How Moving Into a New Home Can Help Heal After Loss

Nothing can prepare you for the emotional havoc that comes after losing someone near and dear to your heart. Soon after the initial shock, our minds race through the stages of grief in strange and unusual patterns. Positive memories of times spent with a loved one can even become painful reminders of the absence that now exists. The pictures that line your hall might even feel like ghosts of your past coming back to haunt you.

Grief can make us latch onto locations in strange ways, and it may be that continuing to dwell where the hurt is can make it seem as if the pain will never go away. Sometimes the best thing we can do after experiencing a traumatic loss is to refresh our lives in a new location. If you are considering moving into a new home, here are some things to think about.

Friends and Family Members Will Likely Understand

Initially, you might feel ashamed for wanting to leave your home. You might even think that it is a sign of shallowness or weakness. However, bear in mind the start of a new chapter always comes after another ends.  Communicate with friends and family members about your decision to move. Talking things through can help them understand your situation, help you feel at ease, and help you stay involved with those who care about you during your transition.  Buying and selling a home during an already challenging time can feel overwhelming, so keep communication flowing to allow loved ones to assist and support you.

Connect with good help

Everyone’s financial situation is unique, and your own circumstances will shape how the buying and selling process will work for you. Start by consulting with professionals, such as real estate agents, attorneys, and financial advisers. Your decisions could influence personal circumstances you might not even think about, such as your future taxes, so by covering all your bases you set yourself up for success. It’s also important to find an affordable property in the location of your choosing, sell your current home, and ensure you’re able to purchase your new home without hiccups. Those advisers can play a key role, especially your real estate agent.

To help your real estate agent find the perfect place, consider making some notes about your search criteria.  Categorize what property features are non-negotiable, what would be flexible, and what items are on your wish-list.  To help you get started, The Balance offers an extensive list of home amenities and features.

It’s Good to Have a Timeline

Once you find your new home, consider creating a timeline to help make the transition as smooth as possible. It’s a great way to ensure you stay on track and avoid getting waylaid.  Make sure you hire movers or arrange helpers well in advance, since the last thing you want is to have everything packed and no help for moving day.  If you do hire movers, be sure to adjust your budget accordingly. Most homeowners in Fort Lauderdale spend between $671 – $1,772 for a local move. While hiring movers gives you one less thing to worry about on moving day, having friends and family help can be a nice way to connect and keep your mind busy. Do what helps you the most during a challenging time.

Packing Is the Hardest Part

Another reason to have a timeline laid out is because there will likely be some emotional hurdles involved with sorting your household items.  This is especially true if you need to sort many things that belonged to or remind you of your special someone.

Allow yourself ample time to work through things and consider asking a close friend to help.  Having someone there who knew your loved one will give you a chance to sort your emotions while you sort tangible belongings, laughing and crying as those things trigger memories.  Shelly Frey explains that while it may be difficult to let go of something that belonged to your loved one, it can be an important part of the healing process. At the same time, allow yourself to keep some special things. You might like to create a memory album or some other tribute to your loved one, and revisit it as you wish.

Packing and moving after a major loss can be a highly emotional experience.  As you begin your new life, consider it a refresher instead of thinking of it as running away.  Embrace the promise of a new chapter and know your loved one would want you to be happy.

Top 6 Home Organization Upgrades that “Spark Joy” for Buyers

Thanks to Marie Kondo and her hit Netflix series “Tidying Up,” home organization is a hot topic right now. Marie encourages her viewers to minimize their possessions and keep only those items that “spark joy.” With spring in full bloom, now is the perfect time to do some spring cleaning and add organizational systems to your own home. Not only will you clear out clutter, your efforts can actually

increase the value of your home. Ready to give it a try? Here are six home organization ideas that will “spark joy” for you and your property value.

Boost Bathroom Storage Capacity

When was the last time you cleaned out your bathroom cupboards? If it’s been awhile, remove everything and take a look at each

item. Toss any old or expired products—keep only what you actually use. If your vanity has drawers, add drawer organizers, so you have a dedicated space for smaller items, like makeup and jewelry. For deep cabinets, install roll-out shelves or baskets to maximize the use of space. And don’t forget about the walls! Mount open shelves to store towels. If you’re short on storage space, a cabinet over the toilet can offer additional room for supplies. These inexpensive additions can make your morning routine a little easier while giving your bathroom a more custom feel. And on average, minor bathroom remodeling projects like these see a 102% return at resale.1

Upgrade Your Laundry Room

Sort through the items in your laundry room and throw away or donate anything you no longer need or use. If you’ve been holding onto a collection of old washcloths and single socks, it’s time to say goodbye. Then give your laundry room an upgrade with some customized organizational features. A mix of open cubbies and cabinets with doors will give you plenty of options for storing detergents and supplies. If you have space, a divided hamper or set of laundry baskets can provide a place to sort your clothes before washing. Install a hanging rod or drying rack for delicates and a flat work surface for ironing and folding clothes. With a few simple tweaks, you can turn this chore into a score!

