Thinking of moving – don’t panic
By Karen Knight, Linn County LIVING WELL Magazine
Many times when people think about moving they become overwhelmed with thinking of all that moving entails. Taking the time to break down the components involved with a move can make the process much easier.
There are many reasons why people think about moving:
- Downsizing to a smaller home to decrease the workload
- Retirement and the reduction of monthly expenditures
- Health issues that make owing a home more difficult
One of the first considerations should be the type of home you want to move into. Some options are:
- Smaller single family home
- Condo
- Cooperative
- Independent living community
- Assisted living community
- Nursing home
Once that decision has been made, it allows you to consider which items in your home you want to take with you. If you’ve lived in your home for a long time, this is the part that can become overwhelming. Just remember – you didn’t accumulate everything in one day; therefore, you don’t need to make the decision of what to take in one day. A good suggestion is to start going through your home one room at a time to decide what you want to take with you. For the items you decide not to take with you there are many ways to dispose of them:
- Goodwill
- Yard sale
- Family and friends
- Local charities
If the thought of going through your house by yourself becomes overwhelming, remember, there are companies that can help you with the process for a fee. Depending on your circumstances, sometimes a little help is all you need to start the process.
Now that you’ve made the decision of where to move and have started the process of divesting yourself of some of your belongings, it’s time to contact a realtor. A realtor will help you determine the market value of your home, explain the process of selling your home and of buying a new home, and help you prepare your home to present it in the most positive way to attract buyers willing to pay the proper market value.
And finally, it’s time for you to enjoy your new home.
Karen Knight is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. Reach her at 319-360-8989 or via www.cbhrealty.com/karenknight.
