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Avoiding
Stress of Moving
We provide real estate services to buyers
and sellers in Pennsylvania (Berks County, Chester County, Delaware County,
Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Drexel Hill, Haverford Township, Havertown and Upper Darby) as well as in
New Jersey (Brigantine, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Camden County and Gloucester
County).
Moving into a new home can be one of the most stressful situations that a person
can endure, so it is vital that you find ways to make the transition as easy as
possible. There are two distinct types of stress that one faces when changing
homes. First, there is the financial stress of the move. Finding the right
home at the right price, negotiating the purchase with a seller, filling out the
lengthy paperwork involved, and handling the escrow can all take its toll. Then
there is the emotional stress of the move, and this is often where the greatest
amount of stress is felt. A competent and professional real estate agent can
make the financial steps of the process easy, but if your emotional needs are
unfulfilled, you may find yourself tired and frustrated and not acting in your
own best interest.
It’s important to begin with the end of the process in mind. When you know the
exact result you want to end up with, the process of getting there becomes much
easier. Take the time to analyze how your life will be once you have moved into
your new home and how it will be better than your current situation. Take the
time to write out the improvements to your life and keep this with you at all
times during the transaction. Having a physical copy of your goal will energize
you to achieve it, regardless of any setbacks. This will be an emotional anchor
that can keep you mentally in place.
Be flexible throughout the process. Allow yourself financial peace of mind by
overestimating the costs. Many things can happen between the time you begin
looking for a home and closing the sale. Hidden costs, problems with the
inspection, or fluctuating interest rates can all pop up at any time during the
transaction. By allowing yourself flexibility, you can compensate for sudden
changes that otherwise might bring a halt to the process. If you anticipate and
prepare for these problems, you can avoid getting angry or frustrated when
things don’t go exactly as planned.
A good REALTOR can review the step-by-step procedure in purchasing a home.
Trust the process and stay focused on your ultimate goal of home ownership and
you will find the process will go smoothly. Trust that your agent and the team
they have assembled are working in your best interests.
Work with people who are willing to educate you on every step of the process.
The more knowledge you acquire when buying a new home, the more at ease you will
feel. Understanding that things don’t always go exactly according to the
original plan is key, so take the time to learn about the step-by-step
procedures. Have confidence in your REALTOR and yourself. Ask every question on
your mind, no matter how seemingly insignificant it is. When buying a new home
and moving, there are no stupid questions.
Sometimes, the best way to remedy a situation is to remove it from your mind
completely for a little while. Seek out a form of entertainment that you know
relaxes you and embrace it. Maybe you like to play a sport or watch movies.
Use your hobbies and enjoyable pastimes to relieve your stress.
Moving can be especially hard if you have children. For adults, living in a
home for a few years represents just a small portion of their lives, but
children who have lived in a home for most or all of their lives will face a
much more difficult time when changing homes. Even just those few years
represent a much larger portion of a child’s life.
Familiar things such as friends, schools, the streets where they played and the
shops they were accustomed to visiting will be changing. Everything in their
home will be new. The impact on a child starts the first time they hear about
moving and can be very uncertain. It is important to include your children in
as many aspects of your new home as possible. Instead of just letting them
decorate a new room, take them to the store and let them help choose new paint
or carpet, the decorations, and whatever else that will give them the
opportunity to feel like the new house is really a home.
Teenagers can have a hard time if they have an established life in high school,
especially when they have close friends or a boyfriend/girlfriend. Teenagers
already view themselves as adult members of the family, so be sure to treat them
as such. Expect that your kids may be even more distressed after the move when
they must restart their lives from scratch. Give your teenagers a long distance
allowance to keep in touch with those they left behind, but also encourage them
to join as many clubs and sports at school as possible in order to build a new
life with new friends and a new environment.
There are so many different ways that moving can be stressful on both you and
your family, it is important to take the time and steps necessary to make the
transition as easy as possible. Remember, the most important part is that you
are starting a new life filled with new possibilities and opportunities. By
making the most of these opportunities, you can have a successful move for you
and your family.
Choose your agent wisely. Working with a full-time professional real estate
agent is a must. Ask questions of your agent. Find out how knowledgeable he or
she is about houses currently for sale in your price range and also of houses
that have recently sold. Can your agent recommend a good lender that has the
reputation of excellent customer service and low rates? Does your agent ask
questions of you to have a full understanding of what you are looking for to
help you get the most home for the money?
To receive
your FREE copy of Homebuyer's Handbook or Homeseller's Handbook, click here.
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