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How to Reduce the Stress of Selling a Home


Selling a house is an exciting experience for most people, but it can also make anyone feel overwhelmed. This is especially true for homeowners who’ve become emotionally attached to their property and aren’t fully ready to say goodbye.

According to a survey conducted by Zillow, some of the things that home sellers worry about include improvements that need to be made, negotiations with potential buyers, and selling their property within their expected price and timeframe.

In this article, we’re going to explore five strategies that will help you avoid or manage seller’s stress. Keep reading.

1. Ask for help from a real estate professional regarding pricing.

Home sellers often have a target price in mind when putting their property up for sale. The reality is that pricing your home is a complex topic because you’ll need to consider various factors, such as other homes in your area, home size, usable space, and improvement projects are previously done. This is why it’s vital to work with a real estate professional who can help you come up with a realistic price — someone who knows the market well.

2. Set a showing schedule.

Another common source of stress is feeling pressured about having to show your home at every showing request. Instead of saying yes all the time, decide on a good schedule where you can accommodate home tours. Make sure to let your real estate agent know about this as well.

Related article: House Showing: The Best Practices for Home Sellers

3. Prepare yourself mentally for a slow or fast sale.

Anything can happen. It’s possible for your house to not sell as quickly as you’d hoped, or the other way around. When it comes to the latter, a home seller gets worried that they will end up not having a place to live. This is why advance planning matters. Make sure that you do research on some reasons why homes can remain unsold on the market (and what you can do about it). Furthermore, explore apartments that offer short-term leases, so you can move in as soon as you sell your property and move out with ease once your new home is ready.

4. Don’t lose sight of the reason you’re selling.

People sell their houses for different reasons, such as the need for a larger place, a change in their neighborhood (increasing noise and new developments), a new job offer, or downsizing. Whatever your reason is, it’s important to not lose sight of it. This will allow you to keep your emotions in check. Better yet, list down these reasons, wait for a few months, then re-evaluate before making the final decision to sell.

5. Focus on the future.

You’ve put a lot of thought into selling your home and made the necessary preparations. Now’s the time to focus on what comes next — making new memories in your future abode. Change can be invigorating as you set new goals, meet new people, try new styles, and explore new places (restaurants, shops, etc).

Like with anything in life, selling a home may cause stress, whether this is your first time or not. Perhaps two of the most essential things you can do to keep stress at bay are to do advance preparation and work with a real estate professional. When it comes to the latter, you’ll be able to weed out unqualified buyers, avoid legal risks, and gain access to a larger network.