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Losing someone you care about is difficult. You may look around and see reminders of your loved one everywhere and that can make it challenging to move on. One way you can start fresh is by moving out of your home.

Managing Your Grief

Before making any life-changing decisions, it’s important to first deal with your grief. This is a normal part of coping with the loss of a loved one but it can lead to more serious consequences if it’s not dealt with,  according to PsychGuides.com, such as prolonged grief.

If you do not feel like you are making progress with your grief and many months have gone by, or if the physical symptoms of grief (fatigue, headaches, chest pain, etc.) are not improving, please see your doctor. Consider talking to a grief counselor for help.

You should also get the proper support from friends and family, as well as your community or faith group. Here are  tips from the Grief Healing blog on how to find the grief support that is right for you.

Selling Your Home

If, however,you are progressing through your grief and you still think it’s a good idea to move, it’s time to take a serious look at selling your home. This post at StillWithYou.com  explains why moving can be necessary for moving forward, even though it’s difficult.

Selling your home can also aide in planning your financial future. If your home is now too large for your needs, selling it and  moving to a smaller home can save you money, especially if your house has appreciated in value.

Before selling your house, you should be aware of the following:

• According to NOLO.com, the tax code has a special rule for widows and widowers if you sell within two years of the loss of your spouse. You may be eligible for a tax break and will only need to pay tax on any profit you make over $500,000 when you sell.

• If you sell your home and still have extra income after buying your new home, MarketWatch advises that you bank most of this income for your future rather than spending it on yourself or your heirs.

• Before buying a new home, research where to get the best mortgage rates in your state. Here are five tips from NerdWallet.com on how to look for the best mortgage lender.

• Consider downsizing.  Asmaller home can save you on mortgage payments, utilitybills, maintenance, and property taxes. Reducing those concerns can help you move forward as well. Keep in mind that downsizing will require you to sort and eliminate possessions.

Sorting Your Loved One’s Possessions

Sorting your loved one’s possessions will be a very difficult task to take. This  article from WhatsYourGrief.com has many tips on how to handle it including four ways to help you get through the process, such as pacing yourself. Because this process can be overwhelming, sort items in brief chunks of time so that you can properly manage the emotions that will come up.

They also recommend sorting items into five piles: what to save for yourself or others, and what to sell, donate, or throw away. Donating your loved one’s items is a wonderful way to honor them by either giving meaningful possessions to people they loved or items that are in good shape to organizations that they supported.

That sort of tribute can help you progress through your grief. Learn more  ways you can honor your loved one at Mind Body Green. Moving can be a good way to cope with the loss of a loved one but it is not a decision you should make lightly. Be sure to do your research, have support and manage your grief before you do.