The house is sold and I'm having a wobble

Oh bum....spelling gone to pot! Apologies ?

Not 'thank' should be 'that' and coast not Croats (who the heck, or where, are they?)

I don't actually feel much attachment to our house; we've lived here for nearly 20 years after a further 20 years in a decrepit farmhouse thank quite honestly I detested!
I'd cheerfully up sticks and move elsewhere.
I fancy moving to Wales, near the Croats and mountains somewhere.

Am I odd in feeling this way?

I have moved twice in last 5 years, first of all from 4 bedroom house with large garden, from putting it on the market to moving 7 weeks, luckily we found a lovely Park Home (move from Middlesex to Somerset). Surveyor from Building Society was lovely so I think you've been unfortunate.

Sadly I was Widowed 14 months after that move & I found I could not afford to stay there. I waited about a year & then put my home on the market & move nearer my DD, her OH & my DGS.

Again move came in a rush after house had been on the market for over a year, cash buyer who needed to move in within 3 weeks

So it was book Removal Company, Storage Unit arranged, stay with my DD & start Property hunt. I viewed a Park Home 2 days after leaving my old home, put in an offer & moved in 6 weeks later (I stayed with DD, in a Hotel & Holiday Flat prior to moving in). Gradually transported possessions from Storage Unit & disposed of anything I didn't want/need, the joys of down-sizing. I'm now happily living in Devon, Dartmoor on my doorstep, coast 20 mins away & DD also about 20 mins away.

Pigglywiggly I'm sure it will all be fine, new home sounds perfect, it's hard leaving a much loved home but "new beginings"

I think it's normal to "wobble". We moved five years ago after living in our house for thirty two years. When the removal men had gone and there was only DD and myself packing things I wanted to come in the car with me, and doing last minute tidying, I sat in the middle of the empty living room floor and cried. I really wanted - needed - to move, but still... thirty two years was a long time. It had been our first house after DH left the Army. This house is warmer, better and the surrounding area is lovely. Like you, the surveyor who came to us was taciturn beyond belief - hardly exchanged a word. A bit like driving examiners, it's in the nature of their profession I reckon! Enjoy your new home when the time comes, piggly.

Yes, Suki70, I was afflicted by unbearable itching behind the ear last week. Who have I offended?

We also moved, from the house we bought before we were married 39 years ago, in March. The neighbourhood had changed so much that we just did not feel we could live the life we wanted to anymore. After renting near to our daughters for a few months we decided that we would move back to a smaller town about 12 miles from our original home. We are close enough to our children and their families and also to the friends and neighbours we want to keep in touch with and are loving the new house and neighbourhood. I have driven past the old house and felt nothing but relief that we have left that area.
I was told by a friend that those that embrace change handle that change best. From experience, I could not agree more.

Anya I love that curse and will remember it for future use! It's set me wondering though, I've experienced 'unbearable itching between the toes' in the past and am racking my brains as to what I did wrong that caused someone to put the curse on me.

I reluctantly, my DH was keen, decided to downsize from our home of 23 years to a bungalow. Once we made the decision I was keen to move and we bought an old bungalow that needed a lot of work. I had my wobble the day we moved in when it hit me just how much we had to do. However, sitting here over 4 years later with everything finished, it was the best thing we could have done. I don't know anybody who, having made the move, has regretted it.

You will remember it all in detail anyway but one idea is to take lots of photos. Looking through old family albums (what were they?) what you end up checking out are the wallpaper and that old sofa and the door frame markings that were just 'background' when you took the pic. So take pics of those things...

When my mum's house was sold, that I had known for 55 years, I'd taken photos. I went back to visit it when we went to see mum's old neighbours, and the new owners had chopped it about and built on it so much that I couldn't work out where I was. It no longer felt like mine and it was a big relief.

pigglywiggly you are bound to feel like this until you are in your new home. You still identify yourself with your current home and understandably feel miffed at that surveyor. Incidentally he is clearly sadly lacking in basic courtesy and manners.

I can empathize with so many of the earlier posts. We downsized two years ago and our new home is an absolute joy. It is so much easier and cheaper to look after, so comfortable and the whole of our home and garden is entirely accessible to me. Every day I thank God for my new life here.

Very interesting & reassuring to read these posts. I've been at our farm since I married DH 35 years ago but he has lived here for around 60 years. We rent out our ground but still live in the house, a 15th century Long House. It causes a massive amount of work to maintain it, plus we have a huge garden & responsibility for the farm buildings, one if which is about to collapse so we are spending a lot to have it repaired. The current tenants of the land have 4 remaining years & we know it will be sensible to sell then, despite opposition from both adult children, neither of whom want to live in it but both want it to still be somewhere to come home to. We are thinking of a brand new or very well converted & appointed flat in the centre of our local, very beautiful English market town. We know it will be like a bereavement but must see it as an adventure. It's a head and heart occasion!

We moved from the 'family home' some time ago when the neighbourhood got a bit too much, so there was real angst and regret for me as I loved the house and it really wasn't too big. Problems were a road outside that had turned into a race track, we had pets, shopping area became a hell hole - London in general now I fear. So, moved with tears and heartache, but very rapidly discovered that what matters goes with you; your loved ones, the books, animals, comfy sofas - they are the home and the rest is bricks and mortar, and amazingly I haven't missed it one bit. Good luck - I hope you'll be really happy.

