You may start looking for reliable long-distance moving companies and looking up properties online if you consider moving. But unless there is a pressing reason, few people ever make a spontaneous move, and why would you?
It is easy to feel trapped in a rut. We value routine and structure to the point that it can seem taboo to question these things’ negative impact on us. One particularly worrying consequence happens when we become stagnant.
We do not always realize how much impact our home has on our identity and narrative. As a result, we can become trapped in good and bad memories that prevent us from moving on and living up to our fullest potential; moving to a new home offers some positive benefits.
There are reasons to consider moving to a new home, regardless of whether it is objectively necessary.
1. Too Many Memories
As we said, memories, precious as they may be, can keep one captive in a persona you have outgrown. Whether it’s memories from previous relationships that tell how you overcame sadness, or perhaps memories of financial struggle that you managed to overcome, memories should be cherished and valued, not lived in.
The quickest way to figure out if it’s time to make a move for the sake of a fresh start is to look at how you respond to your home. Are there rooms you prefer not to enter? Do you have a place where you go to be sad? If you have strong emotional responses to your home, it is likely time to make a move.
2. It Is Not Your Castle
We don’t mean castle in the affluent sense. We mean castle in terms of your fort of safety, where you feel safe and happy and in control. Usually, anyone who experiences a traumatic event in their home will feel uneasy. While some people can move on, others can remain stuck in that trauma.
Even as you work through the experience in therapy, returning to the place of trauma can be challenging. When that place is where you are supposed to feel safe, it may be time to consider moving. Your home is your haven, and if it isn’t, it’s just a house. Even if you aren’t ready to buy your dream home, moving to a new rental is a great solution.
3. Too Much Space
That is one of the biggest reasons people move to a new home. Sure, the tiny home movement is motivated by financial considerations, but having too much space in your home can be a problem. Unused rooms, different living areas, these spaces are just additional expenses in maintenance and your mortgage.
4. Too Little Space
This problem is one people try to avoid. We don’t plot our living arrangements ahead of time. So you end up getting your place after college. Maybe it has one or two bedrooms. Anything more is a waste.
Then you meet your life partner. You decide the two of you should share your apartment. A couple of years pass, and your first child enters the picture. But you have that spare room, and you make it nice for your little one.
But next thing, your kid wants a puppy, and you realize it’s the perfect time for your second child, and suddenly your still adequate apartment doesn’t fit your goals for the future.
5. The Neighborhood
Neighborhood red flags are another reason to start house hunting elsewhere. If the neighborhood is falling apart, the property value will plummet, and you’ll find yourself dreading your decision to stay.
There are tons of reasons to move to a new home. Essentially, it’s key to simply consider how a move will benefit your lifestyle and finances.