Confirm you’re ready
Whether you’re downsizing your space after retiring or upsizing to accommodate a growing family, you need to make sure you’re ready for the home-selling process. Remind yourself why you’re selling your home—you can even create a list of reasons to serve as motivation and reassurance. If you’re having trouble preparing your home to sell, remember it is the people and not the place that makes the memories so special. It is crucial that you only begin the listing process once you’re ready. Otherwise, you may be looking for reasons not to accept potential offers.
Start staging early
You’ve created countless memories in your home, and these experiences can come rushing back as you begin to declutter and make changes to it. One of the first steps of the staging process is depersonalizing your home, such as removing photographs or memorabilia, so buyers can imagine themselves living in the house. You may also need to change some of the personalized features you love, like painting the walls of a room a neutral color. Not seeing the smiling faces of loved ones throughout your home or the appearance of a room you’ve grown accustomed to may take some time to get used to. However, you may feel a bit of relief by detaching yourself from the house. By starting the staging process early, you give yourself time to work through any emotions you’ll experience.
Concentrate on the future
An excellent way to overcome any feelings you may experience when selling your home is to focus on the future instead of the past. If you’re going to be house hunting, get excited about the homes you get to consider. If you have already bought a new home, start planning projects you’d like to tackle or how you’d like to decorate your new space.
Set a realistic sale price
While the memories you have made in your home are priceless, homebuyers are looking to pay strictly for the property. There can be a significant difference between your sentimental value and the fair market value. Avoid insisting on a steep price for your home, and work with your agent to decide on a reasonable price based on the current market.
Leave for showings and open houses
You should plan to leave your home during showings to avoid making buyers feel uneasy or pressured. However, sticking around in an emotional state could be even worse. Potential homebuyers may have less than flattering comments about aspects of your home, and it can be hard to hear. While it isn’t a personal insult, it can feel that way. These comments can be helpful, as any feedback your agent receives can help you address areas of your home that may need to be updated. Plan to go for a drive, visit friends or family, or hold a family bonding activity while potential buyers are inside your home.
Don’t take negotiations personally
Once you find an interested buyer, they may come back with repairs or concerns they want addressed before closing. There’s no reason to take offense, as this is part of the negotiation process. Remain calm, and work with your agent to find a middle ground where you and the buyer are happy. Remember that your goal is to sell your home, and most home sales have negotiations.
Selling a home is an emotional experience. However, by remembering one chapter ending is another beginning, you can remain excited and hopeful about what lies ahead.