Moving from a flat to a family home

Making the move from a flat to a family home is one of those life transitions that feels both exciting and overwhelming. In this article, a recent home mover, who bought and sold using an ESPC solicitor agent, discusses their journey from living in a flat to finding their dream family home.

My partner and I had been living quite happily in our Edinburgh flat for years, but when we found out we were expecting our first child, suddenly the cosy (okay, cramped) one-bedroom space didn’t seem quite so charming anymore.

Our house hunting journey was fairly smooth. We already had an idea of where we wanted to stay, and when the ideal house came onto the market there, we were quick to view the property before making a competitive bid. Needless to say, our offer was accepted and we started the task of packing, moving, unpacking and adjusting to our new family homes.

If you’re thinking about doing the same, here’s what I learned along the way...

The house hunt: more to consider than just space

While we already decided on where to live, we still needed to hone in on the perfect property for a starter family. When we began looking, I assumed we just needed "more space." But in reality, it’s not just about size - layout and practicality matter just as much. A house with a garden was high on our list too, but we hadn’t really considered the extra work that comes with it cutting grass, trimming hedges and weeding.

Schools were another factor we hadn’t previously thought about. Even if your little one isn’t school-age yet, it’s worth checking out local catchment areas and transport links. We used the school catchment search feature on espc.com to give us a better idea of properties for sale in a specific school catchment area.

The hidden costs of upsizing

We knew buying a bigger place would be more expensive, but it was the extra costs that caught us off guard. Council tax, utility bills, and maintenance all took a bigger chunk out of our budget than expected. In a flat, if the roof needed fixing, it was a shared responsibility. In a house? That was all on us.

If you’re upsizing, it’s worth factoring in these hidden costs early. Things like boiler servicing, gutter cleaning, and even just heating a bigger space add up fast. We found it helpful to put aside a small “house emergency” fund for when (not if!) something unexpected, needed fixing.

Packing, decluttering, and the joy of having more storage space

Moving house is the perfect excuse to declutter. We had accumulated so much stuff in our flat that we didn’t even realise we had, half of which we never used. We made a rule that if we hadn’t used something in the past year, it wasn’t coming with us.

That said, one of the biggest joys of moving to a house was the storage space! No more stuffing winter coats under the bed or keeping our bikes in the hallway. Having a garage and attic space felt like a luxury. If you’re moving, my advice is to take your time organising things properly… it makes life so much easier in the long run.

Adjusting to life in a house

One thing that took us by surprise was the change in atmosphere. In our flat, we were used to the hum of city life - buses going by, neighbours chatting, the occasional siren in the distance. Moving to a quieter, residential area was a big adjustment at first, but now I wouldn’t change it for anything.

We also went from having instant access to our favourite cafes and shops to having to plan trips out. But that gave us a quick lesson on preparation, something that was hugely beneficial once we became parents. While we do sometimes miss the convenience of having everything on our doorstep, the trade-off of having more space, a garden, and a stronger sense of community has been worth it.

Moving from a flat to a family home is a big step, but for us, it was absolutely the right one. There were challenges along the way, but having more space to grow as a family has made all the difference. If you’re thinking about making the move, my best advice is to plan ahead, budget carefully, and embrace the change - it’s an exciting new chapter!

Find out more

If you’re on the hunt for your next home, ESPC has a fantastic range of properties to explore, plus expert advice to help make the process smoother. Happy house hunting!