Moving out of a home that you love, raised your family in or was the first home you owned is never an easy process. So much so, we feel that applying the Kübler-Ross grief model is completely, 100% applicable in these situations. Ms. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross may not have had moving in mind when she identified five stages of grief, but then again, she never lived in your home.
Denial – But This Will Always Be My Home
Sure you’ve got more people than rooms and your spouse has to relocate for work, but you can make it work. Actually if your spouse is living in the new city, then there will be one less person fighting for time in the home’s only bathroom. You run every possible scenario imaginable, but you keep coming to the same unbelievable conclusion. You may have to move.
You can’t believe that one day soon you’re actually going to walk out your front door and never walk back through it. The idea that someone else, a stranger, will fall asleep in your bedroom seems ludicrous. That your ceiling fan will be the last thingthey see before drifting off into Neverland. You can’t imagine how the house could remain standing without you in it.
Suddenly everywhere you turn you see a memory. The scuffs on the wall are no longer an eyesore. They’re a product of the hopeful day that you moved in. Each part of your regular day becomes special, because soon it won’t be the same.
Anger – Every Aspect of Moving Becomes an Interference
Another showing? Really? Another person needs to traipse through the house thinking of how wonderful it would be with all their stuff in it.
Every time you drive up to your house all the neighbors are walking around the neighborhood like they own the place. Asking about where you’re moving and why. It’s like they can’t wait for someone else to move in next door.
Every part of the process is a pain in the rump. It’s as if life is conspiring to make moving as difficult as possible. Surely other people never have to deal with hiring professional movers, packing up all their things and changing their address whenever they move.
Bargaining – Maybe You Can Stick It Out Just a Little Bit Longer
“I know I have to move, but if I could just have a few more months to enjoy my home . . . then it will be easier.” Then you would buckle down and get things in line. If the buyer is willing to wait a few extra months you’ll gladly pay their rent.
You’ll finally join the neighborhood watch and adopt a road nearby. You promise you’ll be a better owner, and do all the things that have been on your to-do list since the day you moved in. You’ll do anything if you can just have a little more time in your home.
Depression – Packing It All Up is a Stark Reminder
Why even clean if you aren’t going to be here much longer? The new owner has already signed the papers anyway. It will be their problem now. Why care about the house anymore? Why care about anything? You haven’t even started looking for a new house yet. Maybe you’ll just buy an RV and become a transient for a while.
You find yourself thoughtlessly tossing clothes in the middle of the closet floor or into an empty packing box instead of folding them away. Folding has a purpose, but everything seems so meaningless. You feel empty like the moving box. You take a picture of it and post it on all your social media accounts with nothing more than a frowny face for the message. They’ll understand.
Acceptance – Let’s Start Preparing for the New Home
With the line drawn in the sand you now have to find somewhere else to live. Looks like there’s a 3/2 available in a really good school district. You click on the inviting image of the home’s exterior. Holy moving cows! It has the vaulted ceilings you always wanted. And a fireplace!
You’ve finally reached the stage where your grief is starting to be replaced by productive thoughts of making preparations and planning for the future. Maybe this new home will be better? It does have two bathrooms after all. Before you know it you are feverishly calling the number on the listing to set up a showing.
No matter what stage you’re in, the professionals at Square Cow Movers can make the process a whole lot easier. We offer a wide range of moving services in Austin and Houston, and our moving coordinators can take care of the logistics so you can focus on enjoying the time you have left in your home.
Original Source: https://squarecowmovers.com/the-5-stages-of-grief-when-youre-getting-ready-to-move