I loved our house when we bought it, so why should I move? And should you move? Here’s my story and a few tips that will help you stay in your home!
We moved into our 1930’s bungalow while I was 6 months pregnant with our first child. I finally had the old house that I wanted. I thought this could be a forever house. So much charm and character. So many nooks. Such history. So no great room. I had no idea it would matter.
I was prepared for some renovations and when one of the old kitchen cabinets fell on my head while 9 months pregnant, we started there. With a new kitchen, I started tackling the other rooms in the house and I always thought that if we could just do one more thing, we would be done. We would have the house of our dreams, or at least one that fit us just right.
Then I started getting house jealous of the newer, bigger homes I never wanted before. With 3 kids under our roof, I wanted a playroom, a bedroom for each kid, bigger closets (and more of them) and that darn great room people love so much. As a note, this is impossible in my home due to the age and the location of the supporting walls without a hell of a lot of money. Of course.
I walked around my house imagining all of the things I wanted to do and only after many months and maybe more than a year of this did I realize that those things other houses had were simply not in the bones of my house. Boo. Then I wanted to move, but I didn’t want to move. You know, because moving is painfully expensive and hard and can be known to cause some arguments in a marriage. I looked…a lot. It turns out it is really hard to find that perfect house after years of imagining…perfect may not exist outside your mind.
My house will always be an older home with more small rooms and less closets and an awkward set of stairs in the back of the house that are incredibly steep and narrow. My house will also be an older house with plaster walls and perfect hiding places and a garden that has been many decades in the growing that certainly houses fairies. It is also the place I brought each of my children home to, and that is something no other house has.
For now, I’m sticking with the fairies. We decided to stay and we’re making a little magic happen over here.
Should You Stay or Should You Go?
There are many reasons to stay or move. Sometimes moving is necessary or high priority for jobs or schools or to find a better neighborhood for your kids. But if moving is just because you want a different house, it is worth taking a look at the one you have to see if you can make it work. This is especially true if your house is within your budget, you want to stay in your neighborhood and if staying will allow you more financial flexibility.
If you have gobs of money go ahead and house shop. Bring me with you. I love looking at houses. If you are mot made of moolah, sit down and list out the things you want and need in a home and figure out how you can get a lot of them done in the house you already have. We have done a lot of small projects in this house and are considering a big renovation to add a bedroom. I can tell you that there are inexpensive ways to totally change your home.
Declutter – Once you have kids the clutter can make any house feel tiny. So many people feel like they need to move for space, but a small home can work wonderfully for a family if there is not as much stuff. Choose what area the kids have to store their belongings in your home and what area you have and then de-clutter until your stuff fits and you have an empty drawer or bin here and there. I am in the middle of this project. It sucks but the results are immediate and it is such a good lesson for your kids.
Spend on Stylish Storage – Whether you hit Ikea for the amazing deals on the ever-awesome Expedit (which can also divide rooms), invest in solid wood pieces or go for the gold with built-ins, storage options can change your whole home. I’m a huge fan of built ins, especially in older houses with strange nooks like mine, but you can get the look using shelving units and trim from your home improvement store.
Paint Away – Do it yourself to save major bucks or find a good painter who will not take all your money. It is possible but remember the rule with all contractors. Good, Fast, Cheap – you can only pick two. It seems to ring true. My painter is really good and slow and on his own schedule. No problem – he paints a room for $60! I don’t paint walls anymore. If you aren’t good with paint colors, look for an interior designer to just help you pick colors. It will be money well spent as they can help you get the look you are going for the first time.
Move Walls a Little – It is so much less than I thought to move a few non-supporting walls around. It’s really 2×4’s and drywall, so it is relatively quick and easy. Always get a second opinion here from a friend and draw out your rooms. We changed the walls in the two rooms at the back of our house to make the wall in our guest room / office / craft room fit a bed, eliminate the old laundry closet and make a playroom for a few thousand dollars. Our neighbors closed off a door to add a bedroom and increase their space in the living room. Once you have drawn our your floor plan, you can totally see where space can be gained and changed to meet your needs. Find a good and slow contractor to make your house work just a little bit better for your family.
Bite the Renovation Bullet – This is where I stand now, evaluating bids on adding a bedroom over our porch. When you are looking at a renovation versus moving, consider the overall value of your home and whether you will be putting in a reasonable amount for your area and whether it will get you what you really want in your home. Be sure it fits in your budget and involve the whole family in the decision, as it will upset your daily life for awhile. In the end, it might just be able to keep you in your home for a very long time.
House decisions are hard for 2 reasons. First, because your home is where you heart is and Second, because your home is where your wallet is. Take time to fully consider where you stand emotionally and financially and prioritize all your wants and needs. In the end, you want the decision to feel right all around and really, you just want to feel at home.
Awesome tips, Brittany.
We moved nearly 2 years ago because the place we lived in was only supposed to be temporary. Try 4 years of temporary! I’ve never been so glad to move out of a place.
Your home looks lovely by the way.
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I would love to have you over! Seriously, make it Southeast when you come to the states and you can stay here. Old house that it is, we have a guest room and a big fold out bed downstairs in rooms we are trying to figure out how to use but just can’t seem to do it. I will still dream of moving but my house has something very special in it and oh the garden, I will have to show you the garden. 4 years of temporary would kill me. I like projects way too much to be a renter for that long!
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Brittany, your home is SUPER cute! I don’t blame you for wanting to stay and make it work for you. It is totally stunning.
