There comes a time when your home just does not have enough space for what you need. Perhaps you have outgrown your space, or your children need their own space. It can be hard to say goodbye to a home filled with cherished memories and happy times, but sometimes there is no other choice.
Whether you are considering downtown Nashville homes for sale or want to get out of the city and are looking at Arrington real estate, the first and most important step is to find a qualified real estate agent. The right agent will know the area and understand your priorities. However, there are a few things you should take stock of first to help you narrow down those priorities.
Think about the future
You already know what your current home does not have, but that does not mean you have a good idea of what your next home needs to have. After all the work of shopping for a home and moving your family, the last thing you want to discover is that there was something you did not think about.
The perfect time to future-proof your next home is before you sell your existing home. Think about the life events that have caused you to outgrow your home and what future milestones will likely follow. You may want a house with more bedrooms to accommodate two children who are too old to share a room, but what about as they grow older? Perhaps you want your own space as well, whether that be a room to simply sit and enjoy the quiet or a room to explore your hobbies.
Maybe you do not need a larger garage right now, but have a child who is interested in woodworking and will someday want a shop space. Perhaps one of your children is a passionate swimmer, and having access to a swimming pool is becoming a priority. This is the time to start anticipating how you might outgrow your next home.
Remember what you love about your home
It can be easy to overlook how much you use certain spaces in your current home as you focus on what it does not have. Take stock of how much you already use spaces in your existing home, such as a family room or kitchen. If you are too focused on needing more bedrooms or having a dedicated home office, you might overlook how much smaller a certain space is in a potential house compared to your existing home.
Whether you do it in your head or actually get up and walk around, take time to go through your home room-by-room and think about how much you use each space. When it comes to kitchens and bathrooms, consider what parts of the layout do and do not work for you. Is there an area where you typically entertain guests? If so, think about what kind of space you want in your new home for that purpose.
Evaluate the optimal layout
While you are moving into a larger home, it is a good time to think about other ways your home could better suit your lifestyle. If your children often have friends over to play, you may want a home that has a separate living room on an upper or lower floor.
On the other hand, a larger home with bedrooms on multiple floors may seem like a great idea before you stop to think about which room is directly over your own bedroom or office. Think about how different rooms will be used throughout the day and whether a potential home's layout will actually work for you.
Coming back to kitchens and bathrooms, this is a good time to review problems you have learned to live with. Your kitchen layout may make it difficult for someone to cook while someone else is unloading the dishwasher. Keep these types of layout problems in mind as you evaluate potential homes.
Keep your family involved
It may seem an obvious consideration, given they are part of the reason you need a larger home, but remember to get your family's input as well. As you work through all your priorities for a new home, it can be easy to forget to ask the rest of your family the same questions you have been asking yourself. Never assume you know what anyone else thinks, whether that person is your child or spouse.
There are likely aspects of your existing home that your spouse hates but simply does not bring up. They may have learned to live with it or felt it was not worth fussing over. It is also not uncommon for two people to assume they are looking for the same thing yet have completely different ideas. Keep your spouse and children involved in the entire home shopping process.
Prioritize
Unless you have a custom-built home, it is unlikely you will find one that checks every box on your wishlist. You may have to make some compromises as you look for a home that meets your wants as well as your needs. Be prepared by having your wants and needs prioritized. Sit down and make a list, then rank what you are looking for. Preparation is your best defense against making a compromise you cannot live with.
Finding the right place to grow
When it comes time to move up to a larger home, there is no more important tip than the advice that comes from an experienced real estate agent. Whether you are looking for downtown Nashville homes for sale or the country life and Arrington real estate, a knowledgeable agent such as Janelle Waggener is the key to unlocking a new home that will grow with you.