On Moving After a Loss

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Tips to Make Moving Easier When You’re Starting Fresh After Loss

By Camille Johnson

 Selling your house and buying a new home is an emotional process for anyone. As much as you’d like to think it’s a purely financial transaction, your home is the foundation for your daily life. This is why letting go of it and finding the right new home when it’s time to move, isn’t always easy.

 When you’re moving after the death of someone close to you, the grief you’re going through adds another set of challenges. But while it’s true that moving right now can be highly emotional, it’s also a chance to start over in a new environment. PsychCentral explains that, wherever you are in the grief process, most people experience an undercurrent of hope at each stage, and with that hope comes the ability to continue living. Finding new meaning in life is an important part of healthy grieving, and your move can help make this possible.

 Ease the Pain of Selling

 Everyone experiences grief differently, and you may welcome the idea of selling your home with open arms. For many people, though, getting their house sold and cleared out isn’t easy. The best way to make this easier on yourself is to get help. Before you can sell, your home needs to be completely clean. One way to ease your burden is to hire a professional for this job. You can only do so much and hiring help for projects like this gives you a break and can lower your stress.

 Part of the cleaning stage involves not just packing up your own possessions, but also sorting through your deceased loved one’s belongings. If you find it hard to throw away the little things your loved one left behind, What’s Your Grief suggests asking a friend to do this for you.

 Dealing With ‘Stuff’

 When it comes to the important stuff, create a few different piles to help you decide what to do with everything. You may have one “save” pile for yourself and another one for items to give to friends or family members. Even though you’re starting fresh somewhere new, you should keep some familiar items that will make your new house feel like home. For those things you don’t want to keep, it often helps people who are grieving to donate items so they get new life.

 Start researching movers as early as possible. If you have large pieces of furniture, look for movers who specialize in furniture removal so you don’t risk damage to your items.

 Looking to the Future

 Of course, selling your house is only part of the process. When it comes to finding the right home in your new location, the factors that go into your search will be determined in part by your purpose in moving. Are you moving to be closer to family, or are you setting out on a new chapter in life and looking for career opportunities? Your new home needs to fit with your current goals. For example, if you’re starting a job in your new location, do you want to find a home that’s nearby? If you’re moving to be close to family, is there a particular neighborhood you want to be in? These are all important considerations for starting your home search.

 Besides these basic needs and wants for your new home, you also want to keep in mind some key practical points. For example, if you have lost your spouse, it’s important to get a solid feel for your financial situation in order to determine your home-buying budget, or if you’re looking for a home where you can live long term, think about features that will accommodate you as you age.

 Starting fresh after losing someone close is a major life change. It may be a change you didn’t ask for, but it’s one that can help put your future into perspective. Buying and selling a home is always emotional, especially for someone who is grieving, but these tips can help make the process easier so you can start your next chapter in a positive light.

This article is brought to you by Grief Relief Ministries, where David Knapp will help you learn how to walk the path of grief and mourning alongside a loved one with compassion and confidence, knowing how to offer real comfort and relief to their pain. For more information, please visit his website or contact him today!