Home Buyers Articles
Achieve The No Stress Move
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 aspect 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 aspect 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?