Emotional attachment to prior personal home

[Dianne Forwood]

We just moved to take care of my elderly parents. We now have our old home for a rental. Currently my nephew is living in it, and it's not ready for "real" renters yet. But, I am finding I have such an emotional attachment to this house we lived in for 27 years, raised our children. The turn of events in moving and caring for older parents happened quickly. When we first moved out in October my mind set was we will probably move back. Now my husband says he doesn't want to. So, we still have personal items in our basement and garage that we need to clean out before renter ready, along with painting etc. Plus little things like my windchimes and park bench. I still feel like it's my personal home. 

My question is, has anyone else experienced this emotional attachment to a prior house? Any suggestions for moving on? 

Also, at what point do we consider this a rental versus a second home? We settled 10/25, moved 10/29. Nephew did not move in until 1/6/24. 

[Russell Brazil]

Quote from @Dianne Forwood:

We just moved to take care of my elderly parents. We now have our old home for a rental. Currently my nephew is living in it, and it's not ready for "real" renters yet. But, I am finding I have such an emotional attachment to this house we lived in for 27 years, raised our children. The turn of events in moving and caring for older parents happened quickly. When we first moved out in October my mind set was we will probably move back. Now my husband says he doesn't want to. So, we still have personal items in our basement and garage that we need to clean out before renter ready, along with painting etc. Plus little things like my windchimes and park bench. I still feel like it's my personal home. 

My question is, has anyone else experienced this emotional attachment to a prior house? Any suggestions for moving on? 

Also, at what point do we consider this a rental versus a second home? We settled 10/25, moved 10/29. Nephew did not move in until 1/6/24. 

 Every time my previous homes I've lived in come back on the market, I always go to see them. One house many states away, that I lived in 30 years ago, I flew back to take a look at it.