How moving impacts sleep quality

While your work as a Realtor® is usually mostly done by the time a new homebuyer moves, their journey is not quite over.

So, it is not surprising that recent research from healthysleep.org showed that moving homes does impact recent buyers’ sleeping ability. Nearly two-thirds of respondents in the 1,000+ participant survey said that their sleep quality was affected from moving. However, more than 30% said their sleep quality was actually better after moving, perhaps due to the end of the stressful process of searching and buying, while 34.1% struggled with their sleep quality after moving, maybe thanks to adjusting to a new bedroom.

Stress was the most common attribute to poor sleep habits, according to 50.4%, followed by unfamiliar surroundings at 42.4% and not having a new bedroom set up yet at 28.6%.

Those who moved to a mobile or manufactured home were most likely to report decreased sleep quality, at 68.2%, while those who moved into a townhouse were most apt to report better sleep quality, at 43.4%.

“Relocating can be a hassle for many people, especially first-time movers. As experts in the field, Realtors® should support their clients throughout the entire closing process. Offering advice and resources when it comes to transferring utilities, moving checklists, storage, etc. helps to facilitate their move and create lifelong relationships, maybe even a few referrals. Steering clients in the right direction during this chaotic time can ease their transition and diminish stress, making for a great night’s sleep,” said Skyler Acevedo, a media representative for Healthysleep.org.

Women were slightly more likely than men to report having their sleep negatively impacted by moving, while those who are single were slightly more likely than married folk to report negative sleep impact because of moving. Generation X was the generation most affected, while millennials and Generation Z were least impacted. Those who moved more than 50 miles were more likely to report poorer sleep quality post-move than those who had a shorter move. Respondents who moved in the same city were 52% less likely than those who moved to a new area to report poorer sleep.

To combat decreased sleep quality, the most effective methods including setting up a bedroom as soon as possible, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and limiting caffeine late in the day.