Selling a home can be a time of big change. And although you may be excited about your upcoming move, it can also bring with it a little sadness. After all – your home is where you make some of your best memories. If you’re beginning to feel the home selling blues, then here are some of our top tips on how to overcome them.
Acknowledge your feelings
You don’t have to pretend that you don’t have some apprehensions about leaving your current home. It’s completely natural to feel sad when you’re selling your house. Acknowledge your feelings and know that they are temporary.
Focus on the positive
Even though you may experience feelings of sadness from time to time as you complete the home-selling process, try not to dwell on them. Instead, focus on the positive aspects of your move. Remind yourself why you are moving and find reasons to be excited about it. Maybe you’re upgrading to a bigger house or a better location. Or perhaps you’ll be closer to family members that you’ve missed.
Change your perspective
When you’re selling your home, you’re going to be completing one of the biggest financial transactions of your life. Try to think of it in business terms instead of emotional terms. Remember – you want to get a great return on your investment. It’s difficult to do that if you get too emotional. So try to distance yourself and focus instead on working to get potential buyers interested in your home.
Depersonalize your home
One of the most important things you can do when you’re getting ready to sell your home is to remove all your personal items. Not only will this help you detach from your home, but it will also make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves living there. If possible, try to take things with you that have sentimental value – even if it’s just a cutting from the rose bush you planted when you moved in. Knowing that you have a piece of your home to take with you can help lessen the anxious feelings you have about moving.
Take pictures
You probably already have tons of photos of your home, but it doesn’t hurt to take more. Digital photography allows us to take as many photos as we want without filling up too much space, so don’t limit yourself. If there is a certain view you’ve always loved, take pictures of it at different times of day. Photograph the kids standing next to the growth chart on the wall. Take a picture of your garden in full summer glory. This way, you will always have all those memories with you.
Take breaks
You don’t have to be in home-selling mode 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Take whatever time you need to relax and unwind. Take the family out for a pizza party or for an afternoon matinee at the movies. Go to the spa and get a massage or a pedicure. Even taking time to read a good book before bed will help you disconnect from the stress of moving.
Work with an agent
Finally, the best way to beat the home-selling blues is to work with a professional real estate agent. An agent is there to answer all your questions and to help you with the entire real estate process. Knowing that you have a professional on your side can help sideline much of the stress.
