When a Life Change Leads to a Move: How to Prepare

Buying a home is often a reason to celebrate. It’s a milestone for many and signifies the start of a new, exciting chapter in your life. Selling a home stirs similar emotions, although sometimes things can feel a little more understated and slightly melancholic when nostalgia takes over.

Whether you have a baby on the way and need more space, or you want to be closer to that amazing new job you just landed, oftentimes, a big life change is the catalyst to kick off your next real estate journey.

But what about when life takes a surprising turn? A death in the family, a divorce, a change in your financial situation. The reality is that not all of life’s changes are positive, and sometimes we need to deal with uncomfortable (and often unexpected) situations.

In this post, I’m sharing my expert tips for how to prepare for a move when life changes.

Life is Full of Ups and Downs

One could say that a life well-lived is full of ups and downs. Throughout our lifetime, we are challenged and rewarded. Although specific details vary from person to person, overcoming hardship is a universal human experience.

The first thing to remember is that even when things seem to be going wrong, you are not alone. Someone else in the world has likely faced similar challenges and came out fine on the other side.

Your problem is not embarrassing. It’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s a problem that just needs to be solved.

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The Solution

The first step in handling any of these situations is to put your ego aside and ask for help when you need it. Chances are, these are new experiences for you. Calling someone who has successfully navigated these waters is a great way to get insight, help, and reassurance.

When it comes to preparing to sell your home or buy a new one, working with a real estate agent who understands your unique situation is invaluable.

My team and I are adept at guiding our clients through the steps needed to solve their problems and move on to live their best lives. Here are just a few examples:

I’m Getting Divorced and Need to Sell My Home

Going through a divorce is one of the most stressful things that can happen to someone. It’s made all the more complicated when there are assets like real estate involved. So who gets the house in a divorce? It depends. There are options available. For example, you can buy out your ex-partner’s share of the home or sell the property altogether and split the profits. The route you take completely depends on your unique situation.

My approach when working with clients going through a divorce is to lead with compassion and transparency. I advocate for my client throughout the entire process, but give seasoned advice on when to compromise versus when to hold our ground. At the end of the day, my goal is to gain the best possible outcome for you so you can move forward with your life post-divorce.

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to selling a home. Here are a few more past blog articles to help set you up for success:

I Can’t Afford My Mortgage Anymore

Going through financial troubles has a way of making you feel ashamed and helpless. It can seem like there is no way out, and the stress of the situation just continues to pile up on your shoulders. Whether you’ve experienced a job loss or some other financial hardship, not being able to afford your mortgage is an overwhelming feeling that should be dealt with sooner rather than later.

For these clients, I work to reduce the stress and do everything I can to ensure a fast sale. Perhaps you don’t have the budget to renovate, paint, or even stage your home. That’s ok. My team and I will meet you where you’re at and create a customized listing plan that maximizes your sales while staying within your budget and available resources.

Don’t just take my word for it. Read some of my recent reviews to see what past clients have to say about working with me.

My Elderly Parents Have Died, and I Don’t Know What to Do with the House

This is a particularly trying situation. In addition to dealing with the logistics of selling an estate and preparing a home for sale, you are also likely working through grief. In many cases, our parents have lived in their homes for a long time, accumulating decades of belongings. Decluttering feels next to impossible when everything you pick up holds fond memories. Additionally, let’s say your parents were in declining health; chances are, the house maintenance and upkeep were lacking, which means an even bigger task of preparing the home for sale.

This is where I come in. My team and I work with the best tradespeople, organizers, and stagers. In most cases, our clients just hand over the keys, and we’re able to prepare even the most cluttered home for sale in as little as a week.

This exact situation is much more common than you might think. In fact, we’ve written an entire blog about it. Read How to Overcome the Emotional Side of Selling Your Home

I Want to Move, But My House is too Full of Junk

Have you ever felt trapped in your home? Embarrassed to have people over because of all the stuff you’ve accumulated. Is it getting harder to clean your home, and the longer you put it off, the worse it gets? This is another common scenario we see. For many homeowners in this situation, there is a deep-rooted shame and embarrassment in having others see their home in this state. As a result, you put off selling with the intention of clearing things out and doing a deep clean. But as the years go by, the overwhelm just becomes greater, eventually leading to a full-blown decision paralysis. You want to move and build a new life, but it’s gotten so bad that you feel like you can’t.

I’m here to tell you, there is no shame in any of this. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Working with a professional to help clear out and clean your home is actually the best thing you can do. My team and I go into each home with zero judgment. Like I said before, all we see is a problem that we can solve, an action plan to move things forward, and trust me, we’ve seen it all!

For more, read Tips for Cleaning Out Your Utah Home Before Selling

Rightsizing is an exciting opportunity to enhance your new reality and curate a lifestyle you can truly enjoy. Learn more about rightsizing with these posts next:

How to Know You Are Working with the Right Salt Lake City Real Estate Agent

When life changes and you’re forced to make a move, it’s important to work with someone who can cover all the bases. Here at Julia Splan + Associates, I work hard to provide the level of care and consideration I would want for my own family.

I understand these situations can be trying, and with compassion, my intention is to provide guidance so you can make the best possible decisions.

This means leading with empathy and understanding, being transparent about every step of the process, and employing absolute confidentiality. In my years as a real estate agent in Salt Lake City, I have helped countless buyers and sellers navigate difficult situations. I know what’s at stake, and I know how to alleviate stress and solve issues for my clients.

Whether you’re experiencing one of the situations above or your life is changing for happier reasons, my strategy and process remain completely customized to your unique needs and goals.

At the end of the day, buying or selling real estate is starting a new chapter, and you deserve to move on and live your best life.