Chances are, if you’re wondering whether or not your house is too small, it probably is. But if you need further validation you need a bigger house, we broke down some of the most common signs your house is too small. If you’re not ready to move yet, we offer tips for making the most of a small house while you wait to upgrade.
It may start slowly or all at once, but that creeping voice in the back of your head has you wondering if you need a bigger house. Here are the top signs you’re ready to upsize:
We’ll skip the obvious — that as your family expands you often need to upsize — but sometimes the literal size of your family members is what makes it time for an upgrade.
A three-bedroom house that has one room for the parents, one room for your two young children, and a guest bedroom home office combo does the trick. That is, until your toddlers become teenagers and they need more space for their growing bodies, furniture, and needs. Make sure you have enough bathrooms and half baths, too.
Take some time to think about not just if your house is too small for your family now, but it’s too small for your future family. You may need to upsize sooner than you think.
Countless individuals made the transition from corporate office to home office in the past few years.
While the conveniences of working from home are undeniable, when your living room starts to feel like your workplace, it’s hard to relax after clocking out. A dedicated home office space may require upsizing, but having a quiet and organized place to work — separate from where you spend your leisure time — is a very worthwhile upgrade.
If you’re unsure whether or not you want to upsize now, but know you will in the future, take a look at what the current real estate market conditions are like. If interest rates are low and home prices are reasonable, then purchasing a bigger home now might save you a lot of money. It’s hard to predict the future and while the market could get better it could also get worse. If current market conditions work well for you then you can capitalize on them.
→ Learn more about if now is a good time to buy a house
You can only declutter so much. If you’re someone who constantly declutters, looks for clothes and books to donate, and tries to live a minimalist lifestyle, you will rightfully feel frustrated if you find after all your efforts you’re still bursting at the seams. If that’s the case, it’s time to upsize, not to keep decluttering.
We all lead busy lives and most of us need some quiet time to ourselves at the end of the day. If your family has a few introverts who need their own space to recharge then sharing small quarters likely isn’t a good long term fit. Consider upgrading to bigger quarters to give everyone the space they need to decompress.
Related: Reasons to upsize when your kids move out
Upsizing doesn’t mean just expanding the amount of indoor space you have. If you are perfectly content with the size of your house, but don’t have enough yard space to make your horticulture dreams come true, then you can buy a house with a bigger yard that gives you the space you need to grow.
Many hobbies require a decent amount of supplies and space. Painting, riding motorcycles, and hopping on your exercise bike after work all require equipment and tools that take up space that a larger home may be able to better accommodate.
Don’t let the size of your home limit the thing you love. If you find yourself searching for more space for your hobbies, it may be time to upsize.
Maybe you want a bigger house but you’re waiting for the market to level out. If you know upsizing is in your future but you need to make due for now, these tips will help you cope with a smaller house:
Instead of forcing yourself to make due in a house too small for your needs, think outside the home. Here are a few things that are easy to outsource:
As you move space-suckers outside the home, use it as an opportunity to further declutter.. Try to remove any items that aren’t used frequently (unless they’re used seasonally) and make a point of not bringing home new unnecessary items that will build the clutter back up again.
You may be able to make more out of the space you have. Take a close look at your furniture and see if it allows you to maximize your floor plan. Do you have a large desk you can swap for a smaller corner desk? Do you need a large sectional if you’re a couple without kids or will a sleeker couch do? Do you have to have a home office and a workout room or can you combine the two with some strategic storage solutions?
Get creative and see how you can make the most of the space you currently have until you’re ready to upsize. And if you’re stumped, consider hiring an interior designer to help. While they may cost more than if you DIY’d your redecoration, they’ll be cheaper than buying a new home.
If you decide it’s time to upsize, the next step is to figure out how big of a house you need. A general rule of thumb is that each person in a household needs about 600 to 700 square feet of space. Following this rule, a family of four should start their search for homes that are 2,400 to 2,800 square feet.
But that’s not the only thing that will impact how big of a house you can buy. Other factors to consider are:
Upsizing can be a chore, but when you buy and sell with Orchard, we can help you move first and skip the showings. We’ll even make value-boosting repairs and renovations through our Concierge service at no upfront cost to you.
Interested in learning more? Get started with a free valuation today — our estimates are 30% more accurate.
When you list with Orchard, we’ll get your home show-ready and make repairs to increase your home’s value at no upfront cost.
Orchard guarantees your home will sell, so you can buy your next one worry-free.
On top of Orchard’s Home Sale Guarantee, we list, prep, and show your old home after you’re all moved out.
Use our home sale calculator to estimate your net proceeds.
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