help me decide whether to move or not

[VicarInaTinselTuTu]

i know - its a long shot but im hoping when ive written this down my mind might be more made up.

we moved house 3 1/2 years ago - we bought a run down house on a good street, so its not lost money even during the slump, though we have had to gut it (it hadnt been touched since the 60's!) and put an extension on it.

so, the house should be done, (i say should be cos we have been quite unlucky with the workmen we got in for the kitchen and bathroom and it could really do to be done again, which really depresses me when i think what we spent) though it would be good enough to sell... the garden (large) still needs work which would include replacing an old garage and generally getting it tidy - maybe paving and turfing etc. thing is - weve done loads to it and i just cant settle. its too small for a family home - DS room is tiny and it feels like we just keep chucking good money after bad. DDs room isnt very big and both of them moan, all the rooms are really small...its in a nice area though, and i suppose there are other options, like adding a conservatory or even extending further...i just cant decide what to do. our neighbours are ok but the walls are really thin and i worry about what happens if they move and we get noisier neighbours...

DH says if im not happy he will move. i am due to start a new job sometime this year, so am not sure whether to wait until then, as ill be on reasonable money, though im not keen to get any bigger a mortage, however glancing on the net at property sites there are loads of houses for sale that id be interested in looking at, for about the same price as we could sell this for...but when my job starts im not sure where ill be posted, a move may be on the cards anyway.

im just so undecided. i like this area, id probably like the house more if i could just scrape together enough to finish it....DS will be going to uni in the next couple of years so his small room may no longer be an issue...

this place just never feels sorted to me. i think ive lost interest cos the stuff we have done has been blighted by poor workmanship...we would need to replace parts of the kitchen and probably start again with the bathroom (which is also tiny)

ooooooo. i cant decide. talk some sense to me please....

Life is complicated partic. when children are at this age. We lost interest in our house while the kids were teenagers but concentrated on work and getting kids through university (very expensive) and then moved and bought a house which is an adult house with guest rooms. it's been great. No boomerang kids as yet either ( fingers crossed)

I think if you have done loads to it and are still not happy then I would move if you can handle all the stress of viewings/no shows/estate agents/ nail biting waiting (can you tell I am mid house sale?)

We bought this house knowing it was a stepping stone house and we have gutted it from top to bottom. It was to get my son into a primary school. We are staying very close by but it gives us more scope to move into other streets rather than being on the school's doorstep.

We are buying a house with one more bedroom but we also love the potential of it more than anything, it allows us to grow with it. My sons are 6 and 3 almost 7 and 4 and we know that this house is too small with no potential to extend or add value. The next house allows us to convert a garage and extend at the back and gives us more outdoor space instead of a postage stamp garden.

Wait for the new job to start so you know where you will be geographically then go from there.

It could be me who wrote this post! We are in a very similar situation to the original poster - and plan to move, possibly (hopefully) this year. We need to put it all behind us. I agree with Fizzylemonade that it would be sensible to wait until your new job starts and take it from there.

cheers folks....

i guess it would make more sense to wait until i know where ill be job wise then look...though DD is adamant she isnt moving whatever.

ive seen a house im really interested in viewing but i know its probably not going to happen yet so might not be wise to look yet.

ill carry on looking on the net...

Hey girl, I hear you! If you can't settle in the house after several years, I would probably move. But take it slowly, so that it does not get too stressful.
I bought a house 5 months ago, maybe too quick to say, but I cannot see myself settling in here. Although my house has a potential and could have possibly been house "for life", it is shame that it just does not work for me... and we probably are going to move in few years time... That's life I guess!

yeah, i think id have settled in by now if i was going to.

rang a friend last night and she said at the time she couldnt see me staying here. think she was right.

am going to try and straighten (tidy and paint!)it up, get a valuation and if i can break even im gonna try and sell.

If you're not settled then I would move. We lived in our old house for six years and it never felt like home to me.

We have recently moved to a new area where I don't know a soul but feel so much happier and settled in the new house. It has been a good move for us.