5 Signs it’s Time to Up-Size Your Home

After years of living in a home, there often comes a time when your current property no longer accommodates all of your needs. In most homeownership journeys, there is an eventual push to up-size your home. Is it that time for you?

Should You Up-Size Your Home? 5 Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Property

If you’re unsure whether or not you should up-size your home, here are five considerations that can help you clarify your property needs.

Ask yourself these questions to get a better idea about whether you should stay in your current home, or if there is a push to expand your square footage and up-size your home.

#1. Your Family is Growing

One of the most common reasons you might want to up-size your home is that you are growing your family.

Depending on what stage of life you’re currently at, expanding your family may look different. Here are some signs that your family is growing, and your home may need to grow, too.

• You’re getting married and moving in with your spouse.
• You’re planning on having your first child soon.
• Your family is expecting another child or planning to adopt.
• You plan on getting more pets to add to the family.
  

If your family structure is evolving, that’s a strong sign that you need to up-size your home. Unless your current home has the extra space already, you might want to start thinking about finding a larger space to live in.

#2. You Have More People Moving In

Life takes many twists and turns, and everyone has a unique situation. You may find yourself in a position where more people are moving into your home, which could put a strain on your current square footage.

Perhaps you have your parents or in-laws moving in as they retire, or maybe you have a family member coming to stay with you for an extended period of time after a life change. You could also be gaining a new housemate for personal reasons.

Whatever the situation may be, more people usually merits more space. If you are having more people come to live under your roof, it could be a green light to up-size your home.

#3. You’re Working From Home

Another reason why you may need to up-size your home is if you’re working from home.

Having a separate space dedicated to work can help you stay focused and boost productivity, while also giving you a change of scenery even though you’re staying in the house.

Perhaps you may want to look for a new home that has a spare bedroom that can be converted into your home office. Or, you may want to up-size to a house that has a comfortable workspace for a desk in one of the main areas, like the living room or entertainment areas.

#4. You’re Craving a Change

After living in the same place for years, you may come to a point where you simply crave something different. This can be a strong motivator to up-size your home, especially if you purchased your home when you were at a different financial phase of your life.

For example, the requirements you had when you were just starting out in your career are likely much different than what you’d need as a seasoned professional with more savings.

You may want a larger space in a new neighborhood with new possibilities. If you’re dreaming of living in a beautiful home with more space to carry out your lifestyle routines, up-sizing your home might be the right move for you.

#5. You Need More Amenities

Does your home lack the amenities you wish it had? This can be anything that you would like to incorporate into your everyday routine, such as:

• A pool
• A larger kitchen with more cooking space
• A formal dining room
• An outdoor deck
• A larger yard
• Room for an in-house fitness center
• A theater room
• A playroom for the kids
  

Whether these are personal preferences or prompted by a household change — like getting a new dog and needing a larger yard for your furry friend to run around — you may need to up-size your home to accommodate.

In some cases, you may be able to renovate your current home to get the amenities you’d like to have. This depends on your current property and your budget for renovations.

Speak to a professional about your specific goals if you’re interested in a home improvement project to add an amenity to your property, like a pool or outdoor deck.

Take the Step to Connect with an Agent Today

If you’re considering upsizing your home then it's time to begin comparing top agents in your local market. The best REALTORS can guide you in the home selling and buying process and help find the perfect home for you.