Cold feet and due to complete next week!

[JaniBas]

We have lived in our lovely 2-bed flat in zone 2 for nearly 4 years now. We have decided it's time to move on as we want to get a house with a garden. Our DS is nearly 2 so we have been looking at areas with good schools and good connection to work. The search has taken us everywhere, last year we have kind of settled with an area in zone 3 where we could afford a 3-bed terrace and a small garden within the catchment of a good school. The offer was accepted however a month later we lost it to a chain-free buyer. Since then, we've not seen another property in that area, so we expanded our search, where we have found a 4-bed semi and a decent garden (within catchment of a good school) however this house is in zone 5! It's been a year and now we're completely priced out of the area in zone 3 we were looking at, so we had to go further out!

All is going smoothly, relatively speaking, however as we have exchanged and completion date is approaching, I can't help but think of all the negative aspects of the move. We will be moving to a completely new area (new borough too), we don't really know anybody in the area, most of our friends are in the SE and now we're moving to NW. All for the sake of a house within catchment and an acceptable commute to work (just under an hour that is!)

Everyone does it for their kids, I know, but schools are such a big variable, I mean the OFSTED score can change, the exam results can change, just because it is a good school now it doesn't mean that it will be a good school forever. The house is nice, it is just off the main road. The vendor has lived that for 40 years and the only reason she is selling is because she wants to downsize. The high street is also lovely, it has a nice villagey feel to it while still accessible by tube, however there are areas in the borough which is not as nice. It is London, I can't have everything right? Is it normal to feel apprehensive, I wish I was more excited. I have friends who are going through a similar process, moving to new towns (just outside London) and it's like it doesn't bother them that they don't have any ties or connections and yet they are feeling very excited about the move, like they have found their dream house. Has anyone been through a similar situation?

We moved from London to Kent when all of our friends were moving from flats to houses in SW London - they have all made pots of money on their houses and are now moving out to the country, into massive houses - and I sometimes wish that we'd done the same!

However even though we knew no-one when we moved here, we have had such a happy 7 years here and the children's schools have been brilliant, we have made great friends and feel really settled. I'm sure it's totally normal to get cold feet with such a big change, but I'm sure that you will look back in a few months time and realise that it's been a positive move. Good luck!

A good friend of mine did something similar, moved from Zone 2 SE London where she had a 3 bed flat to Zone 4/5 SE London where they got a 4 bed house close to a better school. She topped up her mortgage by £50k in order to do the move.

8 years on, the schools in her old location are now doing better than in her new location and the flat she sold is worth double her current place.

As you said, OFSTED/schools change, it's always a gamble unless you are moving to a solid established area.

I 'sacrificed' close-by friends for a move to a much better and cheaper area. In fact you don't see your mates as often as you think with SE working hours, and we all stay in touch.

sounds a good place that you are moving to, and you are still in London! You've exchanged, so it is happening, so look forward to it. And being able to unpack finally is just brilliant!

OP I am in a similar boat. I exchanged last week and completing next week. My reasons are an extra bedroom, easier house maintenance (a newer built), good secondary school and supposedly better area. My move is from zone 4 (very London-y feel) to zone 5 (very suburban feel) although it is only 2.5 miles. I am not feeling great by leaving my established local circle and all the convenience of shops and commute, and at times still wonder if I have made a mistake (my old house is also much more beautiful than the new one). My mind was boiling over it until I thought of plan B I will give myself 12 months and if I really, really dont like it, I will sell it and move back to my previous area. The house prices have stabilized somewhat and hope they will not go up too much within 1 year. My original plan is to stay for at least 4 years (for secondary school purpose) and then buy a house and place that I love (possibly move back to my old area). Who knows, maybe I will love the new place and will not want to move away. The previous owner lived in the house for 25 years and the one before for 20 years. It cannot be that bad then!

Try focusing on the future. You want the best for your family, but you cannot know what the future holds unless you try it. Nothing is set in stone and only you can find out if the new place/house suits you.

I remember when my family moved when I was a teenager. I was not overly happy with the move, but the extra space made all the difference and the old home was very soon forgotten.

Thank you all for sharing your experience, much appreciated. It's good to know that what I'm feeling is normal. Moving on Friday! Will keep you all posted?

Not London but we relocated 150 miles for a better job for Dh (and more job prospects for the future) and an outstanding primary. That was 10 years ago and the primary school has remained outstanding.

I left behind my job and my best friend but it was the best move for us as a family. The house was a stepping stone house, smaller than we wanted but due to the crazy market at the time we got stuck there, pre crash.

We had to remain close to the school to get ds2 into the school (cut throat 3 form entry) but once he was in and we knew we could move from a 3 bed to a 4 bed to allow Dh to work from home, we realised that the secondary school wasn't as great as it had been and that the area had no community feel or anything for teens to do apart from hang about on the street.

So we looked at google maps, drew a 25 minute commute to the primary school as I am a sahm and looked at all the secondary schools that were amazing.

Most people only think of a primary school when they move house, we definitely did. We moved 5 years ago when Ds1 was 7 to fall under the catchment of an incredible secondary. The houses here are much cheaper because the local primary was just ok.

We absolutely love this house, it is our forever home until we downsize after the children have left.

So just think that if you aren't happy in the new area, you can always move. Plus think about all the reasons you chose the house, it made sense then, concentrate on the positives is what I am saying, like the nice villagey feel, the high street etc. Don't worry about what your friends are doing and you can always make new friends. And good luck.