Let’s talk house moves with Pegasus Life - £300 voucher to be won

While difficult, I have one more international move in me. I least look forward to sorting out my house, putting furniture into storage and actually renting my home to total strangers. I HATE decluttering BUT love the cleared out look. Despite being messy, I'm a minimalist at heart.

I'm mid-50s now so want ONE more huge life experience before I'm too old. 60 is the cut off date for working visas in lots of countries, so it's now or never! My tip would be, don't let the grass grow under your feet. You can make a home wherever you end up.

Apart from disposing of surplus furniture leave the decluttering until you get into your new home. Moving out always seems to be done in a rush, while unpacking and sorting can be done in a more leisurely fashion.

I am not assuming you live in Marie Kondo austerity but I am assuming you are someone that doesn't have a loft full of stuff and every drawer a cupboard bulging. Our main indulgence is books and pictures and these are much more easily sorted when you have to try to find wall space and fit onto different shelves.

Have you ever put off moving because it seemed too difficult? No - each time we have moved we had to move for employment reasons.

What do you least look forward to about moving house? Cleaning the house once the packing is done.

Does the thought of decluttering when moving house fill you with dread, or does it feel like an exciting new start? I don't worry about decluttering when moving.

What would make you consider moving house in the future? We would only move if we had to - we are happy here.

Perhaps you have tips for moving house that you’d like to share? Make up a box of essentials for the first 12/24 hours in your new home and don't let it out of your sight!

I've lived in my 2 bedroom council house for over 20 years.I'm there by myself now,my husband passed away.I sometimes think I should move,but it's not really a big house,and I don't like the council flats much,some of the bungalows are quite nice.If I had property to sell,I would be more likely to move,perhaps to a nice retirement village.I dread the thoughts of downsizing and decluttering,it's a lot to do by yourself.And as a single pensioner ,I haven't much spare cash for new furniture,carpets,decorating,removal costs,so in a way I'm trapped where I am.

Moocow, I advise you against worrying about what your AC think. It's your home and your decision. AC have to get on and make their own lives/homes.

I’m not planning on moving at the moment. The thought horrifies me as I hate decluttering and I know I’d have to if I moved house!

I would move but DH will not AC are also against losing the family home) so I look but that is all.

I took the decision to downsize from the family home ten years ago- a difficult decision as my husband had died when the children were still young, so our memories of him were very much tied up with the house.
Much to my surprise I have enjoyed making a new home (and the decluttering before hand) You definitely don’t leave your memories behind- you take them with you.

We have both moved several times both before we met and since. We moved a year ago for (we hope) the last time, into a bungalow. We bought cheaper and spent a lot of the gain from a larger house making sure that the new one was exactly as we wanted it. We feel we have prepared well for our later years and really enjoy the new village. We have made several good new friends and know we have done the best we can for our old age. The move was stressful but we stayed in a rental for several months whilst a lot of the work on the new bungalow was done which made things easier.

I dread moving house because of all the sorting and decluttering. We are currently thinking about what we want in the future : bungalow, village etc
We aren’t currently considering an apartment in a single age development but may in the future, depending on our circumstances.

Having lived in 'tied' or rented accommodation nearly all my life we bought our very first own little house just four years ago when in our mid-sixties....and it's grrreat!
I will not be moving out of my current address unless I am in a long narrow box or straight-jacket!
However, after years of experience I can only add to what others have said - when moving from one address to another always have two vital boxes immediately to hand! One containing the kettle, cups, tea, coffee etc. and the other bedding and pillows. Usually the large items of furniture such as beds, tables etc. are in and whatever else you can or can't find, you can have a hot drink and a half-decent night's sleep

Have you ever put off moving because it seemed too difficult?
no
What do you least look forward to about moving house?
the unexpected surprise which always seems to happen even when you've asked every question, carried out checks etc.
This time it was that the landlord had taken out the bath and put in a shower
Does the thought of decluttering when moving house fill you with dread, or does it feel like an exciting new start?
Bit of both - starts out fun and then as time runs out...
What would make you consider moving house in the future?
Rent goes up more than I can afford; I can no longer manage the stairs; I win the lottery and can afford to buy
Perhaps you have tips for moving house that you’d like to share?
If you are doing your own packing make it easy for removals people - stick a square of coloured paper on the door of each room in the new place and on the wall that you first see through the doorway of it and on each item that you want in that room. Also, label each box so you have some idea of what is in it

After rattling around in my home after my children left, and became widowed, I moved onto sheltered housing, yes it was a wrench, I never ever thought I would sell my home, but I took my memories with me and have not looked back, I now have so many friends, go out so much more, feel 20 years younger and have a new lease of life, instead of feeling lonely in my family home, I have money in my bank account, have treated my children the a lump sum each, and wish I had done this years ago. My tip would be - you know deep down when you are ready, but don't leave it too late, think of yourself, your family would want you to be happy and not preserve their home.

I am now having to think about moving as my health has declined. It was something I thought was years off for me. I like my house and don't really want to leave it, but even now I am looking around at my possessions and considering what to keep and what to ditch. It is deeply depressing but inevitable I suppose.

Have you ever put off moving because it seemed too difficult?

