Moving after 30 years in my house

[Mxflamingnoravera]

After 30 years in my lovely Victorian terrace I've decided to downsize to a two bed new build flat.
I've had back surgery which was not entirely successful and other aches and pains which makes my house too much for me.
I'm 15 years divorced and my son left home 10 years ago, it's time for a new family to love this house and garden.
....
But I'm lost, heartbroken, excited, don't know quite how to get the house sale ready. Can't clean because of my back, and can't garden for the same reason.

I've got a blitzer coming for the garden on Wednesday, and a decorator to paint over old water stains on my ceiling.

But how do I go from all this to an apartment? My son's room is pretty much the way it was when he left for university. His childhood books and toys are still here. I'm overwhelmed by the enormity of my decision.

I've seen an agent, I know what the house is worth. That's not the problem, it's the 30 years of STUFF that feels so overwhelming. Where do I start? Help!

Modular is often a good option.

My daughter couldn’t get the 2 bed sofa she wanted as the delivery men couldn’t get it up the stairs to her top floor flat. They suggested a 3 bed modular one instead which worked, despite it technically being bigger. But they could take it up in smaller pieces so it was a good solution.

Another option if you can find a carpenter is to get shelves custom made for the space, that would look great.

Second one is modular, first one is the one that would not fit in.

I'm gobsmacked... this morning the British Heart Foundation just turned down two Victorian chests of drawers because they had chips on the veneer. I was donating rather than selling because I thought it was a good thing to do, they have just rejected items that would sell for proper money! I've been waiting two weeks for them to collect and then they reject because they are old! Ffs. I'm listing them on eBay now, I'll make £200 minimum and I'll not donate to BHF because I have waited in all day last Friday and they didn't turn up and today they turn up and reject because they are not perfect. They are 150 year old antique pieces!

Ask your DS to come back and box up his belongings. He can either do ate or keep them but they must leave your house. Give him a month deadline. Give him the option to pay someone else to do it for him. You do 1 room at a time to declutter. Have 2 boxes. 1 to donate to charity 1 to throw away. Hire a skip and carry out one box full at a time.

@Zonder no the send one is not John Lewis it is from a company calked Shelved.

A skip is so much easier than so many tip journeys. Your DS needs to pay to store his belongings not you.

@caringcarer I have already moved! I've been in my lovely new flat for three weeks now.

Save deep clean to just before viewings start.

The second one is lovely. You could add gold leaf maybe? Or get brass panels cut.

OT but I assume that MN are now automatically adding a link when someone says “John Lewis” rather than people adding it themselves 😅

(ETA yes! I did not add a link.)

Wow that's an interesting marketing strategy for John Lewis isn't it?

What if you were writing about someone with that name!

Yes, I can design the second one to be however I want it apparently. I'm going to go on the site and see what I can produce.

The first one, I simply cannot have. The second is looking more and more attractive perhaps with some tweaks.

ELEPHANTS!
For those of you worried about my elephants, they are now happily living in the jungle!

Not quite the last box,but very nearly.

They need to settle yet, so may move around as they graze on the vegetation, but they are happy to be out of their boxes.

They started as three from my granny and then I kept buying them at flea markets. I refuse to have any more in the herd. It's big enough. 🐘🐘

Just love this update! What a beautiful collection and I love your wallpaper!

@Thatsthewayitisnt Yes the wallpaper is very striking! I wasn't sure at first but I viewed the place twice and decided I loved it. The ceiling is gold(!) and it actually works really well.
The elephants are happy anyhow. 😁

Glad to see the elephants have made themselves at home ♡

Loving the elephants

The wallpaper is perfect for the elephants 😀

I'm due to move on 8th October. Not only will I be leaving the home I've lived on for just short of 30 years, I'm leaving London, where I've lived all my life (I'm 58) and moving to Frome in Somerset so a completely different life! One minute I'm looking forward to living somewhere smaller and quieter, the next I'm thinking I'm bonkers. I will miss the diversity of London with so many different lives, food, culture etc. I will also strangely miss the public transport!

Yes the public transport is really good in London @Spidey66 compared to more rural areas. Good Luck in your adventure, it’s brave of you.

I’m really interested to hear how you get on because it’s somewhere I’ve been considering.