While selling your home can be exciting as you have the opportunity to move into a new home, it can also bring unexpected emotions. The memories shared in your current home can make you feel sad or a feeling of loss as you prepare to sell. Overcoming the range of emotions you may experience when selling is not always easy, but these tips can help you navigate the emotions involved when selling your home.
Confirm You’re Ready to Sell
The first step when selling your home is to ensure you are ready. It can be hard thinking about the memories the home brings, but it’s important to remember that it’s the people instead of the place that makes the memories special. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to sell, make a list of the reasons for selling, whether it’s downsizing, upsizing, or moving for a job. Keep this list handy to provide motivation and reassurance that it’s time to sell your home. If you are not ready to sell, you may find reasons for not accepting potential offers, which can cause frustration for everyone involved.
Focus on the Future
Concentrating on the future can help you overcome the range of feelings when selling your home. If you’re in the process of finding your next home, make house-hunting exciting and focus on the features and amenities a new home offers. If you already closed on your new home, start planning how to decorate the space or any projects you want to tackle. Taking your mind off the stressors of selling and focusing on your future in a new home can ease the home selling emotions.
Stage Your Home Early
Depersonalizing is the first step in staging homes for sale, and the earlier you start decluttering and detaching yourself from the house, the easier it will be when selling. From removing photographs and memorabilia to neutralizing paint colors, getting a head start on staging will help you deal with unexpected emotions you might experience.
Don’t Stay Home for Showings or Open Houses
When the homeowner is present at showings or open houses, potential buyers may feel uneasy or rushed when viewing the home. Besides this, it could stir up emotions for sellers because of the comments or reactions to their homes. Although buyers don’t mean anything personal by their less than flattering comments, it can feel that way to the homeowner. However, these comments can be helpful as the feedback helps your agent identify what appeals and doesn’t appeal to potential buyers. Together you and your agent can determine which concerns need addressing and if any needed updates could increase the chance of a quick sale. When your agent notifies you about potential buyers coming to look at your home you may:
- Go for a drive
- Run errands
- Visit with friends or family
- Relax at the park
- Plan a family outing
Remember Negotiations are Not Personal
After accepting an offer, buyers may come back with repairs or issues they want to be addressed before closing day. You shouldn’t take these requests personally, as it’s just part of the negotiation process. Work with your agent to find a win-win situation that allows you to move forward with the sale.
Selling a home is definitely an emotional experience. Being prepared and remembering that it’s an opportunity to start the next chapter in your life, you can overcome any home selling emotions you may experience.
Are you wondering if selling your home is the right move for you, or do you have questions about the home selling process? Reach out to our knowledgeable real estate agents in Abingdon, Bristol, and Marion.