If you are planning to start a family or to grow your existing family, there are a lot of important and exciting decisions ahead of you. Eventually, your excitement may well give way to a sense of uncertainty over how to best restructure your life for your new family.
One of your key concerns may be upsizing your home or swapping it for a larger one that is able to accommodate your growing brood. Although this might seem like an immense task, there is no need to panic. By following these simple principles for a successful upsizing, you can help ensure that your move goes off without a hitch.
1. Have a Clear Idea of What You Want
In order to get the right deal for you and your family, you need to be able to communicate exactly why you want a new home and what you are looking for. Are you planning on having more children and simply need space for them? Are you looking for a place with better access to quality schools? Are you seeking a greater amount of outdoor space or greater proximity to public services? You need to answer these questions before you begin your hunt.
2. Know Exactly What You Can Afford
It is absolutely essential that you have an honest and detailed calculation of exactly what home you can afford. This may partly be determined by the resale value of your current home, but this is not the full story. You also need to know what monthly mortgage you can afford and which providers can offer this to you. For this, you can use a free online mortgage adviser like Trussle to get an instant mortgage calculation and find out the right deals for you and your family.
3. Consider What Trade-Offs You Are Willing to Make
We’ve found that, generally, upsizing is often all about compromise. You are attempting to find a larger, better home for your needs. Unless you have substantially grown your income, trade-offs will need to be made. You might want to consider looking in different locations to where you originally considered living. You may have to compromise on certain aspects such as outdoor space or local amenities in order to get the size that you want. When you are willing to compromise, your options will grow significantly.
4. Think Long-Term
Finally, it is important to make a decision that you can stick with for the long haul. When upsizing, the goal should always be to choose a home that will be suitable for your family’s needs for at least the next 15 to 20 years. This means factoring in potential outcomes such as additional children or perhaps having an elderly parent come to live with you. You might also want to think about future secondary school or sixth form options in the areas that you are searching in. By thinking with the future in mind, you can make the right decision the first time around.
Follow this advice and make steps towards upsizing your home for you and yours.
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