If you’ve recently lost a loved one, you are facing one of the hardest challenges you may ever experience. Many find that they are ready for a fresh start after enough time has passed for them. If you’re ready to take that next step, let’s discuss how moving to a new home can help accomplish that.
Give Yourself the Time You Need
Grief is often hardest during the year following loss, but there is no set timeline for grief. Everyone grieves in their own time and their own way. Don’t allow anyone to make you feel as though you should be over it now or to make you feel guilty for your emotions. According to Huffpost, many can become paralyzed during the grieving process. The best way to work through it is to allow yourself to feel all the emotions that come your way. Lean on friends and family, and when you’ve finally come to acceptance, you may be ready for a fresh start.
Dream Big
When you’re ready to embark on a fresh start, this is a great time for you to dream big. Is there somewhere that you have always dreamed of living? Have you been stuck in an urban city but long to reside on acres of beautiful land? Maybe you dream of living on the coast, drinking your morning coffee while watching the sun rise over the ocean. Or maybe you already love the city you live in, and your big dream is of a new house. It could be a smaller, cozier home that is easier to maintain, or maybe you desire a larger, grander home that is perfect for entertaining and holding company. Whatever your dream is, moving can be a great first step in getting a fresh start.
House Hunting and Home Prepping
Once you’ve decided that moving is right for you, the next step is to find your new home and sell your current home. Start searching online for available homes on the market, or contact a realtor to help you find that dream home. According to Opendoor, it’s helpful to make a checklist of things that you want in your new home in order to easily weed out the houses that aren’t right for you. During this time, it’s also important to determine how you’ll finance this new home, which may include getting a mortgage. For example, a conventional mortgage has many benefits, including low interest rates and benefits for those who can afford a 20 percent down payment. However, it’s important to find a mortgage that suits your financial needs.
While house hunting, you also need to be getting your current home ready to sell. Decluttering and cleaning are important steps in showing off your home to potential buyers, which means you will need to go through your loved one’s belongings. Take your time, and keep only what matters most. If you struggle letting go, try taking photos of their belongings to make a scrapbook rather than keeping every single item. Thoroughly decluttering now will save you time and effort when moving into your new home.
Time to Move
You’ve set a date to close on your new home, and you’ve found a buyer for your current home. Now, you need to plan out your timeline and ensure that you are prepared for both events. If you need assistance with the move, consider booking a moving service that fits your needs. Then, when you’re four weeks away from making the move, you should start packing your belongings if you haven’t done so already. Be sure to label each box as you go and create a packing list to make the process easier. This is also a great time to call your utility companies to set a date to transfer service to your new home. Don’t forget to contact your local post office, as well, to change your address and begin forwarding your mail to your new house.
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences in life. Focus on taking care of yourself and allow healing from grief. Moving into a new home can be a great change of scenery and can offer you a fresh start after your loss. Enjoy making new memories!
Photo Credit: Pixabay
About the Author
Lucille Rosetti created Thebereaved.org to provide support and encouragement in an effort to help others manage and navigate grief. She hopes her writings can bring some semblance of peace to those who are suffering in their grief.
