Moving house is, arguably, one of the most stressful things in life, which is why realtors suggest working through a list of questions to ask yourself before committing to a move.
From the reasons you are moving to what you need from your new space, these questions are designed to help you find your perfect property and avoid buyer’s regret.
They’re so important that the experts suggest answering them as the first step in your moving house checklist.
Questions to ask yourself before moving house
1. What do you want your everyday life to feel like in your new home?
Being able to envision your ideal life helps you pick a home that supports your goals.
Buying a house is more than buying shelter, Lisa Rutkowski, realtor at Premier Sotheby's International Realty says. It should contribute to your well-being and support your life goals.
Lisa explains, ‘This helps us talk about lifestyle, not just location. Do you want walkability, quiet mornings, more time outdoors, or a sense of community?
‘Similarly, ask yourself, “A year from now, how will you know this move was the right choice?” It’s a way to look forward and define what success looks like, so we can reverse-engineer the right move for you.’
This moving house checklist contains sheets for tracking your inventory, your expenses, and your new home essentials.
2. If you didn’t have to consider anyone else’s opinion, where would you move and why?
Your family's opinions matter, but avoid succumbing to social expectations.
A top home buyer mistake that often leads to regret is picking a property based on what people outside of your household want and think is best for you. Lisa continues, ‘Asking yourself this cuts through the noise and helps you reconnect with your own hopes and vision for the future.’
3. What do you need from a new house?
Consider storage needs, bedrooms, living space size, and location when searching for a property.
The number one compromise buyers should never make is on the basic things you need from a property and its location. Fiona Dogan, realtor at Julia B Fee Sotheby's International Realty says, ‘Another way to phrase this is, “What goal am I trying to achieve?"
‘That may mean you've outgrown your house and need more room to raise a family. Or, your house is now too big because you children have left home. Perhaps you need to reconfigure how you live because your mom or dad is moving in with you. Is it a seller's market and you want to cash out and maximize your profits? Do you want to simplify your life and move to an apartment because you don't want to take care of a house anymore? Do you want to lessen your expenses and slimline your life? Are you relocating nationally or internationally and need to sell or rent your house out?’
They are all questions that feed into finding the perfect home.
4. Are you ready for your life to be turned on its head?
Moving home is stressful, don't time it with the arrival of a new child, or the start of a school year.
Fiona continues, ‘Moving house is one of the top five biggest stressors in life and it is not for the faint of heart. More than just moving from one structure to another, moving typically involves transitioning from one phase of life to the next, such as outgrowing your first apartment when you start a family, or downsizing from a well-loved family home when the kids have moved out, or a spouse has passed away). This means divesting yourself of possessions possibly decluttering to downsize, including items from your childhood, your children's formative years, or parents' and grandparents' possessions that have traveled with you for decades.
‘It can be a very emotional and challenging time for an individual and even more so for multiple family members, so it’s important to be ready for a rollercoaster ride of emotions, home preparation, and stress.’
These large cardboard moving boxes are perfect for shifting your belongings to a new property, and can be folded down after use for easy storage and disposal.
This lighter weight packing take is perfect for securing moving boxes to avoid items falling out when moving.
When packing items for moving, wrap them up in bubble wrap or packing paper to help protect them from bumps and knocks when bring put on a van.
5. Can I afford this in the long run?
Moving home costs go beyond the initial move. Consider energy bills and taxes, too.
How much it costs to move and how much it costs to hire movers is only part of the consideration when shopping for a new home. You also need to ask yourself about the future financials.
Michael Branson, CEO at All Reverse Mortgage says, ‘Before making the leap to a new home, think about whether you can comfortably afford it – not just now, but in the future. Consider things like your mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and the general cost of living in the area. You might find that what seems affordable at first could stretch your finances in the long term if the area has a higher cost of living.
‘It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new place, but if it’s going to put a strain on your finances, you could be setting yourself up for stress down the road. Make sure it aligns with your budget, both for today and what you envision for your future.’
