It’s a bit of a cliché that a house is not necessarily a home. But once you’ve spent a long time in your home, you connect memories (both good and bad) to experiences you’ve had there that make your home such a special place.
That’s why it can be so hard to motivate yourself to get your house ready to sell and to put it on the market. There is an attachment to your current home built around these memories that hold connect you to a house even when it no longer meets your needs.
Here are steps you can take to say goodbye to your home and get yourself ready to start the next stage of your life:
- Create a Scrapbook — Our memories have a strange way of warping over time. What we thought was true in our brain may not actually be the reality. One way to preserve the true memories of your old home is to create a scrapbook. You can save images digitally or you can print out the pictures professionally and then place them in a physical scrapbook. As you prepare to leave this home, make sure to document the move itself in pictures and record the empty rooms before you finally leave.
- Have a Going Away Party — Many people who move into a new home will have a house-warming party. But a better idea might be to have a party to say good-bye to the old house. You can sit around with your friends and reminisce about your memories in the old house. This is a great chance to have one last bash before you leave.
- Take a Memento — You can always take something with you when you leave. This doesn’t have to be anything major. But if you have a special doorknob to your bedroom (or your children’s room), then take that with you. (Be sure to replace it with a new one for the new owners.) Another idea might be to take a plant (or a trimming) from the backyard or garden so that you can transplant a piece of your old home into your new one.
- Leave Your Mark — This one isn’t something you can take with you, but it is more about something you can leave behind. One way to do this is to find an obscure corner of the house and sign your name or have your children leave a handprint as a reminder that you were there. Another idea might be to write a letter to the new owners of your home. Share your personal story of life in that home and wish them the same kind of happiness you’ve had prior to your move.
Moving Can Bring Up a Mix of Emotions. Honour Your Feelings.
Moving out of a home, especially one you have spent years in, can be a very emotional time. So, if you are planning a move, don’t ignore those emotions. Say good-bye to your old home with a proper farewell so that you can start the next stage of life in your new home.
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