All of us have moved from one residence to another at some point in our lives. From an apartment to a new house. From a starter home to something bigger and better. The reasons for moving are countless: a new job, to be closer to family (or farther from), maybe more bedrooms or just a quieter place to live. The list goes on and on.
Having built over 300 custom homes, we’ve been with many people on their journey from one home to another. In our 30 years of building, we have learned so much about what works, and what doesn’t. Often the reasons for moving are exciting:
- “We are empty nesters at last!”
- “We never thought we would be able to live in a new home like this. We pinch ourselves every morning when we wake up.”
But we have definitely also heard the stories packed with less enthusiasm:
- “I really thought we would sell our house for more.”
- “We couldn’t find the right house, so we ended buying a fixer upper instead. What a mistake.”
- “Looking back on it, I regret not adding that shop space to my garage.”
- “My movers just scratched our new floor.”
When we hear things like this, we wince because more often than not, many of these realities are easily avoidable.
Each story is unique. Each is very real. But interestingly, we have found patterns and things that have proven successful. Some are easy fixes and some not so. The time seems right to pass on what we have gleaned from years of involvement and seeing what has worked…and what hasn’t. We call this, “The Art of the Move.”
Here are the big takeaways of how to make your next move much better:
FIVE ESSENTIALS OF “THE ART OF THE MOVE”
- Maximizing the value of your existing house
- Surrounding yourself with the right experts
- Learning how to design or find a home that works for you
- Making the financial numbers work
- Setting workable timelines
Interested in this subject, have questions or comments? Please send them to us at info@olsencommunities.com or call us 503.559.8837.
We are planning to have a virtual class in January (“The Art of the Move”) to delve into this subject. If you’re interested in learning more, we would love to have you participate.