Living Each Stage of Life with Purpose

Each season of life brings with it special joys and challenges. Saving up for that first house and learning all the responsibilities of home ownership, then moving on the family home complete with pool, game room and yard to spare is part of the American dream. However, there is not just one dream in life and different seasons bring different purposes and thus new living situations.

Once the kids are grown and the years creep up it seems the big house is not as manageable or enjoyable anymore. I strongly believe that each stage of life has a purpose. A big house is perfect for raising a family and hosting your children’s friends for sleepovers but as time goes by your lifestyle and goals change as well. With more freedom and more money in the bank traveling may finally be something you can look forward to and having a huge house and yard is preventing you from enjoying life they way you want to. Maybe you want to finally fulfill the dream of living on the lake or owning a beach condo. Perhaps financial concerns are the motivation for finding a smaller place.

Making the decision to sell the big house is extremely difficult. I am happy to help talk through and examine all the pro’s and con’s and help in deciding if its time to simplify and downsize your lifestyle. I believe that each stage of life should be lived purposefully! My goal is to help your move be as seamless as possible. Many of my clients are packing up 20-30 years of memories. Not only is that a huge physical task but it is also a very emotional one as well.

I want to help you make a move on your terms. Is it time to downsize or as I like to say, “right size”? Different seasons of life mean different places to live. If you are an empty nester then a smaller home may make the most sense? If you are feeling isolated due to the death of a spouse perhaps a retirement community with planned activities is something of interest to you. Count on me to help you find the right place for this season of your life.

As your moving consultant and Realtor® I understand this is a stressful topic. I know that transitioning to a new home means saying goodbye to a home that is comfortable, familiar, and filled with many memories.

My job is to help you acknowledge these feelings and walk through it step by step with you. There are many emotional and logistical considerations in a move, and I am there to help you make informed decisions as you plan, sell, and move into your new place.

Timeline

First things first decide where you will move to and whether you will move then sell or list your house for sale while you are still living in it.

Next develop a timeline that takes into consideration the future place, amount of time to sort and pack, financial matters, how long to prepare the home for sale, dealing with the stuff (estate sale) and other things that are pertinent to the move.

Moving is a stressful and emotional roller coaster but not to fear there are 7 steps I offer to help you stay on track and move forward successfully with your move.

PLAN

A good plan is always a good first step. Making a move plan helps you make decisions and logically plan your steps. Decide how you will handle your sorting and packing as well as your moving and unpacking.

Will you need help packing and moving due to physical limitations?

Who will be helping you sort, pack and move?

Will you have an estate sale?

Will you hire a moving company?

“A good plan is like a road map;

It shows the destination and usually

the best way to get there.”

SORT

What will you keep and what will you get rid of? How will you get rid of it? Estate Sale, Charity, or Dumpster?

This part of moving can be extremely overwhelming because of the many years of things that have been accumulated over the years. My suggestion is to begin with the room in the house with the least amount of things and use color coded stickers and assign every item a category: KEEP, SELL, DONATE, TRASH

Once you’ve designated all the items in one room move on to the next. Once all items have been assigned a category remove all the Trash items. Put the Donate items in the garage or another designated place. Once these 2 steps are done you will begin to feel progress. Items you are selling may be able to stay where they are if you are having an estate sale.

Ask family members to take the items you are giving/selling to them. Determine if you will need a storage unit for any items you are keeping. This is the point that you may also need to call a junk removal company or hazardous waster removal to help with clean up of property.

“Clutter is anything that doesn’t belong in a space – whether because it belongs elsewhere in your home, or it doesn’t belong in your home any longer.”

PACK

Once everything has been sorted and you have decided what items will be moving with you then the packing can begin!

Decisions during the packing process:

Who will help you pack your items?

Will you hire professional packers?

How will you handle fragile heirlooms?

If you are packing yourselves remember to have enough moving supplies (boxes, tape, and bubble wrap). Make sure to label boxes.

Also it is advised to have a First Night box/suitcase with necessary items such as Towels, Toliet Paper, Tolietries, Change of clothes, Paper Plates, Medicine, Bedding, Pet Food, Cleaning Supplies, Phone Charger

“There is always a sadness about packing. I guess you wonder if where you’re going is as good as where you have been.”

MOVE

Moving Day!! You may have thought it would never come but here it is! IF you’ve hired professional movers then your main job today is to direct the movers and insure they handle items with care.

If you are moving any items yourself such as precious heirlooms, clothing etc. make sure you have those out of the house so they do not accidently get packed in the moving van.

It’s also important that you have given your new address to pharmacies, social security administration, credit card companies and banks. Also, don’t forget to turn off/transfer utilities.

It’s a day of new beginnings as you begin a new chapter of life!

“Starting today, I need to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what’s coming next”

UNPACK

A brand new place full of possibilities! Take your time and set up the new place exactly how you want it and its okay if the living room is set up different than the old place or just like it.

As you unpack decide if you will have professionals or family help you unpack and set up your home. Will you need help setting up technology or the television? Will you need help assembling furniture or hanging pictures?

Remember it takes time to adjust to something new but eventually everything will find its place, even you!

“Everyone comes with baggage. Find someone who loves you enough to help you unpack”

SELL

It’s time to sell your home. Krystal Huhn, can lead you step by step through this process. She is a Senior Real Estate Specialist and Moving Consultant who specializes in making moves manageable.

After a home consultation Krystal can help you decide if any minor repairs, painting, landscaping or other things are necessary to help prepare your home for market. Once repairs are completed and the house has been cleaned the house will be ready for staging and professional photography. The home will then be listed and Krystal will help you select an offer and assist you through the contract negotiations until we reach the closing table!

“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so……

Get on your Way!”

LIVE

It’s time to settle in to your new place and your new chapter of life! Take time to do this and adjust your expectations that things will not feel like home right away. Seek to meet the neighbors, explore your new area, and establish a routine. Find positives and joy in each day as you make yourself comfortable in your new place!

“Life is a gift.

Wake up every day

and realize that.”

Start & Finish your Move with Krystal Huhn

I have a passion for helping people as they make transitions from one space to another. I understand the emotions involved as well as the logistical obstacles which must be met for moving success! As a Senior Real Estate Specialist and Moving Consultant I stand by ready to help you make your move manageable! Reach out and we can set up a time to talk today!

Krystal Huhn Realtor

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