lovely neighours but need to move

[ld7675]

We have lived next door to our neighbours for 12 years. They have been fantastic ever since we first moved in. Sadly, the husband died suddenly a couple of weeks ago and we were at the funeral with the family, with the widow telling her family and friends how fantastic we were and saying "don't ever move".
The problem is that a couple of months ago we got our house valued as we are running out of space and need to move to a bigger house. We need to put it on the market soon as there are some houses around which are really suitable that we would like to start looking at properly. We can't put our house on the market without telling our neighbour but know it will really upset her.
Any advice? I know the move itself will take ages, our neighbour has a big support network and we will stay in the area so will still be able to see her. Feeling really guilty right now.

All you can do is reassure her that you can stay friends etc. I am sure she will understand

Keep in touch. Only yesterday, we met people who'd moved two doors up from valued NDNs we had in the past. They are now able to say we met echt and her DH, etc. It's all good.

sorry for your neighbour's loss - but you can't run your life round that. She is unlikely to be thinking clearly at the moment and certainly would not have been doing so at the funeral.

you could possibly consider her needs if you get a choice of buyers, but you have to put your finances first.

perhaps ask the agent not to put a sign up until you've warned her?

You must move if you want to. You might decide to stay and then she decides to move for some reason. We had friends who were keen for us to move closer to them - we didn't and so glad as their circumstances changed and they landed up having to move abroad about a year later. However, definitely warn her before the agent/board appears.

Thank you everyone!!