According to a recent study, three-quarters of adults admit to experiencing elevated stress levels when moving home. While this is unsurprising, it is something that you should work to reduce where possible. After all, the moving process can last for months on end - and being stressed for the duration of this isn’t healthy or productive.
Have a specific budget in mind. The average cost of moving house in the UK is around £12,000, according to a recent study from Halifax. As this is money that many do not have to spare, you should make sure that you have a specific moving budget in mind ahead of time. This will help to protect your finances moving forward without putting you under unnecessary stress and pressure to rampant or misguided spending.
Know your options for mortgages. One of the most expensive and stressful aspects of moving home is getting your mortgage approved. For the most, your ability to move hinges on this! As such, it is important to understand your options ahead of time. For example, if you are a caregiver or living with a disability, you may be eligible for a Supported housing mortgage.
Be realistic with your criteria. Your dream home and the kind of home you need/can afford are likely two different things. As such, it is important that you are as realistic as possible when outlining your search criteria for your new home. This will make it easier to shortlist potential properties and manage your expectations.
If you aren’t sure where to start in this regard, write down a list of everything you need from your home. This can refer to things such as a specific number of bedrooms/bathrooms and a a garden. You can then write down things that would be nice, but aren’t necessary, such as a converted garage or basement. You can then get started on looking for a property that ticks as many of these boxes as possible!
Choose the location carefully. The location is perhaps the biggest selling point of a home. However, moving with kids brings additional pressure when it comes to finding the right space. One way in which you can lower your stress during this time is by researching each neighborhood carefully and figuring out which schools are nearby and what amenities you (and your children) will have access too. If you are moving to an entirely new city or town, go and visit is as a family ahead of time. This will help you to figure out whether or not the area feels like a good fit, while also ensuring that your children feel as involved in the moving process as possible.
Keep an open mind when viewing potential properties. The chances of stumbling upon a property that is ‘perfect’ are relatively low - no matter what your realtor may tell you. For this reason, it is important that you keep an open mind when viewing potential properties, remembering that you can always refurbish or renovate the space upon moving your own to ensure that it is up to your standards.
However, while maintaining a positive outlook is key to managing your stress levels, you should also ensure that you are as vigilant as possible when attending property viewings. Keep your eyes peeled for maintenance issues and signs of damage that could cost you a lot of money to resolve. Otherwise, you are setting yourself up for a lot more stress in the future.
Start packing. The sooner you start packing, the better. This is because it will make it easier to prepare your current home for sale/the market, while also ensuring that you are not leaving this incredibly time-consuming task till the last possible minute. You should focus on
minimalist packing where possible, using this as an opportunity to part ways with things that you no longer need or use. Remember, a fresh home is a fresh start!
If your move is a little while away, and you’re worried about packing something you’ll later need, start by packing seasonal items. For example, if you are moving in the Summer, this could include winter clothing and Christmas decor! This way, you’re giving yourself a head start, but you are unlikely to need the items you’ve stored away for several months.
Stage your home beautifully. Staging your home beautifully can also help you to reduce your stress levels when trying to move home. This is because it means that your property listings will gain as much traction as possible, and that potential buyers will be impressed when they stop by for a viewing. This, in turn, means that you can sell your home as quickly as possible, as opposed to leaving you feeling as though you’re waiting around for a miracle to take place.
When staging your home, try to remember that you’re creating a neutral, clean space as opposed to attempting to showcase your skill as an interior designer. A well-staged home should appear to be something of a ‘blank canvas’ so that the buyer can envision how they’d use the space upon moving in.
Fortunately, this means that staging your home does not need to be an expensive venture. In fact, you’ll likely achieve fantastic results by decluttering, deep cleaning, and applying a fresh coat of paint. You should also try to depersonalize the space where you can, such as by taking down family photographs and memorabilia.
Work to improve your home’s curb appeal. If you are worried about the amount of time that your home is spending on the market, you may be able to turn things down by working to improve your property's curb appeal. This can be achieved by:
- Repainting your front door
- Keeping your garden neat and tidy
- Investing in landscaping
- Installing external lighting
- Cleaning out your gutters
- Carrying out any necessary repairs
- Jet washing and repairing your driveway
- Using box windows to add color and vibrancy to your home’s exterior
Let your children get involved. Moving can be just as stressful for children as it is for adults. After all, while you may have moved several times in your life, they are moving away from the only home they have ever known, which is bound to be overwhelming. This is especially true if they need to change schools or leave behind friends. You can make the process a little easier for them (and reduce the chances of you having to deal with an intense emotional fallout) by allowing them to get involved in the process.
For example, as opposed to springing the move on them at the last minute, give them plenty of advanced warning so that they can begin to prepare themselves for this change. Bring them along to any property viewings you attend, and ask them for their opinion, too. This way, they can begin to feel excited about the move as opposed to fearing it!
Final thoughts. While moving will always be a little stressful, there are plenty of steps that you can take to make sure the process runs as smoothly as possible. This way, you can save yourself a great deal of worry.
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