Last Updated on February 9, 2018
When you’re in a position to buy your first home, it’s like the weight of the world lifts from your shoulders. Finally, you can leave the family home and be an adult in your own right. Taking that small step of becoming ‘a homeowner’ can, in fact, change your whole outlook. At the very least, it can help you face up to responsibility.
But, unless you’re lucky, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to afford much with that first step onto the property ladder. Most of us can only stretch to a one-bed apartment. So, we often only stay in that first home for three or four years. That’s a long enough time to save a little more and receive some profit on our properties.
When you reach that second house-move, you may expect it to be as exhilarating as your first. And, in some ways, it will be. But, there may also be some emotions you weren’t expecting. You aren’t leaving the family home this time. This is your space, which played a massive part in your transition into adulthood. It’s no surprise, then, that these questions often plague us when our first homes go on the market.
How could someone else live in my space?
This is the house which helped you find yourself. It’s the first place which has belonged to you. So, don’t be surprised if you feel possessive once it’s on the market. Suddenly, you’ll have to face the reality of someone else living in the space which has been so formative to you. That can be confusing. How could YOUR space belong to someone else? Surely it can’t mean as much to them? There’s no easy way around this, other than to remember that the learning you’ve done there came from you, not the property. Try not to attach too much importance to those four walls, or else you’ll struggle to leave.
Could another home serve as well?
Even once you get your head around selling a home which means so much, you may start to question whether another property could serve you as well. This is especially the case if you’re struggling to find anything else. Your current property is the perfect fit. How could anything else be as good? In truth, any property can suit your needs. It’s in your power to change anything which doesn’t work. So, it’s crucial you keep an open mind, here. Bear in mind, too, that this attitude may be the reason you’re struggling to find anything. Open your mind and see what a difference it makes.
Is it even worth moving
At the last minute, you may go to the extreme of wondering whether it’s even worth moving. This is a last, ditch attempt to hold onto something which means a lot to you. In this instance, sit down and write out all the reasons for your move, be they monetary, romantic, whatever. That should be enough to remind you that, yes, it’s very much worth moving.