I spent a lot of time last week thinking about the not-so-minor problem of lack of housing inventory right now. Moving into a new home is a huge life change for most people. Most people don’t like change. Dr. John Kotter identified the first step required before people take action to make a change is creating a sense of urgency. My goal is to have you thoughtfully think about whether or not moving might be a worthwhile consideration before there is a sense of urgency. This is a market that being in a hurry to sell your house is excellent, and being in a hurry to buy one may work out as well.

If it's time to sell, or you're just moving into a new home, buy yourself a brand new Entry Envy sign to up the curb appeal tenfold. Maybe you'll get the new sign and fall in love with your house all over again! 

I am not an expert in real estate, but I have substantial experience as a homeowner, mother, and business owner. Here are a few things to consider... 

Considerations:

• Interest rates - staying the same or going up?
• Spring inventory - if a rush of houses come on the market when the weather warms up, you may not get as much for it as you would before the spring season.
• How are your kids doing in school? If they might do better in a different school or district, start thinking about a relocation now rather than later to have them settled into a new neighborhood before the fall semester begins. August will be here much sooner than we think!
• How much time could you gain in your day/week/month/year if you lived closer to places you frequently spend time at, such as school activities, work, the grocery store, the gym, the ice rink, the dance studios, etc. Time is our most precious asset, and we can waste a lot of it in the car. Sometimes it’s easier to consider moving closer to those places. For example, think about this - if you spend 15 minutes three times a week driving your son to hockey practice and 15 minutes home, that’s 1.5 hours per week or 6 hours per month. How many years are you going to do this for? And I bet you have more kids with more activities. Evaluate your time, how it is being spent, and consider how you can literally “buy time” by moving.
• Gas prices may go up, and significantly enough that you think about how much it costs you to drive somewhere.
• Significant improvements are coming due within the next couple of years, such as the roof, HVAC, windows, siding, etc. Consider if it would be beneficial to sell your house before you incur those costs and the hassle.

Now, shifting gears slightly-

there may be other reasons to consider moving that impact your mental health more than you realize. Every day when I look at my backyard, it reminds me the fence needs to be replaced, a tree needs to be cut down, the landscaping needs to be cleaned up, and my grass will need some serious fertilizer and love this spring. Is it reason enough to move? Absolutely not. But, if I walked into my house every day and I hadn’t recently remodeled, in addition to the yard, and then added new siding to the mix, well, I might think about it! 

It’s all someone’s time and money; no one but you can decide the best choice for you and your family. I just want to make sure that you consider all the options and are happy with where you live because, as we have all learned the past two years, we spend a LOT of time at home. If you haven’t spent any time studying the power of feng shui, it’s worth spending a few minutes reading this article. The real cliff notes version is that your home impacts your energy. New or old, you can do things to help ensure it is affecting your positive energy. 

All I ever want for anyone in their life is to be happy. Your home has a massive impact on your happiness - what it smells like, what it sounds like, what it looks like on the outside, and what it looks like on the inside. In fact, your home environment is probably the single most significant factor that impacts your mood. This includes the people in it, how clean it is, how nice it looks. If you live in chaos every day, you are stressed out because the house is a mess. There is a constant reminder that it needs to be repainted, which reminds you that you don’t have enough time or money. That resonates with the life choices you have or haven’t made, which is a contributing factor for your current state; how can you possibly feel good about coming home? Sit with this a minute. It’s huge.

Checking in-

Stop and look around if you feel crabby, stressed, or generally unhappy. What needs to change? I have managed employees for more than 20 years. In my experience, 99% of the time when I have an underperforming employee (crabby, drama, unfocused, late, etc.). I drill down to the problem; it’s home. It’s not work; it’s home. Figure out your issues. It’s not easy, it’s not pretty, but it’s your life, and you get to decide. You can’t control everyone else, but you can maintain your mindset and view of your reality.

So, in closing, when you leave your house and you’re going to work - do whatever it is you need to do to get in a good mood. Coffee, music, a phone call to your friend, whatever it is, get there. Several years ago, I heard a fantastic speaker, Steve Gilliland, who wrote: “Hide Your Goat.” He was one of the best speakers I have ever heard and what I took away was that your attitude is contagious. By the way, I am not sure if I have ever laughed so hard at a conference! Part of his message was that your mood immediately affects everyone around you. As a leader, you can’t afford to go to work crabby.

I do not go to work in anything less than a good mood. If that means going to Starbucks and 10 minutes late, so be it. Steve taught that it is detrimental for the leader of an organization to be in a bad mood. Not an option. It literally sets the tone for the day for everyone in your company. You are that influential - whether you want to be or not. So guess what, as a mom, it’s the same deal. As a daughter, it’s the same deal. You decide your mood and set it for everyone around you. This is easier said than done, I KNOW. I preach it but don’t practice it perfectly.

When you are on your way home, what will it take to be in a good mood when you walk in the door. Favorite song on the way? A quick chat with a friend? Then, think about the first thing you see when you pull in your driveway and walk into your house. These are the two most essential areas that immediately impact your energy. Clean your garage and make your entryway from the garage nice. I know, it’s just the “back door,” but I’m telling you, clean it up, repaint and put up a happy picture. These simple changes can put a smile on your face, changing the energy you greet your family with and lead through the rest of the day or night.

P.S. One other tip - come home to an Entry Envy sign! With convenient, monthly sign refill décor kits, you will always look put together with the current holiday at hand. Children LOVE helping to update the kits and will watch your mail around the 24th of each month. Order your sign today here.

P.S. Entry Envy custom home signs welcome guests and help delivery drivers validate they are at the correct house. There are so many styles available! If you haven't ordered yours yet, please SHOP HERE to design your unique sign. Monthly home decor subscription boxes make it easy and convenient to keep your sign in style. You'll never have to think about how to update your front porch for the next season or holiday again!