Advice please on how to move from my beloved house

[rumred]

I've been in the same house 24 years and I love it. However the area I'm in is increasingly horrible and I'm like an alien here, plus house prices are dropping. I've got to leave reluctantly. So I have a buyer but I'm struggling to find a new home and more importantly I am heartbroken about leaving. Have been kondoing which is so helpful, but I'm terribly sad. Like really down about it. I'm in a relationship, it's new so we don't live together, aren't sharing the experience. My friends are great too. It's my sadness that's the problem.

Anyone experienced this ? Any words of wisdom/advice for me please?

I think you've answered this yourself - you know staying isn't a good idea for several reasons. Your attachment to the house is possibly not about the house: more a fear of change and the unknown. If you can view it as a new and exciting chapter and a chance to shake things up, would that help?

Take lots of photos.

If you can't find anywhere you like to buy, try renting first. You can try out a few different areas and house styles until you find something you like and then loom for something similar to buy. It puts you into the "no chain" category too, which is always easier when buying and selling.

I'm the sentimental sort and thought I would be like this when we moved recently. But our new home and the location is so much better for us that I haven't looked back.

If you find something that excites you (intellectually you know it is the right move but also 'feels' right) then this move could be a completely different experience for you. Best wishes

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I feel better for getting it off my chest. Had a bad experience in my neighbourhood last night which was unsettling too. I'm definitely scared of the unknown and of making mistakes. And probably can't rent due to animals. Hopefully I'll be in a similar position to you soon lelivre I'm glad you've settled into your new home.

Will redouble my efforts and see what turns up...

What you love in your house is what you've created. Attachment, comfort, memory, it's all created by you.

When you leave, take it with you, create a home to live wherever you are! Make like a tortoise and you will be at home anywhere.

In the meantime Kondo every day. I find that each round of Kondo-Ing, I let go of more, release another layer of out of date attachment.My drawers are now satisfyingly easy to find things in and my wardrobe and bookshelves are 'lighter' in feel. I feel more able to travel light, step lightly, be adaptable, because I've been kondoing for about two years. The local charity shops are full of my stuff!

rumred I understand this feeling. I have put so much into our home over the past few years. My youngest child was born at home too. All adds to the emotional attachment to the house.
However, although i love the area in terms of beauty and being idyllic and peaceful etc I don't feel I belong here. I feel isolated and lonely. I know we should move but I just can't find anything else I LOVE like i love our cottage and its location. You are in a good position in that you have a buyer. That is a very positive step in the process. I have never been brave enough to put ours on market and so this means when any house with potential comes up we are not ready. You will find something.
Write a list of things you would like in a new property in order of importance and start from there.
What have you seen already and what did they lack? Do you have vision? My friend csnt see past decor for example and when i showed her the GEM i had found that needed a whole lot of vision she was like

Your comments are inspirational thanks. I can create a happy home elsewhere, that's true. I'll keep thinking about this.
I've some vision, but I'm far more short sighted than I was 24 years ago. In lots of ways.

And I'm so pleased kondoing is for life not just for Christmas. This also makes me happy as I've been feeling I should be doing it better and smarter.

Are you planning to move inmyshoes?

What about starting a Pinterest or scrapbook/ mood board for your new place? Looking forward then. Good luck

rumred I would like to but not sure i am brave enough. Worried it is not the right thing for my dc. But it has been talked about for at least 3 or 4 years

I can relate to the fear and the love of hom, it kept me here about 10 years too long. But on balance, doing the pros and cons list, moving is right for me. It's a risk of course but as belleview said, you create home wherever you are. That has resonated and I'm quite excited about making a home in an area where I'm happy. Location location and all that.

How are you going to make a decision? It's probably very different for you but my procrastination has cost me financially and emotionally and I've had to fight regret as well as fear...I've a bundle of fun recently

rumred I think for me the fact that we have been thinking off and on for at least 4 years about moving means we should. Fear is what has kept me here. Dc are settled and at a school they love but I am sure there are schools out there that can give them the same. They don't know anything other than what they have here and I think there is more out there.
I think we might just have to bite the bullet. I may need copious amounts of gin......

I'm not sure any decision should be made without gin. I feel like my thinking shifted, in the main due to nudges from people here. I was almost there, I just needed some objective perspectives, some new ways of looking at it. Might that help you inmyshoos?

I am sure it might rumred I am just not sure how to go about it.

Put a post up and see what happens? There's a lot of collective wisdom on here. Noone has the answer but it might help clarify your thinking. Maybe you're fine where you are and fretting unnecessarily? Or maybe it is fear of making a mistake. Which considering the risks is perfectly understandable

Ok I have been busy studying rightmove and viewing houses since I took the advice from the good people on here. However I can't find a house I like or am excited by. And a move date is fast approaching. There are so few period properties nowadays, that haven't been completely divested of character, and I hadn't realised how tight a grip the window companies had on the country. An acquaintance has offered to rent a room to me and my animals so I won't be homeless but I'm feeling pretty desperate and sad. Anyone else come through a similar situation? I'm 50 so hardly full of youthful optimism at the best of times.

Please don't dismiss period houses because they've had ugly windows put in. They can be replaced with double glazed sashes (or whatever) very easily, albeit at a price.

Hi whatkaty I'm not dismissing them, it's just most have had all the other features removed as well as Windows. I've factored in extra expenses re windows but I'm not in a position to replace everything. In fact the disparity between my house's selling price and probable purchase prices is growing all the time. Location is more important financially than I ever realised.