Why is Selling Your Home So Stressful?

When people talk about the most stressful things they've ever done, selling a house comes up again and again. But why is the selling process so anxiety-inducing, and what can you do to make sure it doesn't happen to you? 

Let's look at some of the reasons selling a home causes you stress, and what you can do to remove the stress from those situations.

photo by Pedro Figueras

1. It's a big financial decision

photo by Pedro Figueras

For most people, your home represents a large chunk of your net worth, and it's likely the biggest asset you own. so naturally, selling your home can be an emotional process that comes with the uncertainty of what the final sales price will be, will you make enough from the sale to help with the purchase of your next home, etc.

How to ease the stress:

The easiest way to ease the financial stress that comes with selling your home is to do your homework and hire an experienced Realtor® to help answer your questions. A Realtor® will have the most up-to-date information on the current market trends, homes for sale in your area, and the comparable homes that have sold in your area - and they'll help you feel comfortable that you've listed your home for the most competitive price.

2. You may not want to move, but you need to

You may love your current home and neighborhood but other factors or major life events have made it necessary to move and sell your home. Accepting a new job or promotion which involves relocation, a divorce or separation, or moving to be closer to a sick family member are all common reasons for an unexpected move.

Here's how the ease the stress:

Stay focused on the new experiences you'll have and the new home you'll be making memories in after selling your current home. Research the new area and take note of events, interesting dining options, outdoors and shopping you want to try. Make plans to visit the area and get familiar with it to reduce the anxiety of a new place.

3. Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork

Selling a home involves a lot of paperwork, from signing the listing agreement with your agent all the way to signing over the home to the buyers at closing. The amount you'll need to deal with can be overwhelming.

Here's how to ease the stress: 

You'll see this as a recurring theme, but take the time to research and hire the best real estate agent in the area. Having a great agent with experience and one that gives you good vibes means you'll be comfortable asking questions and they'll be able to walk you through the entire process and ensure every document is signed and filed in a timely manner.

4. Getting your asking price

Obviously, when parting with something you've developed a strong emotional connection to you're probably going to be pretty particular about the conditions needed to give it up. A home is no exception. So when you put your home up for sale, you're going to have an opinion of what your home is worth, your Realtor® will have another, and potential buyers another - all of which could vary widely.

So, it's no surprise that getting the asking price for your home can be the source of stress for you. You may need a certain amount to finance your next home purchase or you may want to recoup expenses from a remodel. Whatever the reason, the chance you could get offered less than you're expecting or your Realtor® suggests is there. 

How to relieve the stress:

This is another reason to work with an experienced Realtor®. Experienced agents will be able to expertly analyze the comparable homes that have sold in the area, have a feel for the current market conditions and advise you on the best selling price for your home that will get you top dollar and highest buyer interest.

5. Keeping the house clean

photo by Cottonbro

While the most recent real estate market has been so fast-paced it pretty much took just a single day of showings to get a quick sale, the typical process of selling a home involves at least several home showings. If those don't happen all at once, the effort it took to make your home spotless and staged just right gets harder and harder to maintain. And the more showings it takes, the more prospective buyers wander through the home, and the higher the stress level creeps to keep the house clean while you continue to live there and accommodate home showings.

How to relieve the stress:

One way to relieve this stress is to hire professional cleaners to clean the house on a regular basis. This way, you're only dealing with daily maintenance to keep things neat and tidy for any last minute showings. That same mindset works great for the exterior of your home as well. Hiring landscapers to get the home ready to list and then scheduled for weekly maintenance also means the only thing you'll need to deal with is keeping up with some leaf blowing or picking up fallen branches.

6. Displacement

photo by Pedro Figueras

The parade of potential buyers walking through your home (It's still your home after all!) and the need to tidy up and get out of the house for last minute showings can become pretty frustrating. Not to mention open houses, inspections and other necessary steps - it can become inconvenient and downright annoying after a while.

Ways to relieve the stress:

The easiest way to reduce the stress that comes from showings and open houses is to make sure that you and your family have a plan in place that allows you to get ready for scheduled and last-minute showings quickly. 

Keeping the house tidy and assigning tasks for quick cleaning touch-ups and having a specific storage area to quickly put things away will help.

Placing your fragile and valuable items in storage or a safe will keep the security concerns to a minimum.

And finally, have a few designated places to go when you need to get out of the house during showings that don't require reservations or special arrangements. The park, shopping mall, a movie or relative's house are all good choices.

7. Uncertainty

photo by Pedro Figueras

We talked about the uncertainty of getting the price you want for your home, but what about the "uncertainty" of the sales process in general? It's one thing if you have multiple showings, multiple offers and the home is under contract right away. This can cause its own stress by having to move up the schedule of everything. But what happens if the home doesn't sell right away? You may begin to wonder if you've missed something, if the home isn't priced correctly or if your agent isn't doing their job!

Even though all the pieces seem to have come together, the right area, the right price, the right staging - anything can happen.

How to relieve the stress:

Stay busy! Keep the house clean, continue to pack, get quotes from movers, take things to storage. The perfect buyer will come along. As they say, "A watched pot never boils", so sitting around and waiting makes it seem like things are taking longer than they really are.

Also consider making a list of questions for your Realtor® they can answer so you know what to expect and there are no surprises.

Conclusion

photo by Rodnae Productions

In the end, it's important to remember you're not alone in the process of selling your home. Choosing a great real estate professional ensures you have a partner in the process who keeps you informed every step of the way and be your advisor when things get complex or stressful. It also helps to remember the potential buyers are probably stressing about the buying process, too!

Otherwise, just stay organized, keep your emotions in check, practice self-care and keep your eye on the prize. Whether that's being able to move closer to family or loved ones, moving to a better neighborhood, buying your dream home or new adventures - get excited!

chris.sotiroglou@gmail.com  |  843-609-5202  | www.TheFamilyRealEstateGroup.com