Moving & Mourning: How to Change Homes When You’re Dealing With Grief

Are you thinking about moving after the death of a loved one? No matter your reasons for relocating, managing a move can be exhausting. It can also be stressful. So, if you want to avoid adding more emotional strain and physical strain during an already difficult time, you should consider using these tips to plan your move:

Prioritize Mental & Physical Well-Being During a Move

Grief can impact all aspects of your emotional and physical health. Some people even experience physical pain and exhaustion during times of bereavement, so you may need some extra help to make your move manageable. For example, hiring movers can relieve the stress of packing and transporting your belongings, and you can even get online to research area moving companies. That way you can find the best prices and moving companies to fit your needs, without added rigamarole.

Another way that you can manage your well-being during this time is to ask a friend or loved one to help you sort through household goods. Decluttering and downsizing your home can be filled with emotions, especially when this process involves items that belonged to a late family member. Having an extra person to provide emotional support and objective advice can be especially helpful. If it’s still too painful to sort through those belongings, you can always put them into self-storage to sort through when you are ready to do so.

Determine a Moving Budget to Avoid Financial Strain

Financial stress can also come into play after the death of a loved one. So, before you begin looking for new homes, sit down and figure out your budget for the entire move. This should include a price range for your new home, as well as any other moving expenses, such as hiring professional movers or paying for transportation.

Once you have your budget mapped out, you can begin looking for the best ways to finance your new home. If you are a qualifying veteran or surviving spouse, know that you may be able to use a VA home loan to help relieve some financial pressure. With VA home loans, PennyMac explains you can avoid paying a down payment, and you can also avoid paying for private mortgage insurance. Plus, VA loans typically offer lower interest rates than more conventional loan options, which can lower your monthly housing payments.

As you think about finances, this is also a good time to think about providing financial cushions for your children or other loved ones as well. For example, you can sign up for burial or funeral insurance, to prevent the family from incurring debts in the event of your death.

Ease Major Transitions with Patience and Self-Compassion

Moving and death typically top the list of life’s most stressful events. So, by dealing with both of these processes at the same time, you are taking on an immense amount of emotional stress and pressure. Be sure to show yourself some compassion. Take more time for self-care, if you can, and reach out for help from the people you love and trust.

If at all possible, you can also show yourself some compassion by avoiding major life decisions during the earliest days of your grief. Because even though you may feel ready for a big move, your judgment can be clouded by emotions when you are still in shock from such a tremendous loss.

If you are ready to make a move, it can also help to have a few experienced professionals by your side. For instance, working with a real estate agent can make finding the right home and negotiating a sale much less complicated, so connect with an agent in your area before you begin looking for a new home.

There’s no right way to process grief but there are easier ways to manage a move. So, if you feel like a change of scenery will relieve some pain, or if you need to move for any other reasons, make sure you keep this guide handy. That way, you can avoid the extra stress that can come with moving and focus on finding your way back to peace and happiness again.

Written by: Lucille Rosetti, TheBereaved.org

Photo Credit: Unsplash