Alamo Mortgage Service

Moving from one house to another is seldom easy and fun for adults, and it can be especially troubling for children.  But if parents deal with their children's concerns and needs thoughtfully, much of that distress and discomfort can be avoided.

     Children see moves differently than their parents do, and they benefit much less from the change in their comfortable routines- or so it seems at the time.  Most often, a change in houses or communities heralds an important step forward for the adult members of the family.  The family moves because Daddy or Mommy has a great new job, or a promotion in reward for years of hard work.  They move because financial success has allowed the purchase of a bigger and nicer house in a more costly neighborhood.  They move because they can finally afford private bedrooms for each child and perhaps a pool in the back yard.

      Nowadays, mobile and hard-striving people typically live in a house for about five years and then move on as their careers or fortunes allow.  That short time span is only a small percentage of the life-to-date for a 30- or 40-year-old, but the same five years is half the lifetime of an 10-year-old, and it includes almost all the years he or she can remember.  To a parent, this house may only be the place they have lived recently.  They think of it as a way station on the road of life.  To kids, however, if may be the only home they have ever really known.  This is their house, the place they feel safe and comfortable. 

      A house is much more than a roof and walls to a child.  It is the center of his or her world.  A move threatens to take that sphere away and leave something totally strange in its place.  The familiar friends, schools, shops and theaters, the streets, trees and parks- all will no longer exist for them.  Everything will soon be strange, and they will live in someone else's world.

     The impact of a move on a typical child starts about the time he or she first hears that a parent has accepted a promotion, and often continues for about a year, until the new house becomes a home, and memories of the previous place fade.  It's not usually necessary to announce this big change to children immediately, although they must hear about it from you before someone else breaks the news.  Most teenagers see themselves as adult members of the family, and will probably feel they have been left out if they don't hear everything from the first day.

     But it is probably not a good idea to tell toddlers and preschoolers until they have to know.  There is no point in making them worry far in advance.  Be sure to announce the move in a totally postive way.  You might say how proud you are that Daddy's company has chosen him out of many other employees to manage a new office in Cleveland.  Talk about what a beautiful city Cleveland is, how good the schools are and how nice the people are.

Over time, homeowners make both minor and major renovations to turn a house into a home.  As you consider home improvements, it pays to consider future resale value.

     There are some projects that typically recoup more of their cost when its time to sell.  If you plan to move within 10 years, consider making only high-return improvements.  Remodeling the kitchen and adding a bathroom are popular renovations that are likely to get high returns.

     If you plan to stay in the home longer, unpredictable influences (such as changes in the market and housing styles) may affect your home's resale value more than any remodeling you've done.  If you think you'll stay around for awhile, you're more likely to get your moneys worth out of your investment simply by enjoying the homes' improved quality.  The bottom line is, even if you don't recoup your investment financially, you won't regret making the renovations you've been enjoying for more than a decade.

     To further improve resale value, always practice proper maintenance.  Well-maintained homes usually sell faster and for more money.  Besides, it's easier and more affordable to make repairs as they are needed than to catch up with them once they've gotten out of hand.

     When you are ready to sell, call us.  We can help market your home and find a qualified buyer.  We can also help you find a new home.  As your real estate professionals, we are eager to help you with your housing needs.