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Are you thinking about moving house soon? If so, there are many things that you have to consider before doing so. If you have children and jobs then you will need to consider how the move will affect them. If you have children with additional needs then you may need to take some extra time to explain to them about the move. Maybe even create a social story explaining what will happen and when it will happen.
Take a look below where we go into more detail about considerations when buying a new home and moving to a new area.
Budget
First and foremost you need to think about the budget you have to spend on a new house. The money you have for a deposit and then subsequently monthly mortgage repayments will need to be worked out before you apply for a mortgage. When working out your finances you need to think about all your incomings and outgoings. An accountant or financial advisor can help you with this if need be.
When you apply for a mortgage they will go through your money with a fine-tooth comb to make sure repayments are affordable for you. You will need to declare all money that you are aware of and know where it comes from before you can go forward.
You can use deposit and mortgage calculators available online to understand how much you have to play with. It is an exciting time finding out how much you can spend on a house, especially if it is your first time buying a property.
Once you have sorted this out you can start to think about the area you would like to move to and how many rooms you would like your new home to have.
Rooms
Now you need to think about how many rooms you want your new house to have. This is important as you don’t want to go over your budget getting a house that is too big but you also don’t want to feel too cramped. You always have the option of buying a smaller house for less money and then adding a loft conversion or extension for an extra bedroom or two.
The great news is that extensions and conversions can actually add a great deal of value to your home when you come to sell it in the future. If you have two children who are the same gender then to save money and space they can share a room until they are older, even then if they get along they can continue to share the room. You might want to opt for a house that has two reception rooms so you can have one as a family room and the other could be a playroom for the kids or a home office for you.
Area
So you have managed to sort out your budget and you now know how much you have to spend on a house. Well, different areas will cost you different amounts of money. It is all dependent on how nice the area is and if it has much to offer in the way of school, shops, and transport. You need to think about the area carefully and check it out in person and online. Take a look at some display homes in different areas.
When checking out an area online be sure to check out the crime rates. You don’t want to move to a high-crime area especially if you have children. If you do check the area out in person make sure you go during the day and at some point during the evening as this is when you notice a real difference if there is one. You will know instantly if the area is right for you and your family by the feel of it.
You also need to make sure the area you are moving to has all the local amenities that you need. These could include doctors, dentists, and shops. You don’t want to move to an area where you have to travel even to just get some milk or bread.
Childcare
Another thing to consider when you move house is childcare, this only applies if you have children or are thinking about having children at some point. You will need to consider childcare options such as childminders or nurseries. If your children are older you will also need to think about which school you want to send them to. You should consider this when looking into which area you want to move to. It is quite common for families to move to be nearer to the best schools.
If your child is currently at school then you will need to decide if you are keeping them at their current one or sending them to a new one. If your new house is too far away then you will need to prepare them for the move. They may be worried or anxious about leaving their friends and what they know behind.
Activities
If your children are at an age where they are old enough to do extracurricular activities then you should be on the lookout as to what is on offer in the local area. They may already do them where you live now so if possible find the same activity or something similar where you are moving to. They will appreciate that they will be doing the same thing so there isn’t so much change happening in an already confusing time.
You could also look into activities for yourself to do in your spare time when you are not working or looking after the kids. This could be anything from mom meetings to yoga classes. Find something that you will enjoy as this will work to destress you so you will feel ready to face the day once again.
Finally, one thing we should mention is to make sure you check your current property to ensure you haven’t left anything behind when you pack up.
We hope you enjoyed this article and it gives you some idea of what to think about when you move to a new house.
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