I sold a house that completes this coming week.  What strikes me about this one is that the owners had the house built and lived there for 60 years.  Yep that’s right 60 years … that’s longer than I’ve been on the planet. They moved in as a young couple with a baby.  They had four more children and raised them all in this house with only 1.5 bathrooms.  It was a happy home and holds a lifetime of memories for the owners, their children, grandchildren and friends.  Although the owners have moved out already, it has been a big move with lots of emotion.  Sorting through belongings, each having a story and memory takes more time than one would think. But the wonderful thing is that even though they have moved from their “family home”, they were able to take all the memories with them, to recall and relive anytime.

Many of us in the future will likely be involved in helping a parent or loved one move to a different residence, or will have to clear out a home after a loved one has passed away. Here are some tips on how to make a big move like this a little easier on all involved.

1. If financially viable, move to your new place first and then deal with the stuff you aren’t taking with you.  This makes it easier and less overwhelming.
2. If you can’t move first, once the house is listed, arrange to go visit family or friends out of town or go on vacation for a couple of weeks while the most activity will be happening around your house.  That way you don’t have to do extra cleaning everyday and have people in and out all the time which can be very disruptive.
3. Allow more time than you think to sort through papers and belongings as you will be reliving a lot of memories during this process. Give yourself time and permission to feel what you feel and keep a box of tissue handy.
4. There are businesses with great people who will help deal with the packing and sorting process.  Although you will pay for the service, it can take a big weight off your shoulders or the shoulders of your adult children. These services will also arrange for packing and shipping of things to go to out of town family members. Usually they are very respectful of the whole process and allow you to be involved as much or as little as you want.
5. Remember that not only the owners, but adult children who grew up there and grandchildren who were spoiled there, will all have emotions and feelings arising during the process, and they will likely all be different.  Understanding and patience go a long way during this transition.
6. Above all, take time to laugh and enjoy the process. Nothing works better than a sense of humour!  And no pain is better than the pain of sore ribs from laughing so hard, when you look back at your life with gratitude and joy.

Because of all the memories in this house, it mattered to the sellers who the buyers of their home were going to be. This week a young couple, with a baby, will be moving in.

Cheri Crause, CPCA, Residential REALTOR ®
Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
1933 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC  V8R 1C8
Phone: 250-592-4422
email: ccrause@shaw.ca
website: www.victoriarealtyteam.ca

See all articles by Cheri Crause