Want to move house but ....

I feel for you! I too am thinking about moving in next few years. Garden getting too big for me now, house needing work done, minute I can't drive anymore Im stuck as nearest bus is 1ml away down/back uphill.. Im scared to buy anything in case I can't sell prior to buying. Get in touch with an estate agent your situation is more immediate. Good luck

OP a possibility would be that Housing could move you. Please write to your councils Director of Housing and ask them. I don’t mean you need a council house, not that, it’s that you are elderly, own your home, don’t have the physical capacity, and need to downsize for your ongoing health and welfare.

Your local housing department can also make changes or large repairs for elderly homeowners and then put a charge on the property to enable the elderly homeowner to continue to safely live it.

If you don’t find the Director of Housings address, ring your council for the secretary’s extension.

Failure to succeed at that, email or write to the Leader of the Council.

Good luck NonGrannyMoll.

We moved house in September. I’m 64 and DH 67. I have Lupus and arthritis and found the actual moving excruciatingly exhausting. But we’re in now and have no regrets.

I was talking to the moving company, and they do packing (obviously at a price). Our mover said she’d just spent 3 days packing and sorting a house. So that’s a possibility for when you’re ready to move. If I ever moved again (which I refuse to do!) I would take advantage of that. Good luck!

I’m 76 and I feel like you it’s now or never to make the move. I’m gradually getting rid of stuff my garage needs to be cleared as I really don’t want another garage that I can then fill with more stuff😂. I know roughly where I want to go but keep putting off getting a valuation as it makes it real then.
I’m on my own it must make it harder when you have a husband who wants different things. Do as has been suggested and consult an estate agent.

tanith - don’t put it off any longer….. i downsized 15 years ago when I was younger and stronger. I couldn’t do it now. You must bite the bullet. Btw I too am on my own. You can do it. It was a wrench at first, but I’m so glad I moved to a smaller, much more manageable house. Good luck

NotGrannyMoll. I think there are newbuild companies who would take your house in P/EX for a new one. We almost did this and my nephew is doing it now. Cant be 100Pct but i believe retirement properties do this. Maybe worth a look
Good Luck!!

Hi there NonGrannyMoll, lots of good advice given but I'm just going to send you a big, massive hug & say a little prayer for you, as I have nothing original to add 😌

Contact local estate agents who will hopefully give you ideas on what people would be looking for in your house eg freshen up paint, declutter, garden tidy up. Usually give an idea of the price with and without any work. Also, have you considered telling GP about your situation and how you are concerned. There may well be some help out there.

Good Luck
We have recently moved and one godsend was paying the removal company to pack everything for us - yes, it costs a bit more but was so worth it.
They also unpack into your new property if you want them to (we didn't, we did it ourselves) but should we ever move again I'd have no hesitation in both them packing & unpacking.

There are certain Real Estate Agents that specialize with Seniors,can guide you re-getting rid of stuff,movers etc. Make lists of what you want to keep & get rid of & slowly try to unload what you won’t use,really feel for you,good luck.

As others have said, don't decorate or do anything other than have a good clear-out and tidy. Anyone who buys your house will see the work that needs doing and base their offer accordingly.

As skydancer says, contact a couple of reputable estate agents. Not only will they value your home but also have contacts with maintenance and repair companies, they use for letting. They will be able to tell you what you need doing and may do the work. As for your husband, just go ahead because you're worried. Hope all goes well x
Good luck

Is there a charity related to your husband's illness that might help?
Please move soon - it will only get harder to move in future.
And this is a wake-up call to younger couples who will be in a similar predicament in a few years. (My opinion is move at time of retirement)

Yes Chardy, life suddenly begins to rush furiously forward as one gets older. Don't leave it too late, it's all such an effort when your knacked & grumpy too! 🤔

The residential market is slow at the moment as interest rates are putting off younger people from borrowing. Get 3 reputable estates round to give you an opinion on value and their commission rates and whether they will do accompanied viewings as that is helpful and less stressful for you.. They nearly all use Rightmove to advertise the property. Ask each agent about what is available to suit your needs and you desired location. I wouldn't worry about any updating as many buyers would prefer to renovate themselves if the price reflects a bit of work
Be prepared for the sale to take a while, but start looking at properties that are suitable for you so you know what your options are.

Lots of gentle hugssss~~~

I think given your husband's stroke you need to just get on with making a move.
He does not comprehend how difficult it is for you and how anxious you are.

