Your decision to upsize to a larger home will be one of the most significant commitments of your life – and it’s essential to be clear on what you want and need. It can be a mistake to assume that owning a larger home will automatically solve issues such as feeling cramped, dealing with clutter or achieving greater privacy.

As an experienced Northern Colorado Realtor®, I’ve discovered time and again the importance of prioritizing the issues that are driving your desire for a larger home. The clearer you are on why you want to upsize and the features that you’re looking for, the easier your new home search will be. 

Below is a list of the most common reasons people decide that it’s time to upsize to help focus your thinking. 

1. Family is growing – This is the most common motivation to upsize. You can get away with a smaller home with young children, but teenagers need their own space for everyone’s sake. When searching for a larger home, focus on what will work with teenagers and young adults in the house. Just because it’s bigger does not mean it will meet your needs.
2. The market is a good investment – With the market powering ahead right now, it’s a great idea to think about a larger home as a long-term, stable investment. Of course, property values fluctuate with economic cycles, but their volatility does not compare with the helter-skelter stock market. By owning a property, you can go on to explore other financial opportunities with greater confidence.
3. Need to stretch out – If you’ve got toys under your feet, a Lego brick in your in-step, a sofa that’s too small and the TV that’s too big, then you’re probably feeling cramped. Being able to walk through your home and enjoy a sense of space is a terrific feeling. 
4. Privacy a priority – Many people will upsize to have some privacy in their lives. A room dedicated to a hobby, or a double garage where you can tinker with engines on the weekend, is many people’s idea of paradise. When a family lives on top of each other, you can find yourself in stressful situations that would never have occurred if you had a bigger home. 
5. You’re an entertainer – A frustration of a smaller home can be the difficulty of entertaining friends and family. A larger home should offer a great kitchen and an outside entertaining area – both great reasons to upsize.