We had some really exciting news last week - Dh got a new job But it means we have to move to Derbyshire, which is great and I’m very excited about, but now I’m faced with the hunt for a new family home - which has a lot to live up to when we currently are lucky enough to rent a very large five bed old farmhouse for a reduced rent.

So I have a few questions to try and organise and inspire me:

I was wondering, how would you approach house hunting? Dh will start his new job in about 6 weeks, and although he could stay over there and come home for weekends for a bit, quite frankly I think I would go a bit potty if that happened for more than a week or so, what with 3 little pixies 4 and under who aren’t ever so fond of sleep (nor seem to need that much), and with no family close by to help. So we only really have a short amount of time to find somewhere, and can only go over as a family at weekends (and if we don’t go as a family I will have to take the 3 pixies with me to view houses, which means my mind won’t be on the job.

What would be on your priority list for a house?
A garden, or more bedrooms? Walking distance to places or in the middle of the countryside?

How do you research good areas?
We have a friend who lives near where we are looking whose opinion I trust, but it’s nice to have other sources of information. Anyone on here want to give me the lowdown on good and bad places to live on the strip between matlock and derby ?

And would you rent somewhere smaller and cheaper to allow you to save more towards increasing a deposit for buying a house (which will probably take at least 2 years) or somewhere that has more of your wish/priority list but costs more?

And any tips to make moving easier, more managable with the pixies You’d think I’d know having moved twice already since having children, but both moves were soooo disorganised, and I’d like to feel more in control with this one!

Will write more later, but start packing and sorting now. Winter clothes, less favoured toys, anything you won’t use in the next 2 months. And write what is IN the boxes on the side of them for guidance later on when you’re trying to find something ie. kitchen stuff inc. kettle, important papers inc. birth certs and so on.

Hi, we moved last year after a two year search (rental search that is!)  From my experience whilst children are very small living space and garden are more important than bedrooms.  I would also advise you not to take the pixies along with you whilst viewing initially, i did a few times and it was really a mistake, my usually behaved children were rather excited and were playing up and I can understand a landlord choosing a family with 2 kids over a family of 4 children.  i don’t know what competition is like where you will be, it was terrible for us; we would arrange to view a house and find up to 8 other couples there aswell!  So as a result before I went to see a house we would have all of the necessary paperwork on hand so we could make an application there and then if we liked it.

I’d definately start clearing out stuff from now, then packing the stuff that is least used.  Taping index cards onto the side of the box so you know what they contain is also useful.  if you want to be really organized you can colour co-ordinate them, lol!

All the best, I hate house moving!

Congratulations to your dh on his job. I am sure where you move to will be lovely but have you ever thought about moving to the next county ;P

Definatley start packing now. I live on right move, it is quite an obsession. I hope you find a lovely house to move into.

We recently moved house.  We now live 2 miles from the town so walking distance at a push.  We have a big garden & lots of living space & 3 bedrooms.  This is the happiest we have been in years.  What way does your family live now?  Do you want everyone to have their own bedrooms or are you quite happy to share?  Do you all like to be in the same room or do you need separate spaces?  Our kitchen is big enough for a living area so we are all in the same room, which we love.  Evaluate your priorities & go from there

Our priorities (pre children but knew they would feature at some point!) were a garden, outside building of some sort to store bikes/tools/canoes etc, plenty of light (I hate dark houses) and 2 - 3 bedrooms. 

We were restricted to very few places when we were looking to buy simply because of the price of houses, maybe if you want to buy eventually you should look at renting somewhere fairly close to where you could afford to buy?  That way your children will still be near any friends they make and also if you do decide on school they would not have to move schools too.

I too would start packing now, and label the boxes!

I knew I was going to have to compromise somewhere. I wanted to live in an older house as I gre up in a victorian house and have never felt at home in newer houses. This meant for my budget no parking, on a busy road, a very small garden and a downstairs bathroom. However, I have a back gate on to a park and I am in the centre of a small market town so can walk everywhere but also walk into the countryside from home. I also have an open fire, a large kitchen/dining room and 2 decent sized bedrooms. Ultimately I just loved this house when I looked round and the street seemed nice so I was confident I would have nice neighbours. I would say try and decide what’s important and what you are prepared to compromise on, but for me it was when I was looking around houses that made my decision rather than the practicalities.

Thanks for all your replies. Think I need to get me some packing boxes

Snowleopard, notts is lovely, we used to live there several years ago, but I have to say living on the edge of the peak district pips it for me

We have already started to thin down the right move list now, based on how much living space we get, as we are more than happy to share (we all end up in one room by the end of the night anyhow, hmm maybe I should look a 1 bedroom, lol). I wish they would tell you more about the garden in the listings!

Flower - that sounds like exactly the sort of compromise I would be happy to make - all the things your house has are what we would like!

I think I will feel more comfortable with choosing once we have been over there an had a look around a few areas and hopefully houses - nothings easy, eh?