Lots of excellent advice above. Good luck~~~

I sympathise OP - the whole thing is rather daunting. We live up north and had always planned on moving south to be near our only son and his wife when we retire. We had our house valued 5 years ago and felt confident we could buy another if we added our savings (given houses in our son’s area are so much more expensive). Over those 5 years 3 very large housing estates have been built around our rural village which have massively devalued our home. We have now retired, had the house valued again and are shocked to find it is worth a quarter of what it was 5 years ago as people apparently prefer new builds and there is now so much choice in the village and many houses on the market. In the meantime prices in the area we hoped to move to have doubled! We will struggle to afford anything there and are feeling trapped and hopeless! I spend hours on Rightmove every day hoping to find somewhere suitable - my husband feels it’s becoming an unhealthy obsession. Life is on hold as I don’t want to get involved in voluntary work etc here when we should be making a new life elsewhere. Any advice please anyone?

To correct, I meant the house is worth three quarters of what it was as a quarter has been knocked off not ‘worth a quarter of what it was’.

I feel for you but you can do this!…Since 2020 I’d been trying to persuade my husband that we should downsize, he sadly passed away last year. I had no option but to start the process of moving. This included the clearance of six large garages. During this process I had to keep the house maintained plus two acres of garden. It was tough and I of course at the same time was grieving. I’m not looking for sympathy but what I’m saying is that it is doable. As others have suggested, dip that big toe in the water and call in the estate agents. Mine were brilliant and held my hand throughout and gave me details of local tradesman and clearance people etc who could assist me. The fear of the unknown can be overwhelming but once you get the ball rolling you won’t look back. I’m wishing you all the very best…

We are in our 70s both with health issues and have just moved to a new build. DH was so set against the move and it’s taken a while however it’s one of our better decisions. In our recent experience … do it while you have the energy .. be ruthless about getting rid ‘of stuff’ … have a removals company to pack as it’s not much more… choose an agent well as we found our original one was coming out ‘top’ in our area but was selling houses too cheap. With a second choice agent (an online one actually for only a fraction of their eye watering fee) we gained 45000 more - beware ! ..Choose a proper Solicitor not one of the faceless huge companies. … Don’t bother too much with major repairs just fix anything obvious and have a Company do a deep clean. People will change things themselves anyway. Our new build is lovely - everything works ! You do need an offer on yours though before you’re ‘proceedable’ on anything.
Good luck ! Maybe if you move downwards you could free up money to do ‘something’ your husband has always wanted to do ??? Maybe carrot and stick ?

JennyCee

NotGrannyMoll. I think there are newbuild companies who would take your house in P/EX for a new one. We almost did this and my nephew is doing it now. Cant be 100Pct but i believe retirement properties do this. Maybe worth a look
Good Luck!!

The part exchange option is usually for when you want to move to a more expensive property, there are rules eg the house being part exchanged should be between 65% and 75% of the cost of the new property.

Everythingstopsfortea

I feel for you but you can do this!…Since 2020 I’d been trying to persuade my husband that we should downsize, he sadly passed away last year. I had no option but to start the process of moving. This included the clearance of six large garages. During this process I had to keep the house maintained plus two acres of garden. It was tough and I of course at the same time was grieving. I’m not looking for sympathy but what I’m saying is that it is doable. As others have suggested, dip that big toe in the water and call in the estate agents. Mine were brilliant and held my hand throughout and gave me details of local tradesman and clearance people etc who could assist me. The fear of the unknown can be overwhelming but once you get the ball rolling you won’t look back. I’m wishing you all the very best…

What a huge undertaking for you, you must be very proud of yourself. Our daughter-in-law has worked in estate agency for most of her working life and I can confirm that most estate agents will have a wealth of knowledge about reliable tradespeople, if ever we want something doing we always ask her if she knows of anybody and she usually does.

I moved a year ago from a 3bed house to a one bed flat and have never regreted it. It was like a weight off my shoulders, no garden to worry about....I have a balcony with table and 2 chairs, hanging baskets and a few pots...... no large heating bills to worry about, no gardener to pay for, no cleaner either. I can cope with housework as all on one level now.
I really hope OP can persuade her DH to make the move she so desperately wants.

I would sell before a food occurs or it falls into complete disrepair. Moving is very stressful, but better to do it now than wait until one of you is too ill to move.
I'm in a similar position but am living alone. I have been conned by builders so many times that I became afraid to have anyone in the house and now my house needs everything fixing. I do really feel for you and am sure things will work out for you in the end.

My apologies but I should have added that my heart goes out to you with regards to your dear husband. Maybe however, just by getting an estate agent through the front door to discuss options he might start to feel encouraged by the future plans. I agree with Drina01 comments about solicitors. Getting a friendly local one helped me. We all need as many people as possible to hold our hand at these life changing times..Again, I’m wishing you all the very best…x