When it’s Time to change, then it’s time to change
Who you are and what you want to be
Sha-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Sha-na-na-na-na
-The Brady Kids
Change can be hard to navigate, but it’s something we Real Estate Agents are experts at. With apologies to Greg, Marsha, Peter, Jan, Bobby, and Cindy Brady, though, we like to change their lyrics just a little bit to:
When it’s time to change, then it’s time to change
Where you are and where you want to be
We keep the sha-na-na’s in, because there’s nothing more fun than seeing all of my colleagues at HomeSmart be-bopping to the sha-na beat.
After being stuck at home for most of the past year and a half, you may be ready for a permanent change of scenery. It’s true. Nothing takes the blah out of tedious days like the novelty of moving to a new home. With so many people discovering the beauty of being able to work from home, it’s opened up so many horizons for living options that used to keep employees stuck within physical commuting distance.
According to the Coronavirus Moving Study, nearly seven in ten workers started working from home. While some of that was temporary, many found a way to make it permanent, or decided to change jobs in order to make it a permanent option. According to USPS data, over 15.9 million people in the United States have moved during the pandemic. Sure, we had to stay home, but nobody specified that it had to be just one home!
Being home and cutting commuting time gave people time to sit and look at their lives and situations with more clarity, seeing where they needed to make changes in their life. For some it had to do with lifestyle, for others it had to do with relationships – family, lovers, work, community. It was time to either break up or step up and put your life into alignment with your loves.
How to change is another matter. We all know someone who talks a big game, but never seems to do anything to make it happen. They’re always going to get the band back together, year after year. You do NOT want to be that guy. So take a listen to Uncle Stephen and let me set you on the path to effective change.
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Figure out if the change is worth it – Make out a list of pros and cons. A grid works well to make sure to consider the change from a number of angles. Compare staying with changes for how it affects you personally, how it affects your relationships and how it affects your bank account.
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Gather some real data – When you look at something new and shiny, all you see is the shine. Find out more about the realities of the change you want to make so you can make a more realistic decision.
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Wherever you go, there you are – Unless your fairy godmother has arrived at your front doorstep with a pumpkin, there’s no magic wand to *POOF* you into a new existence. You’re still taking you to that new lifestyle, that new community, that new relationship. You can run from yourself, but you can’t hide – don’t keep dragging your emotional baggage from one dream to another. Instead of running away from problems, run to opportunities.
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Look before you leap – Use a pair of good binoculars so you can see far into the distance when you’re considering a major change. What does it look like? Can you make the payments? Can you adapt if things don’t work out exactly as planned? But also look ahead and see what it’s like if everything stays the same.
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How long and hard will you kick yourself if you don’t make the change? – Sometimes you just have to give up your regular corporate position to become a bespoke shoemaker of organic designer flip flops. Sometimes you have to be closer to your crazy-wonderful family. Sometimes you have to reinvent yourself before you can recognize yourself.
In the end, Peter Brady’s voice changes and everyone has a Sunshine Day. In the end, you’ll do what is right for you, even if it doesn’t happen right now. Once you have a clear vision of what you want to change in your life, you can make plans, save up, learn more, and build the connections that will make it happen.
When the time is right for you to buy or sell a home or business property in the greater Palm Springs area, I’m here to smooth out any rough edges and make the process effortless for you.
I’m Stephen Burchard, The Desert Bowtie Realtor, taking the (k)nots out of real estate. Contact me to get your dream life started. Even if your real estate transaction is out of the area, hit me up. I know the best in the business and am always happy to refer you to a top specialist in your area.
