Should we Move?

[SilverDoublet]

Current situation:
4 kids, aged 11 boy, 10 girl, 8 girl, 5 boy in a 3 bed semi D, one shower room, on a busy road. Kids sharing bedrooms. Small north facing garden, overlooked by lots of neighbours. No side access or garage for bikes. 20 mins walk from school, up a hill. Within a flood plain, but highly unlikely to flood (1 in 1000 or less in any given year)

We have come into some money and now it's an option to move. Would you move for more bedrooms? We're really settled and attached to our house, 2 of the kids were born in it, but are we being stupid not to move when we have the extra cash?

If you can afford to move and stay in the same area I would move! We have 3 teens and having their own rooms has really helped (we moved downstairs as we have a 3 bed).

No matter how much you extend, there will be a ceiling price for your house. You run the risk of spending more than you will get back should you ever sell. Moving into a bigger house will give you the extra space and the house will increase in value over the years.

If you only have 3 beds now, you don't really need 5 beds. A four bed with two bathrooms would probably suit your needs without stretching you financially.

Yes most teens want their own room, but of course many share, and that’s fine, and all they’ve known. I’d say your oldest will want his own room soon given the age gap, but if you’ve a room downstairs that could be used, maybe do that instead. I’d probably move parents downstairs, as feel funny about kids alone on ground floor (probably just me though). Sounds like you’d rather stay. What about an extension? Or not possible with it being a terrace?

We had 2 children in a 3 bed semi. Even so we felt we had outgrown it and it seemed to be getting a bit cramped. We moved last year to a 4 bed and are loving the extra space.

i can’t fathom why someone with 4 children would want to stay in a 3 bed, if they could afford to move.

We could help them with deposits then too.

How much are you talking - enough to help your eldest when he's 21 and desperate for his own space (and somewhere to bring back a girlfriend!)?

Sharing a bedroom with a sibling is fine but not when you're an adult.