When your kids fly the nest, the chances are that you feel just about ready to get your life back in order. You’ve been a doting mom for years but now you need your space again, your chance to shape a life that’s not all about kids clubs and laundry. As your kids get ready to move out, you probably dream about the hobbies you’ll take up, the books you’ll read. But then they leave, and instead of tackling War and Peace like you always meant to, you find yourself twiddling your thumbs.
The sad fact is that no one can prepare you for that gut-wrenching separation and, if you stay in the family home, you’ll probably spend more time seeing ghosts than enjoying your freedom. This is the real reason why so many people choose to downsize once their kids fly, and choosing the ideal property for your needs is the best way to settle into an unfamiliar, but not altogether bad life.
Of course, the ideal empty nest is going to look different for everyone but, if you’re struggling with this lifestyle transition then it’s just possible a fixer-upper property could be ideal for you. Here’s why!
A chance for a full house
The empty echoing rooms are the worst thing about a suddenly empty nest. Sure, they get better over time and we promise you’ll actually come to enjoy that peace but, to begin with, the silence can get pretty uncomfortable. Enter a fixer-upper which, no matter the repairs necessary, will probably need some kind of army to get it up and together. It may be that you employ your kids to help with DIY repairs, in which case you’ll be able to enjoy a fun family atmosphere as you get used to their not being around as much. Even if your kids aren’t getting stuck in themselves, it’s unlikely you’ll be alone for long while this project is underway. Whether you need Renewal by Andersen windows or a total house rewiring, the chances are that there’ll be at least a few people in or out for your first few weeks. This general buzz can help to bring a household back to life, while also ensuring that you embrace rather than resist the silence of your evenings!
A priority project to sink your teeth into
We all have projects that we intend to get into when the kids move out, whether that be knitting, tap dancing, or a relaxing bit of painting. Yet, when the time comes, we all too easily slip into putting these priorities off for another day, highlighting the fact that, actually it wasn’t our kids that stopped us from these pursuits, and also meaning that we have too much time to sit with. A project property is great in this sense because it gives you a new hobby that you can’t just leave on the backburner in place of binge-watching Netflix as you eat your sorrows away. Instead, you’ll have no choice but to get off the sofa, get out your paint brushes/sander/etc., and get to work with something tangible at last. This can provide an unfounded sense of satisfaction at a time when, if you give into those Netflix cravings, you’re all too easily at risk of slipping into a funk.
A chance to create your own space
When we’re looking for a family home, most of us will put our desires and preferences to the side in place of what’s practical, or what the family wants. As such, the chances are that the property you were in pre-empty nest was chosen for space, location, or some other practical purpose, and your decor was probably much the same. Taking this time in life to select a property that you can 100% tailor to your tastes, from your decor ideas right down to the way you renovate your kitchen, is a fantastic way to finally settle into the home of your dreams. And, when you have the ideal space in which to do it, settling into your new life as an empty nester probably won’t feel like such a bitter pill to swallow after all.
A final word
Fixer-uppers certainly aren’t for everyone and, if you don’t feel like this level of work would work for you right now, then you might be best off steering clear. But, if these benefits sound like precisely the medicine you need at this moment, then you might just find that a fixer-upper is the solution you’d never even considered.
