Outgrowing Our Family Home: Signs It’s Time for a Bigger House in 2025

I think when it comes to your family home, you are either someone that loves to move or hates to move, but sometimes you need to sit down and think, is now the right time for a bigger house?

We have lived in our home for over 17 years, and when we bought it back as 22 & 25 year olds, we didn’t have plans for how long we would be here or even a family at that point. We had made the jump from renting, found a house in a good location with 2 good-size bedrooms and some outside space. It was ours; we owned it rather than renting, and we were going to make the most of it.

Back then, buying our home was stressful, and it was something that neither of us wanted to repeat any time soon. Fast forward 17 years, with 2 adults, 2 teens and 2 pugs, we have pretty much grown out of this house, and it just doesn’t really meet the family space requirements we need, but making the decision to move to a bigger family home is a big thing to decide.

The reality of the property market these days indicates that neither of the kids will be able to move out in the future, so not only are we trying to future-proof financially for us, but we also want to be able to offer the kids the space they may need moving forward as young adults.

Signs It Was Time for a Bigger Home

There were no real plans on the horizon for us to move anytime soon. I have wanted to move for a while, but with the kids in school and rising costs and house prices. It just didn’t feel like now was the right time for us to move.

However, following a chance conversation with our friends and a little research, it seemed as though our plans could move forward a little earlier.

Our home is the perfect starter family home, however, we lack space now and as the kids are getting older, they (and us) just want that little more space where you can pop your stuff away without feeling as though everything is on top of you or I can work in an office, rather than the living room. This is even better as I work from home, and it would be nice to have a little space to work without people feeling that they need to be quiet.

How Our Family’s Needs Have Changed

This house started as a 2 bed home, which was fine when there was just 2 of us. Fast forward a few years, and then there are 4 of us. We managed with this for a number of years until the kids got older and needed to have their own space and privacy. Our options were pretty limited as the location of the house makes adding an extension difficult, and being a bungalow with a low pitch roof, going up into the loft was not an option.

We opted to re-jig the walls internally and give everyone their own space, and this has worked really well for us over the 5+ years, but now the kids are bigger, and they need a bit more room. We have also done a lot of work in the garden and made it into a calm garden oasis, but I am ready for a new challenge on this.

Also, due to my working at home, I would love a bit more space that can be the office away from everyone else so when they are on school holidays, they can still enjoy the space.

Making the Decision to Move

Now that we have decided to move, I have become a little bit impatient! The market, however, is very slow in both directions, so we are going to have to be a little more patient.

There are going to be a few compromises when it comes to the move as both Daddy Vs Work and the kids will still be commuting back into where we live now for work and school. The kids are at the point in their education where neither wants to change schools, and that is fine.

What We’re Looking for in Our New Family Home

When it comes to our new home, we have made a couple of lists: one is the non-negotiables, and the other is the dream additions. For everyone, these lists will be different, and that is ok. I would suggest sitting down as a family and working through what the move and new home really mean to you and your growing family needs.

Here are our top choices for our new family home.

• Bedroom size – We want 3 double bedrooms. Yes, this may seem like a big ask, but with the plan in place in case the kids can’t afford to move out when they are bigger, we want them to be able to have space to live comfortably without feeling as though they are boxed in.
• Driveway – After living 17 years with on-street parking, the time has come for us to go back to having a drive, and I can not wait! Parking is becoming a premium now, no matter where you live.
• Space – The thing I am looking forward to is space inside and out. I no longer want to feel as though there are houses, cars and people all around. I want to be within walking distance of the countryside so we can get the dogs out walking. I want to be able to move around the house without feeling as though we are getting in each others’ way. The house we are looking to move to has lots of space but also lots of storage too, so I can finally get organised!

UK Moving Facts 2025:

• Average time families spend in first home: 7-10 years
• Most common reasons for upsizing: Growing family needs, work from home space
• Top considerations: School proximity, commute times

Tips for Families Considering a House Upgrade

If you are considering moving to a bigger family home, you may be thinking about when to move house and what you need to consider. All of which can feel very overwhelming and stressful.

You are not alone, research shows that moving home is one of the most stressful things you go through in life!

For those considering it, here are my top tips for making sure your move to a bigger house is as stress-free as it can be.

• Do your calculations – Sit down and work out just what you can afford. This is not only in your mortgage and how much you can afford to buy but also in your long-term budget. With our house size upgrade, we are facing rising costs on council tax and utilities alongside our mortgage. Just ensure you are completely comfortable with all this before proceeding.
• Take your time – Making the decision to move to a new long-term family home is not something to be taken lightly. The costs involved with moving are sky high and that is one thing that I am really conscious off. Make sure the move is right for you and your family before making the leap.

Whatever happens for us in the coming months, I know the move will be worth every minute of the stress that comes with it. Now it is all about sitting tight and waiting to be able to make that move