It's not always easy to decide when it's time for a new home, especially if your motivation is upsizing or downsizing. So before you start shopping for homes in Albany and Corvallis, it can be a very helpful exercise to go through a checklist that helps you organize your thoughts. In addition to helping you decide whether it's time for a new home, this exercise can help you identify what you want and need from your next home. Our real estate agents have more tips to help you decide when it's time to upsize or downsize.

• Life Changes
  Life changes are often a major motivation for changing home size. If you're planning on adding on to your family, a larger home might be worth consideration. Or if you've had family members move out and you're planning for retirement, then downsizing may be just the thing to help you manage your budget over time. Many other life changes qualify, too, of course, and we'll touch on some of those as we continue down the list.

• Space Utilization
  Space utilization is a very broad topic because there are so many different ways that you can utilize your space. However, sometimes it can be easy to decide, especially if you're downsizing. If you've lived in a home for a long time and still aren't using significant amounts of the space it provides, then downsizing can be a natural fit. For upsizing, motivations can include having a room dedicated to hobbies, creating an office so you can work from home, or creating a space for guests if you have frequent visitors.

• Financial Considerations
  Another strong motivation can be financial factors, and this is another one that works in both directions. If you've recently changed jobs, have more to spend, and are looking to move somewhere closer to your place of employment, then upsizing may be a fit. If your current home is too expensive to fit comfortably in your budget for any reason, then downsizing can be a great way to save on one important cost while opening up money for other needs. Sometimes financial considerations can be motivated by surprises in life as well, whether those surprises are positive or negative.

• Maintenance and Upkeep
  If you're considering downsizing, one major factor might be maintenance and upkeep. A larger home will often be more expensive to maintain than a smaller one, because there's simply more to take care of around the property. If you're the DIY type, you might also reach a point where you'd rather not have to invest so much of your time into the home. Whether cost or time is the primary motivator, maintenance and upkeep can be a motivation for swapping to a different sized home.

• Accessibility
  If you or a family member have accessibility needs, whether health-related or otherwise, you may be motivated to upsize or downsize. In some cases, a smaller home might be easier to get around and manage. In others, a larger space might be necessary for specialized equipment or other needs. This factor can influence your motivation to move, as well as the type of home you choose next.

Ready to upsize or downsize? Our team is here to help with all of your real estate needs. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Albany and Corvallis, OR, area.