Want to move but feeling SO scared after 25 years in our house

[ZazziA]

We've seen a lovely house and are going for it. It suits us much better space wise, garden wise, etc. Agreed offer and ours is going on the market next week. I just feel terrified tho. We've been in our home 25 years since we married, both our children were born here etc. So many memories. But I've never loved the house, we've made it lovely but figure we can do that anywhere. We can't do anything more to it than we've done. The new property has so much more going for it. I'm just TERRIFIED of regretting it. I thought we may have lost the new one last week and felt so gutted, maybe I need to hang onto that. I've made a list of pros and it makes complete sense on paper. Is this normal? I'm feeling so anxious all the time. Hubby isn't fussed either way which doesn't help! Tho he does sometimes say he's had enough of where we are - busy, parking problems etc. Is this to be expected after 25 years in the same house?

Is this to be expected after 25 years in the same house?
Of course it is. People get scared / nervous about any house move; they always say it is one of the most stressful things you can do.
You are obviously not ones for moving often - have you thought about what your life will look like in this house at the end of another 25 years, are you future-proofed?
Good luck!

Many years ago I was told a little saying ( it was actually about a job move, but applies to all sorts). I give it to you now....

"Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better".

It will be ok.

We sold & moved this year after 31-years in our old house.
TBH I didn't give it much thought as we were looking forward so much to our new home. Got a bit tearful when I went back for a final clean and to hand over the keys but that is about it.

Sold my late parents house a few months ago.
Parents bought it new in 1955, dad died in it and mum hated moving out to live in a carehome (it was then rented out until she died).
Was more upset about selling that one.

We moved last year, after 18 yrs in the same house, raising our family there, it was a big downsize and relocation for us. I couldn’t wait to move, I was really ready to move. No regrets. If you are getting the wobbles perhaps it isn’t the right time for you. Memories you take with you wherever you go. Think seriously if a move is what you want, I kept thinking would I change my mind but no, I wasn’t even sad when the house was empty and we left it for the very last time. Good luck OP.

We had twenty years in our main family home. I probably would have stayed, but DH was keen to move. We’ve moved again since.

We moved after 35 years in the same house. We loved the house and so did our children. The buying and selling process was horrendous and I hated every second of it. I was so worried we were making a huge mistake. We had fabulous neighbours and it was a very sought after location.

Fast forward 6 months and I have project managed a huge build to the new house (against all the odds, with tradesmen being difficult to find and keep hold of!) and re decorated all downstairs to our taste. We start the upstairs after Xmas. I adore this house and now feel we should have moved years ago.

Sometimes you have to take a step into the unknown to move forward.
Good luck, I really hope it works out for you.

I will shortly be leaving my house after 16 years. There are many special and precious memories here even though this house is ridiculously small.

Our new house will be wonderful and it feels “right”. But oh my goodness, the anxiety about leaving my current house is overwhelming even though it’s tiny and overcrowded!!

But what’s helping me is looking back at houses I’ve lived at in the past. They’re just memories now and I’ve never felt as if I shouldn’t have left. Letting go of the familiar is hard especially if you’re someone who views their home as a real sanctuary (I do). But your home is where your loved ones are and when you have your things around you, you’ll be able to make new memories. Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting the past - it will always be with you ❤️

We moved after 10 years in our first house. It was too small and we needed to move for school. I was gutted to move, as I loved the house and memories.

We moved to a bigger, better house in a better area and have been here 6 years. I like the house, but I miss my old house so much because this has never felt like home.

My gut feeling told me not to move, but we had no choice re school. I under estimated how it would feel to leave the memories and somewhere I loved, as opposed to liked.

I know I am the exception, but this is how I feel.

Waiting on contracts for our house sale. Selling a large 5 bed new build in country to buy a not as large 5 bed 20yr old house in fab beach location walking distance to school and town. Needs a bit of decorating and updating.. why am I feeling so unsure. 😕 need to leave here as the environment is so toxic and we have no support, spend alot of time driving and kids friends are where their school is. HELP

Yes, I was really worried were we doing the right thing, taking on a property that needed work, a mortgage after being mortgage free, we were in our 50s. But we were moving for better parking, a nice house, semi rather than terrace, a better garden.

It's worked out really well, and while I look back on the old house with fondness, it's no more than having some happy memories there.

Understand about the husband bit - I eventually sat him down and explained how anxious I was and he was just - the parking is better and we can afford it and we both like the house. And if we hate it we can move.

Hi everyone,
just wondered how all your moves went and how you all feel now after a little bit of time?
we plan to move in the next four weeks and my anxiety is through the roof, effecting my sleep etc.
Ive lived in my childhood house for 35 years (bought from parents 20 years ago) the house we have found is my husbands dream house and he is beyond excited. I am absolutely terrified of the unknown and my children are quite sad to leave this house. The saving grace is it’s close to our current house (10 minutes to walk) so no schools or friendship groups would change. It’s just a really big unknown.
any advice would be greatly appreciated

For us, a house is just bricks and tiles. A home is where the family are. Memories are all on film for when our minds fail.

As some have said, moving house is stressful whenever you do it. Change has to be approached in a positive mindset - I'm saying this because we're hoping to move from our home of 21 years next year! :) The only thing to emphasis from our previous moves is, be aware of how emotional it could be and give it time to sink in, then look forward. Good luck.

We where in our last house 15 years, longest I ever lived anywhere. I was worried I would feel like that but we have been here 2 months now and honestly we haven't missed the old house at all.