[H & Rick]

Well it's been a really stressful 3 weeks....a case of reality hits!!

The house has been on the market since last Thursday. The first viewing went fine and they really liked the house but they were not even on the market.....why do estate agents do that.. :(
Just had the second viewing about an hour ago which seemed to go well...just wait and see I guess. :)

We were just wondering if this constant stress feeling was normal at this stage in the process?

Which part in your opinion is the most stressful? (maybe should not ask this!!!!)

[Sam'n'Kelv]

No stress, no gain.... :D

[H & Rick]

I know I keep telling myself this everyday......it helps a bit!!

I think I will feel better when the house is sold....keep your fingers crossed for us.

Where abouts in Bristol are you from and where are you heading in NZ?

We are just the otherside of the bridge in Newport. :D

[veronica]

Each bit is stressful, you just have to tick them off and keep going forward. the EOI, the visa, the house sale the move, the arrival etc. then all of a sudden its done. just have to keep it all in perspective.

[Trigirl]

once we got PR we put the house on the market and it took just over 6 months to sell. it was stressful but in bits and pieces. most of the time we just had to forget about it and get on with day to day life - otherwise you'd go mad.

once it was sold and we got to planning/packing/saying goodbye then it got really stressful! much harder to deal with as you couldn't ignore it. but now the container has gone and its just the immediate families left to say goodbye to its gone back to manageable levels and its started to get exciting rather than stressful. so it does get better but may get worse first!

[StevieD]

Heidi, we in the same boat, our house has been on the market for a while now. It is very very stressful and frustrating. Stick with it, you can't do any more than that. It will all come good in the end....

Steve

[MB]

Hi Heidi! Yes, the stress is normal.

To use a phrase I have employed once or twice before, the whole move to NZ is a 'life-size' deal. That is, it plucks on more or less every aspect of one's life: housing, family and friends, education, health and healthcare, professional and personal skills, and so on.
Some other big experiences that folks go through can very reasonably be earmarked as stressful without affecting half the aspects that moving to NZ does, at least for so sustained a period.

Psychologically, I think a large degree of surrender is a good strategy. Not surrendering in the perjorative sense of giving up, but in the robust and realistic sense of accepting that things are being disturbed or uprooted. Then the most energy can be put into pushing things calmly forward, rather than somehow quietly resenting and fighting the changes (not that you're doing the latter: I'm just remembering what worked well for us).

Certainly it helps to keep basically fit and healthy, but this maybe isn't the time to start setting big goals in this area 'cos that might add to the stress. Maybe just go for a jog or something a few times a week, and eat fairly healthily. No biggie.

I am also a great one for enjoying a beer or two, or other treat, in the evening; having a really good laugh whenever you can; and/or whatever you like. Moving to NZ calls for enough 'best behavior' as it is (forms; big transactions; job stuff, etc.) and regularly letting your hair down a wee bit helps as much as anything, I reckon. :cheers

[spudulike]

Hi Heidi, I remember the feeling well. I found waiting for the house to sell the most stressful part of the move - and we accepted an offer within 4 weeks of it being put on the market :uhoh I think the closer you get to leaving the more each day drags.

My advice would be to try to relax and get that final fix of your favourite things or of the surrounding architecture etc as you''ll be here before you know it.

Good luck,

Louise :)

[sarahw]

Heidi,

Totally normal - the stress levels were the worst! I think they were the worst stresses I've ever experienced. I hate selling houses - we left the UK with ours still on the market - we had to since my husband had a job which started on a set date. However, it did sell!! and so will yours when the right buyer comes along.

Matt & Louise are right - bit of stress relief always does the trick - I find a nicely chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc helps!! as you sip it close your eyes & think you'll be doing this on a vineyard in NZ sometime soon!! :)

[Brijan]

Hi Heidi
It is stressfull and not an easy thing to do but hey if it was everyone would do it, i think thats part of what makes it worthwhile
Think positive
Brian and Jan :)

[DebbieC]

Hi
It is quite stressful (pulling my hair out right now!!) :wah .

We put our house on the market in July and it sold within 6 days! then it fell through 1 week before completion (15 October). We had to put it back on the market - but by now our furniture had gone to NZ and we were homeless with no furniture (in steps Grandma and we go to stay with her for 2 months)...

House sells again within 7 days! then the mortgage offer is refused due to "flying freehold" - this means that part of our house goes under or over the one next door. So the buyer finds another lender who is not bothered about this and we are on our way again.

Still waiting for completion date - but we are keeping our fingers crossed it will be 20 December or earlier (my solicitor says with a smile!) If not it will be after new year and we fly to NZ on 31 December, so more stress and we have to make Mother power of attorney so she can sign any documents and more importantly transfer our money from the UK to our bank account in NZ.

But at the end of the day it will sell and we will get to NZ. So try not to stress too much it does all come together... :cheers and good luck x

[H & Rick]

Hi Debbie

That does sound stressfull....... :no

We will keep everything crossed for your completion on the 20th December.

Good luck :cheers