A recent survey by Vivo Property Buyers in the U.K. revealed that homeowners feel that selling their home is the most stressful event in their lives. Selling your home outranked other stressful life events including having a baby, starting a new job and planning a wedding. Why? Well there is a lot riding on the sale of your home, it’s usually one of the biggest assets someone owns. Not to mention, the process can be long, daunting and there are many unknowns that can play a role in your stress.
It’s important to not only sell quickly, but sellers need the biggest return on their investment to feel satisfied with the deal and move on with their life. Inside my book “Feel At Home: Home Staging Secrets for a Quick and Easy Sell” it acknowledges the challenges homeowners have when it comes to getting into the right state of mind. In order to become a savvy seller, a homeowner must change their mindset:
Mindset # 1: Begin with the end in mind
Mindset # 2: Set feelings aside in a real estate transaction
Mindset # 3: Be proactive when showcasing your home
Mindset # 4: Control habits to reap the rewards
Mindset # 5: Focus on the buyer’s wants and needs
Mindset # 6: Create win-win situations
Stress can distance these mindsets from your thought process cause your mind to wander and lose control. So, let’s talk about how to keep your stress under control while getting your home sold.
Control What You Can
Since you need others to help create a winning situation (an agent, a buyer, mortgage, etc.) you can’t control all the unknowns during the sales process. There will be ups and downs in the process, but it’s how a seller reacts to the issue at hand that will keep stress levels down. Face situations head-on, utilize teamwork without being selfish and have an open mind being flexible with things don’t exactly go your way.
Be Prepared
What would be the worst-case scenario? Prepare for that! In a perfect world sellers wouldn’t need to be living in their homes while on the market. However, as stated earlier, the list of reasons why someone sells is endless and in many cases forces the homeowner to stay put when selling—putting their personal life on public display. So what’s the best way to get out from under the microscope? Sell fast. Keep things in perspective throughout the selling process. Use our home staging tactics to get the home prepared properly and attract potential buyers to the front door.
Communication is Key
Disagreements will occur, especially in time-sensitive situations. Have an open discussion with family members and tell them what to expect. Create a trustworthy dialogue with your real estate agent to stay on the same page. Set up expectations and find qualified professionals to help. What is everyone’s role? Make sure the tough questions are answered and communicated upfront.
Focus on Something Else
How do you deal with stress in your life? I find that taking a long walk or petting my animals can calm my nerves. Let me know in the comment section below your stress relievers. If you have a question about stress while selling post those too, I’d be happy to help.
Happy Selling,