how different each school is. You know that the allocation process favours location, but the closest three just don’t feel right.
Then you start to think about life in the city, and if you really want to raise your children there. Eight years ago, you moved for your careers, and you didn’t consider schooling. You didn’t need to. But now you both work from home, so you’re no longer bound to the city. Circumstances change, but where you raise your children influences their childhood. And they only get one childhood. You picture the memories you could make if you lived in the Lakes instead. And your tea time chats always seem to go off track, and end up back at the village school surrounded by green. So, what’s the nudge for relocators? Career changes, family or nostalgia; it’s anyone who dreams of being somewhere different, and is brave enough to make it happen.
The downsizers
You’re exhausted. It’s been a non-stop day of organising what should have already been organised, moving boxes, and making endless cups of tea. And the biggest challenge? Keeping your youngest calm as they move into their first home. You’re back home now, but before you put your feet up, you head upstairs, and peek inside their empty childhood room. You’re proud of their newfound independence, and excited for their adventures ahead, but the sense of loss is unavoidable too. So – what do you do? There are two choices. You can rattle around in the big family home feeling sorry for yourself, or you can plan new adventures of your own. Because when your last child leaves home, you can finally put your happiness first.
And what would make you happier: spending time cleaning unused rooms, or curling up to hear your grandson read you a story? When you downsize, you stop compromising; you gain time and money, and for the first time, choosing where you live is not restricted by the considerations of a brood. So if you’re ready to swap your home office for a conservatory, or you want to start each day with a brisk woodland walk, give us a call, and we’ll join you on your next big adventure.
Moving home is always an adventure. And adventures have ups and downs. That’s why we’re here to make the journey a little easier; families and priorities change, and choosing the right time to move isn’t easy. But if you find yourself mooching on Rightmove again, or teatime chatter becomes house-talk heavy, maybe it’s time to give us a call. Because if you’re not-quite-happy with your home today, you’ll be not-quite-happy with it this time next year too.
If you need a hand shaking the Moving House Monster, we’d love to help! Please drop Sam or Phil a line here or pick up the phone to us – we love to chat – 015394 88811
