The Psychology of Moving to Colorado Springs

Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best

Moving is stressful—notwithstanding the situation, any time you must pack up all your cherished belongings (read--old books, items you have been meaning to fix, kids’ art projects) and move them to a new residence is overwhelming for even the most organized and hopeful among us. When you have secured your dream job—three states away--and your spouse will have to say goodbye to their career, when life has tossed you a large curveball and you're basically forced to move, when living alone is no longer an option---you have to handle a lot of emotional ups and downs at the same time as the stress of the physical move to Colorado Springs.

A big stressor in moving is coping with the whims of the real estate business. You are a grown person, valued in your community, and your life is totally at the mercy of some people you've never met--what if your residence does not sell quickly? Suppose the people buying your house decide they want to buy another house? What if they demand you to leave the curtains and the kids' sandbox? What if the appraiser notices the rift in the foundation that's sort of unseen behind the shrubs? What if the home inspector uncovers your new home has a wornout roof or there is a gas station and travel plaza slotted for across the street from your new addition? Here is the truth. You have no authority over any of these things. The best plan of attack is to ensure that the realtor helping with your home and the realtor helping you with the new house are skilled and do their jobs--and communicate with both to have a contingency plan should something go awry.

Consider real estate transactions a huge run of dominoes--closings usually depend on another closing going as planned. One blunder six steps up the timeline can mess up your buyers timetable, and a similar thing goes for the home you're buying—unforeseen glitch might mean you can't close when you were planning on, and you're up at night wondering how you are going to cope when you are homeless for a a couple days, or if you could just move into one of the moving company’s moving vans and set up camp.

Relax. One of the advantages of the recession is that real estate standards have changed and there are not the number of down-to-the-wire updates with your closings. You should find out about any potential issues far before your closing time, and if something does change, moving companies are wonderfully used to working with changing schedules. If a setback does slow things down, you may have the option of moving in a few days before you actually close--again, a good realtor plans for contingencies, so you don't have to fret about these things.

Communicate with your realtors and lender once a week prior to your closing date to ensure all the inspections and repairs and whatnot are on schedule; being on top of it maintains at least a feeling of control, and if there is a speedbump you are not caught unaware.

If something dreadful does happen, like if you are building and weather has delayed inspections and you don't have the occupancy certificate several days ahead of closing because the electrical is not completed, AND you've got fixed closing date on your old home and the movers are slammed, do not panic. Most moving companies can provide temporary or long-term storage until you can get into your new home, and your realtor can assist you in finding short-term housing until your home is ready. Issues like these are very common, but when they do occur your anxiety levels skyrocket--so rely on your team to help you figure it out.

The Emotional Stages of Moving

So, you're moving to Colorado Springs--and it might be desirable, it may be a challenge. You might be going four blocks or five hundred miles away. Everyone’s circumstances are diverse, but people are very much similar--the emotional rollercoaster just varies from home to house. Some are kiddie sized, with happy Disney characters to ride in, and others parallel a death-defying, nausea-inducing Loch Ness monster. The feat is to turn that roller coaster into a smooth ride with cheerful little people humming "It's A Small World" as you pass through your closets.

Some researchers and psychologists have linked moving--in any situation--to the Kubler-Ross five stages of grief model. In other words, you experience denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and then acceptance.

When you've created a life in one place, it's very standard to have regrets about selling the house where you lovingly painted every room just the right color, where you brought your babies home, where you commemorated all those birthdays and graduations. If your move is not an option but a requirement, it is okay to be angry with the circumstances that have brought you to the location where you are vacating your house because you have no choice. Get angry, wail and holler at the walls and ask your family and friends for encouragement. Take some time trying to think about how to not have to move—maybe your spouse could commute, or rent a room in the new city; if you need help taking care of your house, you might consider getting live in help. Thinking through your options, as insane as they may be, helps you think through the reality of moving so that it's a bit easier to accept it.

Then, you might spend several days or weeks in denial, of sorts. This is when your relatives ask if they might swing by and help you sort through your belongings, and you fudge a bit and say you are almost completed, when in actuality you have tossed out two old socks and one pair of those disposable pedicure flip flops and don't have a box to your name. If you are really having a hard time with the details of purging and packing, have your family help you. Or, ask your moving company to pack things up for you—the majority of full-service movers have professional packers who can either get you going or do the whole job for you.

