Discover the 8 reasons why we move house

Moving house is a major upheaval. Most of us do it around three or four times or every five to seven years. Around a million households moved home last year, so what triggers this desire to move on?

1. More space/growing family: Not many don't want a bit more space. The decision to upsize can sometimes be provoked by visits to friends and family's more spacious homes, but the most common reason is a new baby. And it doesn't just end there - as the kids get older, they take up even more space. There are plenty of reasons to move when you think there were 598,400 births in 2023 in England and Wales (source: ONS).
2. Being closer to the family: Most of us like to be near our families, especially when we start one of our own or our parents need some help as they get older and, as a bonus, it can help to reduce the childcare bill. The truth is that not many of us have wandered far from the family home in the first place - according to a recent survey - typically, we only travel 40 miles between each move and rarely end up more than 70 miles from our place of birth.
3. School catchment area/empty nest for parents: Living in the catchment area of good primary schools is essential, and when the children get closer to secondary school age, they may have to move again. 15% of parents with children aged four to 18 claim to have moved house for this reason (source: Rightmove), although the actual figure may be much higher. When it's all over, and the children leave home, it can be the catalyst for another move, as the need for space and a home in an expensive catchment area are no longer there.
4. Change of job or remote work: If the perfect job comes up in another town, moving may be necessary. However, with the rise of remote work since the pandemic, many move for lifestyle reasons rather than job proximity. This shift has increased interest in rural and suburban areas as city-centre proximity becomes less crucial for many workers.
5. Bored/itchy feet: A recent survey discovered that we typically get bored of our properties after six years and eight months. The younger you are, the sooner you start to get itchy feet, with 25-34-year-olds beginning to think about moving on after three and nine months, whereas those over 55 don't do so for eight and six months. The survey also found that females initiated 65% of all home moves because they had become dissatisfied with their current homes.
6. Divorce/separation or a new relationship: Divorce is another common reason for selling a house. The latest figures from the ONS show there were 80,057 divorces in England and Wales in 2022 (the last year for which complete data is available). Conversely, there were 246,897 marriages, but neither figure considers any newly cohabiting or separating couples.
7. Downsizing/release equity: People often downsize to reduce their outgoings or release capital. Because pensions and savings are producing such low returns, the vast majority of retirees are using the equity tied up in their homes to help fund their retirement. According to a study, 1.5 million retirees plan to downsize over the next five years, equating to 25% of all house sales.
8. Death: It's not a happy thought, but 598,000 people died in England and Wales in 2023 (source: ONS). Not all of them were homeowners, and their partners would have survived many, but even so, each year, it results in a substantial number of properties coming on the market.

If you'd like to talk to an agent for more personalised advice, our team are always on hand to help. We'd love to hear from you, whether just a quick chat or a no-obligation property valuation.

Warm wishes,

The team at Rolstons