Thinking about upsizing your home? This question has crossed a lot of peoples’ minds in 2020, due to the COVID pandemic. It used to be that the primary reason for moving into a larger home was a growing family. But now, there are many other reasons too! A couple just wanting more space, needing two home offices, a designated space to homeschool are a few reasons for upsizing your home.
Regardless of your motive, remodeling and adding to your home is one option for creating more space. Unfortunately, this can be costly, and the size of your property may be prohibitive. That’s when moving to a bigger home becomes the best solution. Here are a couple of things to consider…
WHERE DO YOU NEED MORE SPACE?
The first thought when upsizing your home is to simply consider square footage, bedrooms, and bathrooms. How many more bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? How much more square footage do you need to feel comfortable? While these are good questions to ask, it’s also important to take a more critical approach to how your space will actually be used.
If you have younger children (or possibly more on the way), then focusing on their bedrooms being closer to the primary bedroom makes more sense. Younger children and babies need attention in the wee hours of the morning. So location of bedrooms is key, to have them close by. But if your children are closer to high school age or heading off to college, then having those bedroom locations on the opposite side of the home may suit family members better.
You may just want more space to spread out and take on new hobbies. Setting up a table in a flex space is nice to accommodate puzzles and building LEGOs. Maybe 2 office spaces are necessary, to now accommodate more people working from home. Another aspect to think about is if you want space for a home gym or if you’re still comfortable going to a public gym. Do you need another living room?
You may have found that you need more yard space. More people are wanting larger backyards for a play scape, extended covered patio, and many even want their own pool. Maybe you added a furry pet to the family and now need a yard for them to run and play in.
MOVING OUTWARD
If you need more space, but don’t necessarily want a more expensive home, you can get a lot more house for your money if you move a little further from the city center. While the walkability and short commutes of a dense neighborhood are hard to leave behind, your lifestyle—and preferences for hosting Thanksgiving, barbecues, and birthdays—might mean that a spacious home in the suburbs makes the most sense. It’s your best option for upsizing while avoiding a heftier price tag.
Unfortunately, homes don’t always grow with changing situations. The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely made most people reconsider their home situation. What may have initially worked fine can quickly become too small as you spend more time under one roof. If you’re considering upsizing your home, give Baker Realty a call. Our clients have always been happy with the way we handle their transition from one home to the next. We’re ready to give you that same awesome service!