Amy & Aron's

Are you feeling cramped? That perfect first home that you saved to buy, that once felt cosy and just right for you is now suddenly feeling...a little cramped. It could be that you’re starting a family and have suddenly realised that you have nowhere to put the sheer amount of stuff that comes with a baby. Perhaps you need to relocate anyway and have decided to futureproof by upsizing. Maybe you’ve been living alone and you’re taking the plunge and moving in with a partner. Whatever the situation, when you’ve outgrown your home, you know. It’s time to upsize, but before you do, take the time to think through the following factors…


Outline Your Goals


It's easy to automatically think that we need more space - we can see it all around in overflowing cupboards and crowded rooms. But before plunging into the latest property listings, ask yourself about why you need more space and are thinking of moving to get it. But every house has a different configuration of space, so think about what you really need - is it extra bedrooms to house a growing family? A larger kitchen so that you can host family gatherings? More outdoor space? You may well have to compromise on some things, so it's best to divide your wishlist for a new home into non-negotiable factors, and those things that you can compromise on. For example, if you have small children then open plan living might appeal more. Have a plan in mind first and then filter the homes by it, and then you’ll have the best chance of meeting your needs.


Is Bigger Really Better?


We’re conditioning to think that investing in a larger home is always the best route - but in fact, the square footage isn’t the only factor that should factor in your decision. The layout is highly important, too. New build homes are often built to cram the largest size of house onto the smallest possible plot in order to extract the maximum price for the investors. So sometimes it can seem like you’re getting more rooms, but there’s actually less usable space. You may find things like each bedroom having an ensuite bathroom, but the rooms themselves being much smaller than older houses. Carefully evaluate if the house will really accommodate your changed needs - and that there’s somewhere to keep the vacuum cleaner! New build houses often sacrifice adequate storage space, so look behind the glossy showhome approach and ask some questions. Sometimes, you don’t need more rooms - just more spacious or better laid out ones.


Get The Figures Right


It’s extremely important to have a realistic handle on exactly what upsizing will cost you - not just in the increased mortgage payments, but in the taxes, running and utility costs, maintenance and insurance too. A new home is a huge financial burden, and often it makes more sense to look at the possibility of extending your current property instead. You don’t want to be stuck with huge repayments and no quality of life, especially if you have young children and therefore childcare costs to consider. Use an affordability calculator to make sure you understand exactly what the move would mean to your personal budget. If you want to get really specific, a scientific calculator can help you to manage nearly every aspect of your budget and keep things as organized as possible. The right calculator can help you to understand the exact percentages of what you can expect each month and how you can break down your budget effectively. The monthly payment is more important than the headline price, and that will vary according to your mortgage rate, so do y