This is a collaborative post: Last year was not so great. The beginning of this year hasn’t been so wonderful either. However, there seems to be some light in the darkness out there, and it looks as though we, as a nation at least, are on the mend. 

This will have led to a number of different things. If you have spent the last 18 months or so staring at the same four walls because you work from home and you haven’t been able to go anywhere, for example, you might be thinking about moving, buying your next or first house, and starting fresh in the latter half of 2021. You certainly won’t be the only one. Is this a good idea, though? We’ve got some thoughts on it, so read on to find out what they are. 

Can You Afford It?

First and foremost, the most critical question to answer is whether or not you can afford to move and buy a house. You’ll need to have a deposit, the money for stamp duty (bearing in mind the stamp duty holiday is very close to ending), for conveyancing solicitors, a removals company, and you’ll need to be able to manage the monthly mortgage repayments too. 

Make sure you can definitely afford to move before you start the process. It might be that you would be better off using some of your deposit money to pay off your debts instead. This will allow you to get a better interest rate on your mortgage (so you’ll be paying less overall), and even if it delays your move for a few months, your affordability will undoubtedly go up. 

What Is Your Reason For Moving? 

Once you know you can afford to move (having an estate agent or two over to value your current property is a good idea as you’ll get a good idea of your budget in this way), you need to wait a moment and reflect. What are your reasons for moving? 

There are good reasons for moving, and these mean you’ll be happy once you get to your new place. They include getting a bigger house, saving money, being closer to good schools, being closer to family, wanting to live in a different area, and finding your forever home. However, if you love your home and your heart isn’t in the move, you’ll regret it, and it’s a pricey regret to have. Considering how expensive it is to move, if you’re not one hundred percent behind the idea, is there anything you can do to your current property that will make it better? An extension, a new kitchen, a landscaped garden, or an outside office could all mean you get to stay where you are and still reap the benefits that moving would have given you. 

Conclusion 

Moving house is never something that anyone should undertake lightly, and you’ll need to do plenty of research before you come to your own decision. Moving just because you’ve been at home for a while isn’t always going to be a valid reason, and it could even be a big mistake. Think carefully about what you want to move and the costs involved and then, if you do realise you want to move, go for it – it’s an exciting stage in anyone’s life!