Unfortunately, our homes don’t always grow with us. What may have initially worked fine for a single
person, a young couple’s starter home, or a family with a newborn can quickly become too small as
families expand and multiple generations live under one roof.
Remodeling and adding to your home is one option for creating more space, but it can be costly, and the
size of your property may be prohibitive. That’s when moving to a bigger home becomes the best
solution.
WHERE DO YOU NEED MORE SPACE?
The first thought when up sizing your home is to simply consider square footage, bedrooms, and
bathrooms. But it’s important to take a more critical approach to how your space will actually be
used. If you have younger children (or possibly more on the way), then focusing on bedrooms and
bathrooms makes sense. But if your children are closer to heading off to college or starting their own
families, it may be better to prioritize group spaces like the kitchen, dining room, living room, and
outdoor space—it’ll pay off during the holidays or summer vacations, when everyone is coming to
visit for big gatherings.
MOVING OUTWARD
If you need more space, but don’t necessarily want a more expensive home, you can probably get
a lot more house for your money if you move a little further from a city center. While the walk ability
and short commutes of a dense neighborhood or condo are hard to leave beyond, your lifestyle—and
preferences for hosting Thanksgiving, barbecues, and birthdays—might mean that a spacious home
in the suburbs makes the most sense. It’s your best option for up sizing while avoiding a heftier price tag.