These are some really great tips. I was trying really hard to make my apartment a great place to live while we were there.
Thanks so much for being here today, Brittany. I love this post!
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Laura,
Thanks so much for having me and my longish post at your place! I think a lot of people have really good reasons to move and I think a lot of people let the little problems in their homes get to them when they see other houses and they make a quick decision to move. Being the largest financial decision for most people, I really think it should be made carefully and with consideration of the other things you may want to spend money on. For us, it is travel and house projects. To spend more money on a house would mean less travel and if I did get that perfect house, where would I do projects and what money would I have to spend on them?
At the end of the day, the one thing I would really really like and that I miss so much from our first house is a garage. I think adding one would put our house out of the market price wise and take out too much of our garden.
Anyhoo, there are so many ways to make any space better, so taking just a little time thinking about the options and checking out online inspiration can be a big help in making the right decision!
Brittany recently posted..Teach Kids to Love Writing with a Noticing Book
I absolutely love your bungalow! We just moved into a house built in 1924. It has a lot of amazing features, but since it was built back in the day, there are the expected drawbacks (oh, closets, how I miss you). We already have a few renovations in mind, but they are all theoretical at this point. I love your list, and your approach to it, and I will keep these in mind as the time comes to make a change here or there!
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Good luck Rivki! I would love to hear more. I good project makes me happy. Actually, I think looking at your floor plan and seeing where you can add a closet might make a big difference for you. We added one in our back guest room and actually ended up with just a little less floor space but a much better layout for the room, as it added an extra little wall to put a dresser on. So many windows in these old homes too! If I post it, I will send you the link so you can check it out. Built ins can also act as closets and Ikea has amazing wardrobes that tons of people have made built in using trim. That’s a very good price conscious choice.
Finally, never underestimate a friend’s opinion. Well, one who has a little style. They can help you choose between 2 things, tell you how hideous your paint choice will look…all that good stuff.
One final note as I don’t know if you have lived in old houses before. With paint or wallpaper on plaster, it can be a disaster. Find a painter who does not charge and arm and a leg to point up the plaster and beware of wallpaper. It can look funny without a real pro doing it on plaster. Not what I would call a DIY project in an old house.
Thanks so much for reading and enjoy your historic house!
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These are great tips for sure. We made the most of our space with the four of us in a tiny space for a long time too. The extra shelving, built-in bookshelves, new floors, new paint, and renovated our tiny bathroom . We also were paying for an extra storage unit of our stuff elsewhere. In the end 50 sq feet was just not doable. But yes, I agree to make most of what you have for as long as you can.
Your house looks lovely and quaint.
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Did you say your whole family lived in 50 square feet? I want pictures of how that worked!
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oops 450 sq ft…
These are great tips! I love looking at houses, too, but really have no intention of moving – at least anytime soon. I have a list of projects and wouldn’t-it-be-nices in the house we have now, but I have a feeling that we will get them done over time. Your house is beautiful!
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Thank you so much! Those projects make me excited to stay in a house. I can be so much fun to make little changes that add up to a lot!
Brittany recently posted..Don’t Miss Legoland Florida with the Kids!
This is where we are. I love our house and especially our neighborhood, but there are a few things that I wish were just a little bit different or bigger or over a scootch. One day.
Jennifer recently posted..A boy with a bucket
Ohhhh, charm in a house cannot be discounted. (And yours is gorgeous!) I’m in the middle of the sort/store/declutter project. Sucks. But it’s also wonderful. :)
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Your home sounds impossibly charming, Brittany!! But I get that envy you talk about. I don’t want to move either, but I think, down the road, we’ll have to add on. I love your tips for making your home more livable!
Your house is adorable and full of character! We have a cookie cutter in a medium-ish neighborhood which we love, but sometimes wish our house had more nooks and secret treasures. We reconfigure and repaint to get the feel we want; there’s nothing much better than tweaking your home to get it just right! Great tips – de-cluttering goes a loooong way. Sometimes I’ll stand in a newly de-cluttered room and just… sigh.
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I’m currently also in declutter mode. We have so much crap…I know this little house will feel so much bigger once I just do a good purge!
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It will feel huge and much more manageable. It looks like you have a big yard though, and that is awesome. It is on my wish list. We live close to the city so the lots are very small.
Brittany recently posted..Take the Kids to the San Diego Zoo
We actually live in a rental right now and the owners are willing to do some small renovations after our 4 years here like change out counter tops, paint, etc. And I like this house but I still get starry-eyed thinking of bigger, newer homes and wish sometimes that I could be in one of those… ;)
This is a really good post for those thinking of moving “just to move”.
p.s. your home definitely has major curb appeal! wow!
What a great landlord. I hate it when I hear that people have been living in a house for a long time and the landlord just does nothing. It is not the right way to take care of a house or the tenants. I will always get starry eyed and never stop going to open houses. It is too much fun to look at where other people live!
Brittany recently posted..Take the Kids to the San Diego Zoo
Moving is not an option for us. Full-on renovation is not an option for us. So, we’re doing little things. It’s started with the decluttering. We’ll move on with painting one room, changing fixtures in another. It’ll be bit by bit but eventually, I hope to truly have it the way we want/imagined it when we bought. I LOVE THE FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. Those trees are making me very happy. And although I don’t remember its name, that flower to the left, the upside down looking one? My absolute favorite of ever.
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