Fully Utilize Your Basement or Attic

Basements and attics can easily become a dumping ground for clutter. If that’s the case in your home, you know what to do! Once you’ve conducted a thorough clean out, think about how you can better utilize the space to meet your family’s needs. Install cabinets and a table so you can use the area as a craft room. Or you could turn it into a game room with a media center and ping-pong table. Investing in your basement will not only add function for your family, but also the average basement remodel can see up to a 70% return on investment when it’s time to sell.2

If you have an attic, consider adding a cedar closet to store your off-season clothing. The cedar lining will keep your clothes free from moths and smelling fresh year round.3 Turning your attic into a more usable space will pay off down the road, too. A finished attic sees an estimated 60% return on investment.2

Customize Your Closets

Cleaning out the closet is a chore most of us dread, but by now, you’re a pro! Get rid the clothes and shoes that don’t fit you, are uncomfortable to wear, or that no longer “spark joy.” Then it’s organizing time. So where do you start? You’ll want to create a designated space for each type of clothing: high hanging rods for dresses and long jackets, lower rods for skirts and shirts, and shelves for folded items like jeans. And accessories need a place to go, too. Add racks for your shoes, drawers for jewelry, hooks for hats, and shelves or racks for handbags.

A well-equipped closet can be a major draw for buyers—the average return on a closet remodel is 57%.4 But more importantly, it’ll improve your day-to-day life. Surveyed homeowners gave their closet remodel a “Joy Score” of 10 out of 10, higher than kitchen or bath upgrades.5

Install Built-in Bookcases and Cabinets

Built-in furniture adds functionality and storage to a room while giving your home a high-end look. Built-in bookcases can turn an empty room into an office. Custom cabinets can be used in a living room to display media equipment while providing hidden storage for DVDs, board games, and family albums. When designing any built-in feature, remember not to go too custom. A design that only fits your tastes or belongings could turn off future buyers. Instead, select standard sizes and classic finishes to appeal to a broad range of buyers when it comes time to sell.

Equip Your Garage

If you can no longer fit your car in your garage, it may be time for a clean out. Similar to an attic or basement, the garage can quickly become overrun with clutter. A thorough cleaning will help you assess which items are worth keeping. When adding organizational systems your garage, start with a small rack to store yard tools and larger racks for bikes and sports equipment. Overhead racks are a great place to put seasonal items and bulky luggage. A workbench against a wall lined with pegboard and hooks creates a dedicated space to use and store tools. If you have children or pets, add a cabinet with a lock. This will give you a place to securely store harsh chemicals and sharp tools. With a little effort, you’ll be pulling in your car (and buyers) in no time!

SPRING INTO ACTION

If you’re searching for service providers to help with your spring cleaning or home organization efforts, let us know! We can connect you with our trusted network of local home improvement professionals. We can also help you determine which organizational upgrades will add the most value to your home. Call us today, and let us know how we can help!

Sources:

  1. HGTV –
    https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/top-home-updates-that-pay-off-pictures
  2. Nationwide –
    https://blog.nationwide.com/valuable-home-improvements/
  3. HGTV –
    https://www.hgtv.com/remodel/interior-remodel/maximum-home-value-storage-projects–attic
  4. The Closet Doctor – https://www.closet-doctor.com/news/what-is-the-return-on-investment-on-closet-organizers
  5. NAR Remodeling Impact Survey –
    https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2017-remodeling-impact-09-28-2017.pdf

 

Buyers are you worried when your pre-approval letter says you are approved for more?

Money Money MoneyA colleague recently asked if he should get a new approval letter for his buyer. The reason was that he was negotiating on a house, and was planning on offering less than the approval amount that the buyer could afford. I’ve also been in a situation where my buyer has cash in the bank for a cash purchase, and the bank balance is far more than the purchase price.

The question is:  Are you giving away too much information by letting it be known that you CAN spend more than you want? Perhaps, but I don’t think this is a significant objection to overcome.

Let’s say a buyer has a mortgage approval for $400,000. A house is listed for $375,000 but is only worth $360,000.   Will it make negotiations more difficult if a seller sees a letter that says the buyer can spend $400,000? Not if I’m good at what I do.

There is absolutely no justification for a negotiation to include a dialog of “but he has the money.” What in the world does that have to do with the price of Tea in China? Nothing.

This reminds me of sellers that “need to get” to a particular price in order to buy a new property. How is that my problem? It’s not. The house is worth what the house is worth. If it’s like all the other houses on the block, it’s probably worth close to the other houses. If it’s unique, it’s worth what a buyer is willing to pay. It’s certainly not worth what my bank balance says I have. That’s like my other favorite saying “How can I be overdrawn? I still have checks left!”

Next thing out of my mouth when someone says that to me is: prove it. Show me some justification for your price. I’ve proved my client can buy it. Now you prove your worth. If you can’t? We’ll be on our way.

Could hurricane Harvey push Florida insurance rates higher?

Lynne McChristian, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry organization, said that Florida homeowner insurance rates shouldn’t be affected for one simple reason: rates are set at the state level and are based on what happens within the state. “What happens in Florida stays in Florida, what happens in Texas stays in Texas and that is the way it works in every state,” she said.

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