Moving is never easy – especially when you’re leaving a home that you love. Whether it was where you grew up, where you raised your kids or just a place where great memories were made, it can be difficult to make the decision to move because of the grief you might feel. But moving is an inevitable part of life, and we want to make it easier for you. Here are some ways that you can cope with your move and give your beloved home the send-off it deserves.

1) Reframe Your Move

Many homeowners associate leaving their home with leaving the life they created there. They believe that once they move, the good memories and happy life that their home gave them will be stripped away. While it’s easy to feel emotionally attached to your home, it’s important to remember that at its core, a house is just a building where memories can be made. It’s the people who actually make the memories there! So instead of viewing your move as leaving your life, view it as leaving a place. You can also rest assured that since you’ve made great memories before, you have the ability to continue doing so wherever you go next!

2) Take Pieces of the Home with You

You might be leaving the place you love, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave every memory of it behind. By taking small mementos and photos to remind you of the time spent in your home, you can always remember it and look back on it fondly.

You’ve probably taken tons of photos in your home, and taking these pictures with you is one easy way to hold onto the memories you created there. Whether you have digital or printed photos, you can organize them by creating a photo album that includes all the pictures you’ve taken in your home over the years. On the cover, you can put a picture of the front of your house, its address and the years you lived there. If you want to personalize the album even more, you can also write commentary on specific pictures in the album, like when they were taken and the context behind them.

While we’re on the topic of photos, taking pictures of the property right before you move will ensure that you always remember the rooms and pieces that you love. Take a picture of every room, with or without furniture, to remember the structure of the house. If there was a certain part of the house you spent a lot of time in or a design element you appreciated, snap extra photos of those. You can never take too many photos; you’ll only regret the ones you didn’t take!

In some cases, you might be able to take physical reminders of the home with you, like a pretty flower from your garden or a rock in your yard. By adding these small mementos to your new home, you’ll always have a piece of your old home.

3) Have a Farewell Party

Like we mentioned earlier, the memories you make in your home are only possible because of the people you make them with. Because of that, when you’re leaving a house that you love, you’re likely also leaving people you love. A farewell party is a great way to celebrate your home one last time alongside everyone who made it such a hard place to leave. This party can be anything from inviting a small group of friends over for dinner one night to getting your whole neighborhood involved in a fun social event at your home. 

To add a sentimental touch to the event, consider making a photo collage or video documenting some of the best memories in your home and play it at the party. You can even ask your guests to share some of their favorite memories that they’ve made with you in your home to celebrate it further. Whatever you decide to do, saying a formal “farewell” to your home can be helpful in getting closure before your move.

4) Welcome the Buyers

If you love your home, you want to feel confident that your buyers will love it, too. By taking an extra step to make them feel comfortable in their new environment, you’ll set them up to make as many happy memories as you did. One way to do this is by buying them a housewarming gift. If you’ve gotten to know your buyers, you can give them a personalized gift to make the home feel like their own; a monogrammed doormat or mailing labels with their names and address are a couple of examples.

Another way to welcome your buyers into your home is by creating a neighborhood guide. The purpose of this guide is to give your buyers tips on navigating the area and recommendations for places like restaurants and shopping centers that they can explore. Having a personalized guide is sure to make your buyers feel like they’re at home and can be especially helpful for getting them through the first few weeks of chaos when they move in.

We understand that moving out of a home that you love can be difficult. At HomeSmart, we’re dedicated to helping you through every step of the moving process so that you don’t have to go through your move alone. Our agents are not only expertly trained in the tools and technology necessary to execute a successful transaction, but they also truly care about their clients. If you’re looking for an agent who will stand by you through your next move, connect with a HomeSmart agent today!