In The Sims 2, moving a household to a new home is a straightforward process that can be done from either the neighborhood screen or from within live mode. Whether you’re upgrading to a bigger house, relocating for storytelling purposes, or just want a change of scenery, here’s how to move your Sims safely and efficiently.
Method 1: Move a Household from the Neighborhood
If you want to move the entire household out of their current lot and back into the neighborhood bin:
- Enter the Neighborhood View
From the Main Menu, choose your neighborhood and enter the map view. - Click on the Family’s House
Select the home that your household currently lives in. - Choose the “Move Out Family” Option
Click the small bulldozer icon or use the bin icon to move the entire family out. This will:- Send the household to the Family Bin (located in the lower-left corner of the screen).
- Sell all furniture and belongings (they will not come with the family).
- Free up the lot for new occupants or bulldozing.
- Place the Household in a New Lot
Drag the family from the Family Bin and drop them into a new, vacant lot. You must ensure they can afford the new home.
Method 2: Move from Within Live Mode
If you want to move your household without exiting to the neighborhood screen:
- Click on the Phone or a Computer
Choose the “Find Own Place” interaction. - Sim Will Leave the Lot
The selected Sim will leave the lot and the game will enter neighborhood view. - Choose a New Home
Select any vacant house or lot your household can afford.
The entire family (except unselected Sims or roommates) will be moved to the new location.
Note: This method is useful when moving just part of the household, such as separating grown-up children or newlyweds.
Important Tips Before Moving
- Inventory: All household items stay with the lot unless sold manually. Use buy mode to place important items in the Sims’ personal inventory if you want to keep them.
- Relationships: All relationships, jobs, and family trees remain intact after moving.
- Lot Cleanup: If you plan to reuse the lot, you can bulldoze it from neighborhood view to clear it for new builds.
For more ways to customize your Sims’ living experience, check out Sims 2: How to Install Mods and discover new features, tools, and building options.