Island Life Magazine Ltd February / March 2016 | Page 111

PROPERTY
Selling
Opting for a new build is not the only
way to avoid the stress of a chain. There’s
always the option of selling your house
first and then renting a property until
you find somewhere to buy. Admittedly,
this can be a risky proposition, but it does
give you the advantage of completely
cutting out the property chain. However,
if house prices are rising sharply, this
would not make financial sense.
Many sellers feel stressed by having
to invite strangers into their homes for
viewings, which can give potential buyers
a negative impression and adversely affect
the selling process. Some simple tips
to reduce the stress of viewing include
making sure you’ve done the laundry
in good time so that the buyer is not
confronted with your smalls hanging on
the clothes line! Also, enlist all the family
to do their bit at keeping the house tidy,
and whenever potential buyers visit, make
sure to be warm, friendly and welcoming.
If you really can’t cope with conducting
viewings, ask the estate agent to do it for
you while you are out.

Moving day: the build-up
Once you know you are definitely
moving, have an initial clear out of
possessions. This has a dual purpose:
firstly, it makes the idea of actually

moving from your house
a reality and secondly, it
will make packing up your
remaining possessions
much easier. It can also
be helpful in drawing a
clear distinction between
the old house and the
new. Moving house is a
chance for a fresh start
in a new environment
and so getting rid of the
possessions that weren’t
needed in your old place
reinforces this change.
The possessions that you
decide to get rid of could
be sold in a garage sale for
example. Not only will this provide some
much-needed cash towards the expense
of moving, but will provide a great
chance to inform neighbours and friends
of your departure.
Many people choose to move their
belongings to the new house themselves,
and hire a van for a number of days, but
this can prove an additional source of
stress.
The hired van can often be too small,
leading to multiple journeys between
houses - or it can be too big and a
nightmare to park (especially if you have
no experience at driving a van!)
By far a better option is to leave
the hassle to a professional removal

company.
This will reduce your stress levels and will
probably mean fewer breakages into the
bargain! Make sure you shop around for
a company though, as prices can vary
considerably. It’s also wise to book the
removals company in good time, at least
a few weeks before your move.
Meanwhile, in the build-up to moving
day, make sure you get some early nights
and eat and drink healthily. Having only
a few hours of sleep a night, combined
with junk food and unhealthy drinks
will only lead to increased irritation at a
time when it’s more vital than ever for
the whole family to keep cool, calm and
collected!

www.visitilife.com

111