Should You Move the Backyard Swingset?

Should you move your kids’ outdoor playset? It might be worth it. You already invested time and money to build it in the backyard, and most outdoor playsets are expensive. But, moving it to your new home means disassembling and reassembling it. Maybe it’s just easier to buy a new one and hire someone to construct it once you are moved in.

Should You Move the Swingset or Buy a New One?

What’s more, you may have waited until the last minute to think about this. Did you sell the playset with the home? Unless it’s written in the contract, you may be required to move it off the property rather than leave it for the new owner.

So, should you move your playset to your next house or buy a new one and install it there?

Here are some pros and cons of each option.

Buying a New Outdoor Playset

PROS

If your old outdoor playset is not an insurance liability, and many standard playsets aren’t, then you might offer it for sale with the house. It could help attract more bids.

One survey by HSH.com found that 80% of homeowners have at least one big regret about the home they bought. You can help the new owner of your old home cross an item off the wish list by including the swingset in the sale.

It’s also an opportunity to talk to your kids. Maybe they have outgrown the old set. Perhaps a new set has features they would enjoy now that they are older.

CONS

However, your kids might be attached emotionally to their old playset. Even if they are older, they may be more likely to use the old set rather than a new one. You wouldn’t want to invest the time and money again for a set they don’t use.

The cost is another issue. You already spent money on a playset. Many cost up to $1,000. If you sell the old set with the home, you won’t come close to recouping the original investment to offset the new expenditure. And, if you don’t want to do the assembly yourself, then you will be paying someone else to install it.

Moving Your Outdoor Playset

PROS

The biggest pro of moving the playset to your new home is that your kids will enjoy a sense of continuity and familiarity.
They will need to adjust to a new bedroom, a new neighborhood, and a new school. They will be saying goodbye to old friends. Bringing along their cherished swing set that has so many memories can help ease the transition.

It’s also possible, if you have a particularly large, complex playset, like something involving a trampoline or treehouse features, that it has an impact on your homeowner’s insurance. If so, you’re already used to that expense. Taking the outdoor playset with you might make it easier to sell your house instead of leaving it behind. Potential buyers won’t be worried about the impact on their premiums or the cost of dismantling it themselves.

CONS

The biggest con in moving an outdoor playset to your new home is the expense, the disassembly, packing, loading, unloading, and reassembly. You might not feel confident doing this yourself. It’s not as simple as breaking down a bookcase or lifting a heavy sofa up some stairs.

In addition, will your old playset fit in the new yard? It might not. You should take count of the spatial constraints as well as the impact of your old playset on the aesthetics of its new environment. Plus, the environment might be completely different. Maybe your old home has a large, grassy yard, and the new home has a xeriscape.

At Alliance Relocation Services, we have the experience necessary to assist you as you move special family items like outdoor playsets. Contact us to learn more today.