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8 Things to Consider When Upsizing Your Home

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on Last updated:

Categories Guest Posts

Looking for the next step in your property market journey? Here are 80 things to consider when upsizing your property.

There are a number of reasons you might be looking to upgrade your current living space. Whether you’ve recently come into some money, are moving somewhere cheaper, or are expecting new additions to the family, life changes.

When making this big decision, there are a number of considerations you should be making. From finding an online conveyancing service to help you with the practical side of things, to thinking about interiors, there’s lots to consider.

In this article, we’ll be taking you through 8 suggestions to think about before upgrading your property. Take a look…

1.   Finding a Conveyancing Solicitor

The first step with any big property decision will be to get in contact with a conveyancing solicitor. They’ll be able to help you with all the practical side of things, including:

  • Dealing with the property chain
  • Surveying the new house
  • Searching the new property
  • Dealing with mortgage and deposit transactions

Once these services have been confirmed, you’ll then be able to think about the fun stuff, like finding a house you love!

2.   Saving Your Deposit

The great thing about being on the property market already is that the sale of your current home will add a large chunk of funds to your next home deposit. The question is, do you have the savings to make up the rest of deposit for your larger home?

This is something you’ll need to prepare in advance for if you’re hoping to upsize. You’ll need to be vigilant with your savings, and keep a pot going behind the scenes to help you afford this big step.

3.   Money and Maintenance

The truth of the matter is, an upsized home will not only cost more to maintain, the mortgage will probably cost more each month too. Not to mention the maintenance it’ll take to keep the house clean, tidy and in shape will also be much greater in a larger house.

You should be thinking about whether you’ll have the ongoing funds to keep up these payments. Also, will you be able to keep a larger property in shape? It’s up to you.

4.   Consider Location

Now we have the practical stuff out of the way, it’s time to get to the fun stuff! Firstly, when upsizing your home, you need to think about the area you want to move to.

Lockdown has changed many peoples’ priorities, as working from home is now a potential option, so think about whether you want to live in the city or country. What’s more, you should consider if you are wanting to work from home, or need good public transport links to travel into work.

Finally, it’s also wise to research the local area in terms of safety. Is there a lot of crime, or will it be a safe place to bring up children?

5.   Think About Schools

If you’re upgrading your home for a new addition to the family (are congratulations in order?) then you’ll need to consider schools. You’ll want to ensure the area has good opportunities for education for your children.

Not only this, but is the area you’re choosing in a good catchment for public transport links? There’s plenty to think about in terms of schooling, nurseries, and colleges.

6.   Don’t Forget About Your Hobbies

Finding your dream home isn’t just about the house itself; it’s also about what surrounds it. No doubt you have your hobbies to keep you occupied when you’re not working or at home. So, you shouldn’t neglect this lifestyle when you’re looking to upgrade your property.

Before deciding on your next property upgrade, it’s important that you research whether the area can provide you with these ways to wind down. If not, will it be easy to travel somewhere that provides these activities and opportunities? Don’t forget to factor this into your decision.

7.   Garden Space

Lockdown has taught many of us to appreciate nature. The question is whether it’s convinced you that you want a big old garden space, or whether a balcony or patio would suffice.

If you don’t think a garden will get much use, then you should put your money into other areas of the house, like an extra room. However, if you want to prioritise garden space when upgrading your home, you should think about how large a space you’ll be able to maintain. Even better, if you love flowers or want to grow vegetables, don’t forget to factor this into your choice too!

8.   Think About Your Pets

Your pets should factor into your decision, as their happiness will also have an impact on the general mood in the house. You should also be considering their safety, as a new home should be just as much for them as it is for you.

So, if you have dog, you should think about whether there are green open spaces to walk them in, if they need long walks. If you have a cat, you should think about whether the area has busy roads or not, so they can be as safe as possible. Whatever the animal, don’t forget about their needs.

Ready to Upsize Your Property?

As you can see, there are plenty of factors you should consider before you decide to upsize your property. With any luck, this article will have given you eight potential places to begin so you can start thinking about the many potential setbacks and decisions.

Good luck with finding the upsized property of your dreams!

 

Jeff Campbell
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