Would you move? Advice Please

[dadap]

Hi - If you needed an extra bedroom would you move your family to an area you didn't like and pay extra travel to work, school etc just for the bigger accommodation.
Or would you stay in an area you loved even though house is very uncomfortable as not enough bedrooms or storage space.

Dilemma -
The new house is very nice but situated on an estate known for trouble.We would also be paying double in travel costs ,extra hour travel, schools are not great.
V
Current home cramped and uncomfortable but in a nice area with good schools and access to lots of community events.

Children don't want to move as they don't like area,but they like house

Advice welcome I am torn and can't make a decision

[waddleandtoddle]

Stay in current house. Use the money you will have to spend in agency and solicitor fees and taxes to put an extra room in the garden?

[dadap]

Sorry should have said we are renting

[oddsocksmostly]

I would stay in the area where you are happy I think, especially if schools are good, (while also hoping a more suitable house would come up in the future.)

[addictedtosugar]

I think I'd hold out til something more appropriate came up - bigger near where you already are.
An extra hours travel every day is a lot.

[addictedtosugar]

But then, how cramped are you currently?

[somuchtosortout]

Stay where you are and have a massive de-clutter (by stealth). Be as minimalist as possible.

We were in a tiny apartment in London but hugely benefitted from being in a nice area. Travelling will take away so much time that could be used better. Dodgy estate doesn't sound like a pleasant option if can be avoided, prob would be fine, but why go there if no real reason.

Now living abroad in massive mansion style house… space is overrated in my opinion! DDs follow me from room to room and end up in my bed almost every night!

[dadap]

Thank you all very much.

somuchtosortout - Great advice - that's exactly what I need to do -de-clutter.

[ladybirdandsnails]

Stay definately. De clutter hugely and rent a cheap storage unit if you have loads if stuff that you only need occasionally e.g camping gear etc That is done by loads if people we know

[shebird]

We have a similar dilemma- can't afford to get a bigger house in the area where we live now so a bigger house would mean a less nice area and change of schools. We are probably going to extend downstairs so more living space and our DDs will just have to deal with not having a big bedroom each.

[LightTripper]

I've gone the other way (massively shorter commute) and it made so much difference to my quality of life I would never go for a longer commute unless I really had to.

We had a massive clear out before DD arrived and I haven't missed anything (and I found once I broke the back of it it became so much easier to keep on top of stuff, get organised and not acquire more stuff). I am still running down so many multiples of things (matches, sellotape, birthday cards, batteries, etc etc) that we had built up because nothing had a proper home and I couldn't find anything!

I'm also finding it much easier not to shop now, as I'm so much happier with the clutter free life.

[dadap]

Thank you all - overwhelmingly to stay in the area we like - rather than a nicer and bigger property in an area that we don't. I tried to think positive in that you make a life for yourself wherever you are, and we are just fortunate that when I moved to London 25 yrs ago I started renting here. Otherwise we could have been somewhere else. We have agreed to stay here and make adjustments.
Thanks again