HOW TO KEEP YOUR COOL WHEN SELLING A HOME

Written by Kim Clark

In my last post, I wrote about how to maintain your sanity when you’re buying a new home. Just as when you buy a home, the process of selling a home can make you feel like there are many circumstances beyond your control. Inconveniences abound when you are keeping your home “show ready,” and uncertainty about timing can take its toll. This can be particularly true if you need to move quickly.

Fortunately, there are a few strategies that can make your home sale more bearable from the day you make your decision to sell right on through the closing.

Rely on your agent’s advice.

An experienced real estate agent can be your best resource when selling your home. He or she will be able to help you with all the details, from setting a fair asking price to staging tips to proven marketing strategies designed to coax serious homebuyers to walk through the door. Use an agent you’ve trusted in the past or get references from friends and family. Your agent will be the partner you need so that you don’t feel like you’re going the distance alone.

Streamline everything.

Most people realize that a clean house has the best chance of selling quickly. In addition to de-cluttering and selling, donating, tossing, or storing your extra belongings, make sure your house is sparkling clean. Consider hiring a service to do the work for you. Tackle any small repairs or hire a handyman to help you do any minor work that could result in a home that will show better. Follow your agent’s advice for staging.

In order to keep your home ready for last-minute showings, prepare yourself for a move, and keep yourself organized, make checklists. Your home showing checklist might include tasks such as emptying wastebaskets, wiping down surfaces, stowing away dirty laundry or dishes, and even throwing a couple of windows open to infuse your home with fresh air.

To make it easier to keep your home clean, consider eating off of paper plates and plan meals that are easy to cook or don’t involve a lot of kitchen mess, like sandwiches, fresh fruits and vegetables, or foods that you can pre-cook and freeze during evening hours or other times when a showing is unlikely. Keep toiletries and other items you use every day in attractive containers that you can close and stow when buyers stop by to take a look.

Give yourself a break.

If you have the means to do so, get away from it all, whether that means eating a few meals out every week, spending a weekend away, or simply making the most of your time away from your house. Treat yourself to time at the library, the movies, or a local park to get away from your house while it’s on the market.

Focus on the future.

Instead of getting mired in the moment, keep your attention focused on whatever comes once your home sale is complete, whether it’s moving into a new house or taking your life in a different direction. A bit of anticipation for the future can make the inconvenience and uncertainty a lot more bearable.

While selling a home can be a little unsettling to your lifestyle, the long-term rewards will be well worth the effort. With a savvy agent at your side and some organizational tools in place, you’ll be able to weather the process and be on your way to whatever comes next.