I moved earlier this year from my family home of 30+ years to a small flat 2 doors away! I thought I would find it very difficult but apart from a major wobble on moving day it really has not worried me at all - and the money I released has helped both my sons on to the property ladder in London and left me enough for nice holidays etc.

I dithered for years about the move but now wish I had done it before.

I moved last week from family home of 23 years after divorcing (32 years). It is hard to see your home as a commodity. I became very friendly with the staff at local recycling centre!! Just waiting to move to tiny cottage of my own. The surveyor is just doing his job. Good luck with your move.

piggly I moved in July from my sanctuary of 24 years, I'd wept a lot of tears about losing my home but, guess what, I love my flat!
I barely gave my old place a second thought and this is much better all round. Take the plunge, it's an adventure ☺

And .....when you are in the new place you will still have all your"things" around you.

We moved three months ago from our wonderful old family house with huge beautiful garden . 37 years of children, grandchildren , love and laughter. But also grass to cut, weeds to weed , and a Tudor building to maintain. No we are in a stunning new build flat overlooking the sea .....no weeds', easy cleaning , no maintenance and secure entry so that we can lock up and leave any time without a backward glance"
I decided that I wasn't going to dwell on my past and my babies growing up in the old place but would treat this as an adventure and new phase of our lives.
Moving house is stressful and exhausting but I wouldn't change a thing. Had we been any older we wouldn't have coped physically with the packing and settling . I don't think of another person sleeping in my bedroom though I did (briefly) before we left .....look forward not back .
I drove past the old house the other day ....a thing I thought I wouldn't be able to do and just thought how glad I was that I wasn't responsible of rthe maintenance any longer .

A house is just bricks and mortar A home is what is inside and the memories you make

We moved almost 2 years ago from our previous home. We had lived there for 28 years. We downsized from a large 4 bed to a much smaller 3 bed, detached, brand new house. It was the best thing we have done, was uncertain beforehand but on the day we moved had no problem moving on.

As the house is much smaller the bills are less, the housework takes no time at all, new garden to work on, in a village, only 14 miles from daughter (still 3500 miles from son).

I am sure it will be a lot easier than you imagine. Good luck in your new home

Living in a house for 32 years is a big chunk of your life Pigglywiggly (great name) and you are bound to feel conflicted. House moving is one of the most stressful life events. If you didn't feel like this it would be odd. As others have said once you get busy moving in and putting your own stamp on your new place and making it home, the feelings will pass. After all life is constantly changing, and a house is only a building, it's the people in it that make it home.

Pigglywiggly Lots of us who were around on here remember "Luckygirl" being really torn over making this decision which she discussed on here.
As she says it has turned out really well. Taking the plunge is scary. Good luck!

I do feel for you!

We moved in July. We were living in a lovely old cottage in the middle of the country (but near to a village) with views to die for - really totally amazing - and so very quiet and peaceful. Last summer I remember sitting out at the front gazing over the view of the Welsh hills and soaking up the extraordinary silence and thinking to myself that nothing, just nothing, would drag me away from there. We had lived there for 22 years.

But....I have some mobility problems and my OH has PD and this lovely home was on a very very steep hill - the drive was like a sheer drop. I was idly flicking through bungalows on the net and came across one that is 20 minutes away, large, light, spacious, with a wood behind, but with distant views for about a hundred miles. We went and looked at it and just fell for it - both heart and head, as we knew that there was no way we could stay where we were in the long term; and that the chances of finding something else that ticked the boxes of both practical and also with views were nil.

I too had a major wobble, as we sold the house to my DD (as a rental property), so no showing people round, surveyors etc. and we were moved within a month of viewing the bungalow! I was worried that it was all happening so quickly that I would regret it. I had previously suffered a major depression and was worried that this might be triggered - not somewhere I ever wish to re-visit!

But we love it - nearer 2 of my DDs, near enough to all my previous activities to be able to continue them, nearer to civilization, 5 minutes from the GP etc. - and above all no stairs!

I am sure that you had put a great deal of thought into this move - you are still in the same area so can keep the same friends and activities and everything will be familiar to you. We too thought we would be in the old house for ever. But the move has been all good and we felt very settled very quickly - I barely think about the old place.

Well done for taking this big decision and good luck in your new home.

Yes it's an adventure Pigglywiggly, look forwards not back, you had good times in your old house and will do so in the new one. It's just a stressful time so take one job at a time and one day. Good luck

I think it's absolutely normal to have some misgivings about a big change like moving house. Especially after so many years.

The trick is to keep looking forward, not back, once you have actually made the move because things will have changed a lot in the old location. As the saying goes "You cannot step in the same river twice".

I had a patch of nostalgia a while back, wondering if we had made a mistake in moving here in 2012 and missing my old life, but it has passed and I realise how fortunate we are to have all the plus points - and more- that I listed when we were thinking of making the move.

Good luck Pigglywiggly and I hope you are really happy in your new home.

Pigglywiggly,we have just moved after 41 years in the same house. Last night I dreamed I went back. All the lights were on and the curtains drawn and I was not at all sad. It was not my house anymore.
We have bought a much better house and that is going to be the start of a new life. We too went through the "shall we shan'twe phase." But I am truly glad we took that great big step.I expect you will too.Good luck