Yes, for years and years, my house was old, expensive to heat, it was only when I had new neighbours who were so noise that it tipped the scales in the favour of moving, the for sale sign went up - I have never regretted moving.

What do you least look forward to about moving house? Does the thought of decluttering when moving house fill you with dread, or does it feel like an exciting new start?

I hated the thought of emptying my cupboards, wardrobes and as for the loft - I found things I and long long forgotten about. I put a lots of things on Ebay, and made quite a bit of cash, so I could afford to hire a removal company, and pay for my new home to be redecorated.

What would make you consider moving house in the future? Perhaps you have tips for moving house that you’d like to share?

I would move again, now I have decluttered, and the tip I would give is to be ruthless with possessions you are keeping but on all honesty would not miss, sell what you can, and finally hire a removal company with a good record for customer service to take the strain off the moving day, decide where you are going to put your furniture, measure the doorways to ensure your large items will fit on the day. (I needed to arrange a glazier to get the settee into my living room)

I dreamed of moving home for years being unhappy and unsafe, now it’s been forced upon me and waiting for a tiny bungalow to be finished whilst meanwhile sofa surfing is not exactly what I had pictured. I keep my hopes up imagining what I can make it, hopefully happier with a lovely garden. The initial de cluttering was surprisingly cathartic and necessary but lots more to do with over 30 years of stuff. Just hope the delays don’t continue for much longer so I can start the next chapter.

I am ok where I am. I hate moving. Too stressful and you leave friends, families, colleagues. Due to circumstances one hav3 to move. I moved when my children were younger, for work. Hard work, not enough time spent with my family but they had good education which make out for all the stress, loneliness. I still feel lonely sometimes. But I am happy now with grandsons, although not together.....may be 25 or miles away. I get to see them every week for couple of days.....school run.

Yes considering it now before we get too old. Probably be next year wish there was a exchange thing you could do but usually downsizing means cheaper property and no help,in that direction. Should be an easier way to sort it. I wouldn’t mind a apartment nice and easy to keep clean and get about.

We moved last year and are now in a smaller, easy-maintenance home. It's detached and has a garden. Sorry, Pegasus, but we wouldn't have considered a flat; the thought of neighbours' noise alone, is enough to put us off. My advice is to move sooner rather than later. (In your 60s, if possible.) And plan ahead! We were de-cluttering and decorating for over a year, before putting our house on the market. Have not regretted either the mega clear-out or the move; so glad we did both. When the inevitable happens and one of us dies, we know that the surviving spouse should be able to manage the home.

I’ve had mixed experiences with moving homes. When I had to sell my family home where I had raised my 3 children, it broke my heart. My 2nd husband had moved in with us, was allegedly a builder and just bodged everything that he touched, half finished “projects everywhere” etc The flat I then bought alone was truly just mine and I took such pleasure decorating, buying new furniture and making it a beautiful, calm oasis. So it was a fresh start for me and I loved it. The flat was in a large Victorian house, and I had the attic flat, full of character and tiled fireplaces. Then my 3 adult children, 2 had been coming back and forth and the other one gave me my 1st beautiful grandchild, so I needed to upsize ! So I sold up and bought a 3 storey trendy townhouse with harbour views so that I had room for everyone and a family home again. Years down the line I’ve sold that house to my DD to release my equity so that I can travel and follow my dreams. She rents that house out and lives in a big country house with her DH and son, and I’m living in their granny annexe so am hands on to help, as they travel with work. I feel I have the best of both worlds here, we each respect each other’s space and privacy, but DD insists we eat together every night. So apart from my 1st move under duress and hardship, all my other moves have been positive experiences, a fresh start and a new chapter. I love de-cluttering and choosing new decor to suit different styles of homes too. I’ve never put off moving because it’s difficult, but I have waited to ensure the time and reasons are right for me. Of course life changes and in the future I may have to think of moving again, but the future will take care of itself. Son no:2 often jokes that if my DD kicks me out he’ll build a granny annexe for me .... so how lucky am I ?

We considered moving when I retired but decided to stay put and spend the considerable amount of money saved on improving our current house. We are enjoying the improvements and hope to do so for years to come. The amount of stress involved in buying and selling houses does not appeal.

I happily downsized some 5 years ago and would encourage others to do it - very liberating. Life and the homes we live in are transitory, and it was good to move to a simpler life.

We moved at the beginning of this year into a rental house while we build a house locally to downsize into and we are installing a lift to make it our forever home. We have no wish to leave the area where all our friends and family are. Decluttering took forever as we had no help from children or family and in fact took much of it with us and need to get rid of more before we move again. Moving house was very stressful and upsetting and I was devastated to give up my home of 22 years, but it was too much to manage on our own. I have no wish to move again just yet but the new house will be ready next summer and is of our own design which should hopefully be wonderful

No I wouldn't consider a retirement apartment as we have 2 dogs. Also I like my own space and building with a garden so an apartment wouldn't suit me.
Decluttering and the upheaval of moving doesn't bother me at all, in fact I enjoy it. We are moving at the moment to a seaside town from a large city.

The uncertainty more than anything. We found our ideal house, it went to a closing date and the buyer offered £20k less than we did. How does that happen?
Gutted as it had a paddock that I planned to turn into an apple orchard with heritage Scottish apples. I don't think I'll ever get over the one that got away.