The moving companies have been frantically busy this week as many homes which went into contract during the spring market finally reached their closing date. Add to the mix the custom that many in this area do not move during the first nine days of the Hebrew month of Av (which starts sundown this coming Thursday) to commemorate the destruction of the Temple. This contributed to the added rush of buyers moving into their new homes this week.

While for the super organized among us, moving may be a more manageable task than it is for the rest of us average folk, most of the people I speak with find this process an anxiety producing and sleep depriving endeavor. During a recent listing appointment I had with potential sellers, we had worked out all the details—price, commission, timing, etc, when suddenly the sellers who had been living in their home for over 40 years panicked.

“We really thought this was the right step for us and our family agreed, but the thought of packing this home up is just not something we can wrap our heads around right now. We simply can’t sell the house.”

I calmly apprised them of the many services available today whereby professional organizers come to your home and literally go through every room, every piece of paper, every article of clothing and yes… organize all of it and prepare you for the move to the next home. Oftentimes, all it takes is the inquisitive eye of a stranger holding up a trophy from 1986 and suddenly it becomes clear that if you haven’t looked at this thing in 36 years there’s a good chance you won’t be needing it for the next 36 years either.

Lots of us have had to “make the move” at some point in our lives and most of us have survived. I recommend, even to the most apprehensive among us, that the pain is usually worth it at the end of the day. There is, of course, another route that I have had success with if the client is just too overwhelmed to move. Sell your home, put the money in a trusted place and rent the house back from your buyer. In this “quirky” market we see consumers/investors willing to buy and then rent back the home to you. This way you can push off your move for at least another year! You might be tempted to call this “having your cake and eating it too!”

Nechama Polak is the broker of record and owner of V and N Group LLC located at 1401 Palisade Ave in Teaneck. [email protected] 201 826 8809.