It's not always easy to move on. Whether your parents are relocating, or you’re selling the house yourself, the sale of the family home can be bittersweet.

So, how do you say goodbye to a house full of memories?

Let yourself grieve

For some people, the sale of their childhood home can feel like an ending to the first act of life. You might feel dislocated or distressed, or even have strange dreams.

It's normal to feel a sense of emotional ownership over a house you grew up in, so letting it go is challenging. Grieve that loss, but remember that saying goodbye to the home doesn't mean saying goodbye to the memories.

Talk things through

Although it's common to feel sad about the sale of a family house, many people are embarrassed about grieving a home — especially if they no longer live there. Remember that your feelings are normal and okay. An important step in processing emotions is to accept them. Talk to loved ones about what you're going through, or seek out friends who've been through a similar experience. And most importantly, be kind to yourself.

Look ahead

This whole process may exacerbate any anxieties you have about mortgages or the housing market. If this is the case, just remember that all things take time to grow. For your questions about home loans, talk to one of Suncorp Bank's helpful home loan experts.

Bid farewell

Some psychologists suggest creating a ritual to say goodbye. You might spend some time walking through each room and reflecting, or even select a fragment of the house, like a piece of furniture, a pebble or a plant from the garden, to take with you.

Choose keepsakes

Moving out of your childhood home might mean going through old possessions, which can lead to lot of tough choices. You might be surprised by what you unearth: adorable drawings from when you were six, old sports trophies and angsty teenage diaries. All this can be a blast from the past (and there'll probably be a few treasures you want to keep!). But if you haven't thought about something since it was shoved in the cupboard last decade, it might be time to let it go.

Take photos

Memories shift and change over the years. If you want to remember your family house exactly as it was, it can be useful to take pictures. Having photographs of your former home can help when you're feeling nostalgic — you could even be in for a shock a few years from now, when you realise how quickly everything dates!

Make peace with change

It's great to have keepsakes, but it may be more useful for you to simply let go. Like many things, photos and mementoes get lost and destroyed. Remembering that all things are impermanent can bring you comfort in times of change. Change doesn't only mean loss — it can also make space in your life for new things.

Start afresh

Homes aren't made of bricks and mortar — they're made from memories and relationships. Of course, saying goodbye to your old home may be challenging. But it's also an opportunity to start afresh.

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Published 07 October 2022