When you lose someone you love, it can feel like a part of your life is over. Often, people choose to move into the next chapter by moving to a new home. If moving is on your mind after losing a spouse or close loved one, you need to expect these things from the process. Here, Dream Rose Design offers some suggestions on how to move forward.
Decluttering Sooner Will Make The Process Much Easier
One way to make your move easier is to declutter and downsize your home. That can be a tough enough task at any other time, but tends to be especially emotional during bereavement. The random items you had no problem parting with in the past suddenly become so weighted with emotion and even guilt. You should take your time with this process and not feel pressured to let everything go at once. After all, this is part of the overall grieving process, so you have to follow your own heart and rhythm for things to feel right.
You may want to have a hand in sorting and downsizing your household belongings, but when it comes time to deep clean, consider hiring some help. Hiring a professional cleaner is much more affordable than you think, and these pros can get your home cleaner with less stress for you. Another perk of getting your home professionally cleaned is making sure commonly-missed spots are left sparkling. That’s a major plus, because cleaner homes tend to sell much more quickly. And in addition to a sparkling home, it should also be staged for showings. No doubt this will be more than you need on your plate right now, so connect with a firm like Dream Rose Design to help.
Hiring The Right Agent Can Help You Find Your New Home
You should start decluttering as soon as you decide to move, but you should also start searching for your new home. Before you get out and really start looking, though, find a realtor. The right realtor can make finding and buying your home a much smoother process, so don’t rush into this relationship. Ask friends and family for recommendations, talk to prior clients, and be sure to ask enough questions to assess a potential agent’s knowledge of the local housing market.
Once you have a realtor locked down, you can start really looking at potential houses. It may take a while to find the perfect new home for you, but be sure to make an offer when you find one you absolutely love. Being pre-approved for a home loan can help you land your new home, but try to be reasonable when naming your price. Your agent can assist you in formulating a fair offer that won’t leave you overpaying for your new home.
Alternatively, you might not even be sure where you really want to ultimately live. In this case, many people find living in an apartment an ideal solution, since it allows you more flexibility than buying right away. It can also be more economical if you’re struggling with the loss of your partner’s income. Assess your budget carefully, and then check out local listings to see what’s available in your price range. It may also be a good idea to look farther out, particularly if you live in New York City proper. Nearby cities like Bronxville, Jersey City or Stamford can be cheaper than NYC, and offer easy commuting. When looking for an apartment, be clear on the amenities you need if you want to maintain a city feel as well as size, whether it’s a one-bedroom or a three-bedroom rambler. Also consider proximity to work, shopping and transportation.
Moving Will Not Erase Your Grief, But It Can Ease Some Pain
Experiencing the loss of a loved one is always complex and unique. When you’re surrounded by the memories of that loss, it can make moving on more complicated as well. Whatever your motives for moving are, know that it is best to make big decisions later in the grieving process. Grief can cloud your judgment and moving can be exhausting, so you need to give yourself some time to grieve before you decide whether relocating is the best next step for your life. If you move for a change of scenery, know that a new home can help, but you may also experience delayed grieving. This is completely normal, and big life changes like moving homes can sometimes trigger these feelings. Allow yourself to feel sad, angry or guilty if you must, but also know when it’s time to move on from those emotions. Grief never truly leaves us after a loss, but you can reach out for help if you find yourself overcome with emotions or unable to fully process your grief after some time has passed.
The loss of a loved one is always a tragedy, but a change of homes can often make those bereaved emotions somewhat easier to manage. You just need to give yourself some time before choosing your next step, and remain patient as you work through the moving and grieving processes.