Now might also be a good time to consider how you are going to renovate your home, including if you are going to live in the property while slow renovating, for example, or work out how to set and stick to your budget for interior design projects. This budget planner journal from Target will help you work out the numbers with ease.
6. Does the area make sense for what I want and need?
Make sure you love the area and the amenities too, or your home will feel like a prison.
The area around a house is just as important as the property itself when finding your forever home. Forgetting this is one of the leading causes of buyers’ regret.
Michael continues, ‘Some people move because they find a good deal, only to realize the area doesn’t suit their lifestyle or long-term goals. Maybe it’s too far from work, doesn’t have the amenities you need, or isn’t in a neighborhood you feel comfortable in. Before you move anywhere – take a step back and think about whether the location really fits what you need in your daily life. Is it close enough to your job, schools, or the things that matter to you? Make sure it makes sense for your lifestyle, not just for the price tag.’
7. What are the risks of not moving?
Don't rush a move, but don't stay somewhere that affects your wellbeing.
While you certainly never want to rush a move and end up with a home that isn’t worth it, you also want to ask yourself about the risks of not moving home, suggests Lisa Murphy, certified life coach. This could be long commutes to work and schools, living in a dangerous property, significant financial losses, or a negative impact on personal well-being.
Meet the experts
Lisa Rutkowski is a highly accomplished global real estate advisor with Premier Sotheby's International Realty's Southwest Orlando office. With 15 years of exclusive experience successfully marketing and selling residential properties, Lisa has built a reputation for delivering outstanding results and exceptional service.
Fiona Dogan is in the top 1.5% of 1.6 million agents nationwide with over 18+ years experience in local and global real estate.
Lisa Murphy is a certified Life & Wellness Coach in Toronto who empowers women to create more intentional, fulfilling, and joyful lives.
FAQs
How do you know when it is time to move?
The signs that it is a good time to move will change from person to person, but the most common is when your life starts to feel stagnant in your current home, for example, you no longer find the area enjoyable, or you feel held back in terms of your career or family. You may have also outgrown your space, for example, if elderly relatives move in or you are having children.
If you do decide that moving is the right choice for you and your family, check out what to pack first when moving to make the physical part of moving property a little less stressful.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Drew Barrymore's striped sofa is her most elegant design to date – it oozes East Hampton elegance in time for summer 2025 (and is under $384)This subtly striped linen sofa anchors any living room while feeling light and casual – it looks so much more expensive than its price tag
-
Bryce Dallas Howard's bedroom is the most creative, social space in her entire home – she uses 'conversational seating' to create a multifunctional 'salon'The actress's bedroom doubles as a home office thanks to its clever layout and furnishings, proving that this area is much more than a sleep space
-
‘It leads to more headaches than it's worth’ – 4 reasons you should never store things in your oven, including fire risks and serious illnessYour oven is for cooking, and cooking only, experts urge
-
It’s a concept straight out of a fashionista's playbook, but I used the Sandwich Method to organize my kitchen shelves – it’s never looked sleekerIt transformed messy to mesmerizing in a matter of seconds
-
The value-based decluttering method changed my attitude toward the task – and turbocharged functionality in my small homeIt's proven to be transformative for my home over the last six months
-
5 low-energy and useful tasks to try instead of doom-scrolling – this brain hack will break bad habitsExperts urge you to try it for your wellbeing
-
How to store a comforter or duvet properly over the warmer months – pros say 'breathable is the buzzword'Clean, air out, fold and roll your way to a fresh and fluffy duvet
-
This tiered Joseph Joseph dish rack solved the constant sink-side traffic jam in my kitchenI wish I’d swapped to it sooner
-
‘An important tenet in staying organized’ – 6 easy habits for a more minimalist and streamlined homeWorking on these organizational habits will make your home more manageable
-
9 things to organize in April 2025 to prepare your home for a season of socializing and warmer weather aheadGet sorted now for easier spring and summer get-togethers
