Seven year itch with houses

[FigAboutTheRules]

I'm looking for some advice about whether to move or stay. I seem to get bored/annoyed with every house I've ever lived in after seven years. In the past I've always moved on but this time I'm not sure.

I (49) live in a 4-bed terrace in a lovely neighbourhood in a nice city, with 2 DC (17 & 14) at home. They are settled and it is convenient for them. But recently I've become very sensitive to traffic noise and the general busyness of city living. I don't go out as much as I used to and my friends live quite spread out anyway. I would be able to buy a similar square footage but detached house 5-10 miles outside the city for the same price as my house. I would be able to have a driveway instead of scrambling to find a space on the street.

But... I have put a lot into this current house (extension, garden improvements, new bathroom etc) and it's now in the upper price range for the street. It's not a good time to be moving financially (this has never stopped me before but I'm more cautious these days). And it feels like a waste of the work I've done, not to mention a lot of stress and upheaval for me and the DC for no actual reason other than my irritation with traffic and parking.

Would you move in my situation? Or would you try to get past the 'itch', get off Rightmove, change a bit of decor and try to love it again? In short, should I follow my head or heart itchy feet?

I would try making another change in your life first to see whether your itch is to do with needing a fresh challenge/interest rather than specific to the house.

Worth exploring.

With your DC at their current ages I would not be moving to a place where you would have to be their main mode of transport. Whilst the road noise and parking may be an issue ( can you buy a garage or get triple glazed windows?) having to drop and collect at all hours would be more intrusive, especially as they are used to living centrally now.

@ThisCharmingMum That's a fair observation. I am a bit dissatisfied and bored generally. I'm a lone parent and that has created a lot of restrictions in terms of promotions, relationships, social life.

@MoreHairyThanScary That's true. Or they'd be annoyed at spending a lot of time on the bus.

I think I would try and stay. See how you feel in a year or two and review. Or maybe once the kids have left home. I think ‘better the devil you know’. You coukd move and find other irritations. Your children are settled, why put yourself through the expense and stress of moving,

Don't move until they are out of secondary school. Buy an e bike

An e-bike is an interesting idea. I've considered buying a garage @MoreHairyThanScary but they are hard to come by within walking distance of me.

Other ideas for how to make things better where I am or shake things up a bit gratefully received!

I would stay until the kids of flown ( or need a push) - these years are hard for them , so much growing up to do - so you can think about it now but leave it a few years

Thanks. It's good advice. I really wish I could stop thinking about it though!

My mother was always restless and thought moving house would make things better. It didn't work, because she always had to bring herself with her.

It is unsettling and annoying for kids and teenagers even when it's a necessity. Don't disrupt them, because you feel vaguely dissatisfied.

I would stay. I am 52 and the thought of living 10 miles outside my city horrifies me. I want to be near all the amenities, not stuck somewhere where driving or public transport is a necessity. When my adult child visits, he meets with friends for drinks and can walk back. No need to worry about traffic coming into the city, which often looks horrendous.

I’d stay put for a few years it convenient for the kids. Otherwise you’ll be picking them up a lot. Invest in ear plugs / white noise machine if its at night traffic keeping you awake.

Secondary glazing is good for traffic noise. Much better than triple
glazing.
I’d try and stick it out until they’ve finished school.
It’s the three year itch in our house

The thing is when you move you get rid of the thing that irritates you the most, result! However you will no doubt inherit another irritation that you probably never envisaged until you start living in the new place, I doubt any house is absolutely perfect, you have to way up what being detached and having your own drive is worth the pay off on the house you buy. It’s a difficult situation for sure, my house is perfect apart from one thing! I’m in small cul de sac of just 2 other houses and I want to have my own gates and no neighbours, that would mean moving out into the countryside and starting again on making the next house as lovely as mine is. I have ruled out moving because I want to stay close to town, the moving costs plus renovations on another house are literally insane, and being in my fifties these costs would greatly affect my retirement plans so I’m just going to have to put up with being in a cul de sac, it’s just not worth it for me.

I really appreciate the thoughtful replies. What especially resonates with me is the fact that wherever you go you take yourself along, so it's only a temporary fix, and the fact that there are problems with every house and I would probably soon find a new irritation. I probably need to keep working on making things nicer here and being patient. It does have a lot of advantages here.

To answer the question about traffic, it's not so much when I open windows. It's more when I'm out and about myself, walking. And my street is so busy, lined with cars parked both sides, so when you drive up it and another car comes along you often have to reverse halfway down the road to let them past. I find it stressful. Everyone drives a massive tank down narrow Victorian streets! I dream of walking in the countryside, hearing birds. But it is probably a bit of a fantasy, and in any case, if I moved out I would spend half my time stuck in traffic jams driving my dc to the city, as a pp pointed out.