Just what is it that makes a house a home rather than just a collection of bricks and mortar and why is 'home' so important to us?

Building a home is rather like a love affair: first there is the initial attraction. You feel that there is 'something' about this particular house. It's appealing, it makes you feel good and you can see a future in the relationship. Not only does it give you a sense of excitement, it also meets your ideal self-image. This house and neighbourhood is either 'you' or the ‘you' you would like to be, in the same way a prospective lover can make you feel.

Then you enter another phase, moving beyond attraction to developing a close relationship with the house: in other words, you invest in it, just as you would in a personal relationship. As part of this 'relationship building' you design the interior to your own taste and you future-proof it by creating a liveable environment that meets your needs as an individual, as a couple or as growing – or future – family.

This transformation then begins to create a sense of security and continuity, providing a supportive culture. Once this is achieved, the house has become a home.

For a couple or family, the final phase is seeing your home as the foundation for the future of your lives together. It's the proof that your relationships are now as relatively secure as they can be in these changing times, allowing you to move forward with an emotional base that meets everybody’s needs.

There's no doubt that for most people, the home is part of the security and acceptance needed to live a fulfilling life. Indeed, for many it's the bedrock of human existence. As President Abraham Lincoln said in a speech on the family: 'It is not the years in your life which are important, but the life in your years'.

Further information

'Why we all need a place to call home' is part of our new series of blogs, 'Moving Stories', inspired by Savills new advertising campaign. Each week, the pre-eminant psychologist, Professor Sir Cary Cooper, CBE, will be writing on a range of topics, from how to deal with the stress of moving to helping young children cope with a move.

Moving Stories will also be exploring the complex relationship between home and home-owner with funny, sad and bittersweet personal reflections on moving out, moving in and moving on.

We invite you to submit your own Moving Stories and will donate £50 to Dreams Come True for every one we publish on Savills UK Blog. We'll also make a donation for every story submitted for consideration.