I realise I haven't kept everyone equally up to date about my progress on moving house.
I think I've said to everyone, I need to move. I don't need four bedrooms and I really don't want a garden! The two-hour commute to London is wiping me out, and now that I don't need to stay within the catchment area of the children's schools, there's no need to stay put. And, to speak frankly, continuing to live here makes things more painful. Obviously the stress of selling and moving is not what I need at this time either, but I think on balance it has to be done.
An estate agent came around today to value the house. This gives me an idea what amount I might be able to afford, so I can now start looking at possible areas. This house isn't going on the market just yet. The plan is
(a) Start looking at possible areas (not possible houses). Get a feel for the character and prices of different areas with reasonable transport to work.
(b) In parallel with that, empty this house as far as possible, either getting rid of stuff or putting it into storage, to make the place feel bigger. And a few simple redecorations.
(c) When those are done, put the house on the market.
(d) Once I have offers, start finding an actual property to move to. It needs to be resaleable, and have rooms for Jamie and myself. And minimum garden. Beyond that I'm not fussy.
(e) Once contracts are exchanged on this house, put in an offer on the place I want.
As far as emptying the house goes, I WILL NEED HELP from everyone who has an interest in stuff here, to designate what they need to keep and what they don't. This is no small task. You have to come and sort through your things. I could be looking at moving in the summer.
