4 Fantastic Tips to Help You Manage Stress When Selling Your Home
We all know that moving house is among the most stressful life experiences there are, but that goes double when you are selling your home in the process of moving to a new one. It’s time-consuming and it is also incredibly fraught with emotions. Because the purchase of a house is such a huge investment — one of the biggest that most people ever make — you will be very concerned with recouping your costs on the old house, while also doing everything possible to get a good deal on the one you are buying.
As your grandmother always used to say, however, this too shall pass. Try to focus on the big picture, even when the tiniest details threaten to derail you, and follow these tips for managing stress during this trying period.
- Lean on Your Real Estate Agent
You don’t have to do this alone! Real estate transactions can be complicated, even tricky, and having a seasoned professional on your side will prove invaluable. Your agent can walk you through all of the processes and decisions involved, from what repairs and renovation projects can boost your ROI to the closing paperwork.
A real estate agent has done it all before and therefore has a lot more knowledge than you probably do, no matter how many articles you’ve read online since deciding to sell your home. So don’t be afraid to lean on them. It’s what you’re paying them for, after all.
- Do Your Research
That said, you don’t want to blindly obey your real estate agent’s every demand. This is a business partnership. Take the help that an agent can provide, and use their recommendations to inform your decision, but remember that your fate is ultimately in your own hands. If you have at least a rudimentary understanding of the steps in this process, you’ll be better prepared to make your own decisions — and to stand firm when you and your agent disagree.
Don’t make the mistake of green-lighting your agent’s every move without giving all the choices fair consideration, simply because you’re stressed and tired and just want to get this all over with. That could cost you thousands of dollars, or some serious regrets down the line. Give yourself plenty of time to weigh the options and discuss things with your spouse.
- Schedule Self-Care Time
Life is hectic enough juggling all the demands of your job, your family, your friendships, and of course all the details of moving. Add in the pressure you feel to sell your home for the highest possible price, as well as the added stress of keeping it in perfect condition — or at least a little less lived-in — so your agent can show it at a moment’s notice, and you might be going just a smidgen stir-crazy.
Take time to decompress and practice some self-care. That can mean an activity you find relaxing: coffee or drinks with a friend, a nice long sweaty gym sesh or an invigorating hike, or a hobby like knitting, woodworking, or cake baking. Go to a matinee and lose yourself in someone else’s story, or set aside 15 minutes each evening to read a great book. Massages, mani-pedis, or facials are always fantastic outlets for stress.
The point is, living and breathing the state of your home sale isn’t going to sell your house faster or net you a higher bid. Taking a step back for a breather every once in a while, on the other hand, can work wonders for your mental and emotional health.
- Remember That You Have Options
Having a backup plan can also be a lifesaver. It’s overwhelming to constantly believe you have to sell by a certain deadline, or for a certain price — or at all. If everything just gets to be too much, give yourself the escape hatch of choosing to take your home off the market for the time being, or selling it outright for cash rather than to an individual buyer.
“We accept homes as-is, and we can close on them within days, not months,” explains Mark MacFarlane of Marlau Investments, Dallas cash home buyers. “It’s about as stress-free a home selling experience as you can imagine.”
When it comes right down to it, your house is simply a collection of bricks and pipes, drywall and flooring. It isn’t worth sacrificing your well-being, or that of your family, for.
Final Thoughts
Although selling a home can feel like a nightmare at times, there are ways to reduce your stress and keep on an even keel. Take time out for yourself, rely on the support and help of others, including your real estate agent, and make careful, educated decisions, and before you know it you’ll be handing over the keys to the new owner and embarking on a new chapter of your own life!