Moving Can Be An Emotional Roller Coaster!

 Moving Can Be An Emotional Roller Coaster!

Marti Steele wrote a post The Hugs and Tears Involved in Passing the Deed with the buyers graciously listening to the stories about living in the house.

We experience so many emotions and reactions with our clients in Real Estate. The most recent was a young family who found their dream home at an unbelievable price and the seller, a short sale, sitting with dark glasses and red eyes at the table. This sale represented a huge loss. The buyers were very quiet and respected the seller's situation. 

It is an emotional roller coaster and we need to be aware and treat each situation with sensitivity.

                         

                        Roller Coaster by Premier Rides in Baltimore

In my careers of nursing, art and real estate, I have found that not putting closure to a stressful life situation can lead to depression. It usually manifests 18 months to 2 years later.

Moving may not be as traumatic an experience as a divorce, medical disability, retirement, assisted living or job loss. Moving is another major life change.

Saying Goodbye To Your Home  and putting closure is important in real estate.    Don't forget to   help your children say good bye  to their home, their yard and their friends.

In counseling sessions with my clients, I share how to say "good bye" to the home they are leaving. Sometimes it is a home of many decades... many memories...good and not so good. These feelings need to be acknowledged as they go through the house finally one room at a time. Saying "good bye" is putting closure to this experience.  Hopefully some future depressive situations may be lessened.

Most clients appreciate this advice and some are very surprised at their emotional reactions. Moving can be an emotional roller coaster. I have seen grown men cry when going through this exercise.

 My question: How do you help your clients through this emotional roller coaster?

                               Moving Can Be An Emotional Roller Coaster!

So You Moved But Did You Change Your Address?

So You Moved But Did You Change Your Address?

 

When buying, selling and moving there is so much to do at the same time. Please don't forget these two things.

Number One-  Change your address with Motor Vehicle Administration

The second - Change your address through the Board of Elections.

This is free online and only takes a few minutes.

If you don't change your address with MVA you could get a ticket if pulled over.

If you don't change your address with the County Board of Elections, you will miss voting in the Presidential Primary.

If you are registered to vote in Maryland, you must also update your voter registration information to make sure your address is current with your County board of elections. This can be done by visiting the Maryland State Board of Elections  website and downloading a voter registration. You can also call 1-800-222-8683 and request an application be sent to you.

Before technology, a trip to the post office or public library, ensured that the forms were available at settlement.

So You Moved But Did You Change Your Address?

De-CowPie Your Home the Rome Way

De-Cow Pie Your Home the Rome Way

This post was inspired by two very special people  Linda Davis,  a fellow CyberProfessional  and my friend  Carra Riley.

Just tonight I received a delightful call from Carra and in the course of conversation told her about Linda Davis. Before I knew it, I had the title for tonight's blog!

De-Cow Pie Your Home the Rome Way

When speaking to clients who are thinking about selling their home, I find them overwhelmed with the thought of packing up a lifetime of stuff, memories and many years in their home.  It is such a stressful time and the tendency is  to put it off for way too long. Their children and family are  pushing them to get started. Sometimes the well meaning adult children are adding more stress to the situation.

One of my questions when listing a home,   Are You 100% Sure You Want to Move ?  Answering that question is the first step!

But until we get to the place where they are sure they are ready to move... this is a suggestion that I have been using lately.

                                             

Find a calendar..big enough that you can scribble on each and every day. Then do it. With an attached marker, write one thing that you are getting out of the house. This can be  throwing away trash or getting rid of useless junk.   This can be items that you can  give to a charity or recycle.  This could be contacting the kids who have stuff stored in your home.This could be a cherished item that you want to give to a special friend. Just look around  and see what you can eliminate today?

The suggestion of removing one thing is a starting place and not overwhelming. But getting rid of an item a day keeps you focused on the task at hand.

A gentle reminder is in order after the first week.  A phone call asking..."Have you purchased the calendar?" If not why not supply them with one?

De-Cow Pie Your Home the Rome Way

                                                                             ########

                                                                

Bury Those Boxes!

We've been enjoying an excess of "liquid sunshine" these last couple of days as a massive nor'easter rolls up the Atlantic coast. Good! Just what my yard needs after the cleanup.

A couple of days ago it was beautiful cool, sunny weather, perfect for getting the yard in shape. The lawn was cleaned up, weeded, and the trees and garden beds were mulched to keep the weeds away. I thought about all the people who were doing the same thing, getting the outside of their home ready and raising the curb appeal.

Here's a tip for anyone who is moving soon: Did you know that cardboard boxes – plain, without lots of advertising and printing on them – can be placed around your garden, shrubs, and trees, then covered with mulch? In the two years it takes for the cardboard to breakdown…no weeds. Instead of throwing out those empty moving cartons, put them in the garden for another way to recycle. It's an easy way to "go green."

Even though I'm soaking wet from taking pictures in the rain, I'm glad to be splashing in Baltimore's special spring "sunshine."