By Lynda Cox
When you buy or sell a home it’s a big deal, a really big deal. It’s the largest purchase or sale you will likely ever make. Along the way there are many events to celebrate. From hearing your realtor say, after your participation in a bidding war, “You got the house!”, hearing your lender say, “Your mortgage has been approved.” right down to the day you get the keys from your lawyer are events worth commemorating. Consider these ways to celebrate the day:
- Once you get the keys head over to the property with some champagne and take-out food from your favourite restaurant. Spread a blanket on the empty living room floor and have a picnic. Take lots of pictures.
- Plant a tree or bush that you can see from inside the house. As it grows it will be a reminder of that memorable day.
- Invite friends and family over for a housewarming party. Take advantage of having an empty house or at least a house where the breakables are still in boxes.
- Write a note to your future selves and tuck it away somewhere in the house to be found and read on the day in the future when you have to sell it. (If you forget where you put it the new buyers will have a laugh when they find it.)
- Take some drinks and a couple of lawn chairs and sit on the deck talking about your plans for each room in the house.
- If it is your first home get a spare key cut and frame it along with the closing date and address.
- Take a family picture sitting on the front steps or opening the front door for the first time. This is especially relevant if you hope it will be your “forever” home. Years later, if you have to leave, take another photo and look at the changes in the house and in your family.
- Write or carve your initials and the date in an out-of-the-way place.
- Run through every room, christening each as your own. I’ll leave the details to you.
- Buy a new “Home Sweet Home” plaque and install it over the front door. Make sure you write the date and address on the back.
- Go to your favourite bakery and pick up cupcakes to hand out to your neighbours. You just might form some lasting friendships.
- Pick a special song that will be your “new house” song: Suggestions: “I’ll be Home” by Randy Newman, “Looking Out My Back Door” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Our House” by Madness or “Homeward Bound” by Simon and Garfunkel just to name a few. For years to come whenever you hear that song on the radio you will have a vivid memory of that home.
- Make a playlist on your phone of all your favourite dance tunes and blast all the songs while you take your first steps in and through your new home.
- Do something…..anything…..that will make this day special for you and your family. Involve your children. They will never forget.
I know that if you move a great deal for your job or you are a military family that moves every couple of years this might not seem so important, but it is. Each home you live in will encounter milestones in the life of your family. Births, first steps, graduations, promotions, engagements, weddings, divorce and even death. The memories of those homes will linger and be clearer long after you move if you have taken time to celebrate or commemorate “Moving Day”.
I wish you all the best as you plan for this very special day in your lives. Whether you’re moving in OR moving out, make it a day to remember. Involve your children. They will always remember.
Lower Town Real Estate Update from March 17 to May 23, 2019
Residential
Active: 3 Conditionally Sold: 1 Sold: 7
1 property sold over list price Days on market ranged from 4 to 69 days
Condominium
Active: 41 Conditionally Sold: 4 Sold: 36
5 properties sold over list price Days on market ranged from 9-423 days
Lynda Cox is a member of the Cox Home Team and a sales representative with Faulkner Real Estate