In the end, you'll accept the transition and change. It may not be the day the trucks get there, it may take a couple months. But the human spirit is buoyant thing and you will come to accept and embrace your new locale in Colorado Springs. That's not to say it will be easy, but being open to start a new life and attempting new activities can ease the nostalgia for your old home and your old life.

Your family members will all experience similar feelings, although with fluctuating degrees of passion--teenagers’ reactions will probably be a little more aggressive than that of a child. If you're moving from your family home for senior living because one spouse is not doing well, then the more active spouse may experience more anger and denial. The important thing is to keep in mind that the emotional ups and downs are normal and it would be strange if you did not feel sad or mad or a little crazy during the process.

Keeping your move in perspective is vital to arriving to the new house safe and sound. Your life isn't contained in the brick and mortar of your old residence, your life is in the memories you've created there. Don’t forget that you won't lose old friends, and that you'll meet new ones. And one day soon, you will step inside of the front door and say to yourself, "I am home."

Easing the Transition

People have habitual behavior ingrained in them--even toddlers select their snuggly stuffed animal and you’ll be in trouble if it is in the washing machine at nap time. Similarly, when you move, you're usually changing up most of your habits in place and even when you are looking forward to the new house, the new life you've got to construct around it is demanding to even the most courageous. When you are moving and worried about building a new life for you and your family in Colorado Springs, here are some ways to help with the transition.

Get your family pumped up about the move to Colorado Springs. If this deciphers to agreeing that your teenage daughter can paint a life-size elephant on her wall, put a smile on your face and get the paint. It could mean that finally you have a big enough backyard for a dog—think about what sort of dog would fit best with your family, and as soon as everything is unpacked, head to the local shelter and find your new best friend. Plan to bring home two, as everybody needs a pal. Let your boys put up tents and camp out in that big backyard. Yes, it's bribery of a sort, but it is all for the best and the delight of new activities and besides, puppies are hard to beat. And, if you are the one having a tough time with it, seeing your family happy goes a long way to improving your state of mind.

When you're moving, the information superhighway (if you are older that terminology means something to you) makes the move a lot simplier. You possibly utilized real estate websites to search for your new residence and analyze schools and neighborhoods, so you have a pretty good idea already of your new locale. Use social media to link up with people--towns of all sizes have mom groups that provide all types of things from dermatologist reviews to the best piano lessons--and don’t forget that your new neighbors are great resources. Many neighborhoods have social media pages and online directories that tell you whose kids babysit, dog walk and rake leaves.

If you have kids, transitioning activities is a lot more crucial to them than that orthodontist. Being able to jump right back into basketball or karate or dance keeps them in a routine and helps them feel a part of their new area-the last thing you want is to have moping kids around the house grumbling that they hate you and do not have anything to do. And here's a fun fact—findings show that moving during the school year is easier on new students than moving over the summer break. If you commence a new school at the start of the year it is more likely to get looked over in the turmoil of the new year , but when you come in in the middle of the school year, it is more likely your kids will find friends more quickly and get more interested in school.

The loss of a feeling of security can be a tough part of a relocation for the grown-ups. When you are in the habit of stopping by a neighbor's house just because it’s part of your routine, being in a new area where you do not know anyone is rough. Remember that your new neighbors are most likely interested in getting to know you, because they've probably said adios to their drive-by buddies and are wanting to meet the new neighbors (aka – you!). Playing with the dog outside is a great way to meet the neighbors--their inquisitiveness about you is high, and this provides you a low-key way to get to know everybody.

The majority of churches and synagogues have newcomers’ classes that that you can join, and help you to discover how you fit within that community. Most schools love volunteers, so ponder getting involved. And, if you are part of a national club like Rotary or Junior League your membership transfer immediately brings you into a group.

Life changes are tough, but by allowing yourself and your loved ones the okay to be a bit sad about the past will aid everyone embrace the future.

If you are getting ready for a move, contact A-1 Freeman Moving Group to begin on your free in-home estimate. We promise to do our part to make your move to Colorado Springs as stress-free as possible.