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Original poster

For what reason did you choose to move house?

63 replies

Lucy830 · 20/11/2020 15:56

Just being nosy really,

I’ve noticed that lots of houses in the area where I live are for sale. There are 4 up for sale in my street alone.

We live in a nice area so I was just wondering why so many people wanted to move. I understand times are hard so I am really hoping it’s just for a change of scenery, new job, bigger house etc and not due to affordability issues.

So I suppose my question is, what made you move house?

OP posts:
SlippersForFlippers · 20/11/2020 16:12

1 neighbours - awful family moved in next door. It was a rental and everyone else had been fine but this last lot just made me want to spend time at home as their arguing and shouting was all I could hear.

PickAChew · 20/11/2020 16:15

We needed a bigger house (we only had 2 bedrooms), closer to ds2's special school, dh wanted to live more conveniently for future jobhunting and I wanted to live somewhere with more amenities and better public transport.

Cloud21 · 20/11/2020 16:17

Health prognosis & the knock-on effect of having to get rid of all debt incl mortgage & cars, with the reality of me not being able to work so having to move out of our ideal area.

MsSweary · 20/11/2020 16:21

Downsizing prior to retirement and I needed to buy a cheaper house in a cheaper location to do that. I don't regret it though.

Saz12 · 20/11/2020 16:23

I’m trying to move (but hardly ever see anything I like!) for more space.
I love our house but really it’s a bit small and I’ve declutteted as much as we can. But because I love it I don’t see anything to move to!

I think the too-small problem has become very apparent this year with WFH and lockdown. I’m sure a lot of people can see all the flaws in their homes now, having spent so long in them this year!

ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings · 20/11/2020 16:24

We're just renting but we moved recently because we wanted a bigger house, more bedrooms, a bigger garden etc. Ds is almost school age so a better school catchment area was another big reason. We've been working towards it for a lot of years and don't plan on moving again until we're able to buy something.

Darkestseasonofall · 20/11/2020 16:28

To get in the catchment of our preferred school, and to get a bigger / better house. Doubled our mortgage to do it though Sad

Ilikewinter · 20/11/2020 16:29

The neighbourhood, it was a new build in a 'regeneration area', loved the house but the area was too rough and i never felt safe. Ended up with a slightly smaller house in a really nice area.

SinkGirl · 20/11/2020 16:30

@PickAChew

We needed a bigger house (we only had 2 bedrooms), closer to ds2's special school, dh wanted to live more conveniently for future jobhunting and I wanted to live somewhere with more amenities and better public transport.
Are you me? That’s exactly why we are looking to move (also: terrace + twins with ASD = not good)
AnotherEmma · 20/11/2020 16:33

A couple of years ago we had a "love it or list it" type dilemma. We wanted more space and we couldn't decide whether to move or renovate. Viewed several houses and decided to stay put and renovate. Even with a sizeable budget, we just didn't find anything we liked as much as our current house - or our plans for the house, that is! We were hoping to renovate this year but covid and pregnancy put things on hold but will hopefully do it next year.

Having said all that, we may well have to move house in about 6-7 years to get into the catchment area for a good secondary school Confused Hopefully we'll find something we like as much as our renovated house at that point!

Mixedupworld · 20/11/2020 16:38

Never owned a house, always rented through housing association. Moved in January to my current flat as my old place was adapted for my wheelchair rather than purpose built. My new flat is purpose built for wheelchair users.

CountFosco · 20/11/2020 16:40

We wanted a bigger house, we had 3DC and had grown out of our old house. So glad we moved before the pandemic, it would have been a nightmare WFH and homeschooling 3DC. Here we have an office in the attic and the DC worked in the playroom and we have a good sized garden so it was workable. Although as a PP said its faults are becoming apparent now I'm spending all my time here so the redecoration rate has increased a lot this year! Luckily the basics are all good.

Audreyseyebrows · 20/11/2020 16:40

Escaped to a house in the middle of nowhere to avoid life. I love it.

Yorkshireswithallroasts · 20/11/2020 16:43

We’re just waiting to complete. Our current house is in a really nice but pretty rural area...and I hate it! Swapping one 4 bed semi for another but this time somewhere with more cars and less cows.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 20/11/2020 16:48

For the past ten years... Because the army said so.
This time.... As we are fed up of moving every couple of years. Downside for DH is he wont libe at home.

Iseeyoulookingatme · 20/11/2020 17:02

We are moving into our new house next week. We decided to move because I need an office. I currently work on the dinning room table and it's not working for me anymore. I run my own business from home so could be anywhere really.
Dh wanted a garage for his bikes and wanted to be closer to where he goes biking. Also I wanted a bigger garden.
We have lived in our current house for 12 years so it was a hard decision but dh has been trying to get me to move for about 4 years and it's the right thing for us to do.

Mashingthecompost · 20/11/2020 17:05

We wanted to be out of a terrace, somewhere more private and not overlooked by our very bored neighbour. Wanted a private back garden, too. And I think we just realised that we weren't that happy there and decided to try it, and found a little area we hadn't been aware of near some woods. Not overlooked front or rear (house in front is much lower, tree-y, arranged in a way that it's not looking at ours). We're close to the road and it's another terrace!! but it feels right. If we moved again it would be to be away from the road, further out towards countryside, but I think we have a decent balance as we are and I don't want a bigger mortgage. Oh but I'd love a more sunny open garden (neighbours both have trees as well as the woods behind) - but I'll take that over fewer birds and less biodiversity.

ScottishDream · 20/11/2020 17:07

We are moving for a bigger house (growing children) and a larger more private garden. I’m going to be sad to leave our lovely estate though.

Mashingthecompost · 20/11/2020 17:08

Also when we bought our prev house there were issues we hadn't banked on (leaking windows that had to be replaced immediately, which had caused damp not picked up on survey, among many other bodged little issues) and we never felt we got to just enjoy it. We fixed loads and then sold it, and the next house (just a normal functioning building!) felt like absolute luxury in comparison.

movingonup20 · 20/11/2020 17:12

Exh decided he didn't want to be my h anymore. It's a good news story as I'm now with someone far nicer but the paperwork element eg selling the house is now ongoing

PickAChew · 20/11/2020 17:15

Oh yes, @SinkGirl we were in a terrace, too. And Ds2 jumps. A lot.

We basically viewed houses with 3 double bedrooms including one that wasn't attached to the neighbours. If there was an extension over a garage, that would have been his room, regardless of size. It also had to not be next to ds1's potential room. He's also autistic and they hate each other!

MinnieMountain · 20/11/2020 17:22

We bought our house planning to not have DC, then changed our minds. We live in a bigger house in the same area.

showgirlie · 20/11/2020 17:28

@Darkestseasonofall

To get in the catchment of our preferred school, and to get a bigger / better house. Doubled our mortgage to do it though Sad
Same, although its our dream house so no regrets
SeeSawSwing1235 · 20/11/2020 17:32

Choice was redundancy or work in a new location 200+ miles away

Most people did not relocate

52andblue · 20/11/2020 18:38

(back in the year 2000...)

because I was cleaning the inside of my back bedroom window when I saw the Father of the neighbouring family (rough) carry a gun out to his greenhouse it had a bit of rag round it but was clearly a gun. I froze but he must have sensed me there and looked up. He drew his finger across his neck. They were 'window cleaners' by trade but actually they controlled the drugs in the local area.
We put the house on the market the next day.
I later heard that one of them committed suicide after crossing a rival gang member. I was not sorry. They were absolute scum.