Selling a house can be an overwhelming process. There are a lot of requirements for sellers, from keeping the place as clean as possible to have to frequently get out of the house, sometimes at a moment’s notice, for potential buyers to come through.
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to the home selling experience. The good news is that it won’t go on forever; the bad news is that you won’t know when it’s going to be over until it’s over. Not having a clear timeline insight isn’t the greatest. Obviously you are the first person in history to do this so if you follow these 7 Tips to Make Life Easier When Selling Your House.
1. Only work with an agent you really like and trust
Your agent can make the home selling process easier on you, or they can make it harder. Do your due diligence in selecting an agent to take on the job, and make sure that you’re hiring someone who you work well with, who clearly communicates with you, and who has a proven track record of success. The best way to find that ideal agent is to go through referrals. If you notice any red flags with an agent you’re considering, such as difficulty getting ahold of them or an off-putting tone when you do talk, go back to the drawing board and find someone else.
2. Keep it clean
You should really only have to do an exhaustive deep clean right before your house goes on the market. After that, it’s just about maintaining things. Keep clutter from building up by putting things away after you’re done with them, or at least clearing up the clutter every night before you go to bed.
3. Have a pre-showing system in place
Set up a system so that prepping for showings becomes a matter of 1-2-3. I give clients an actual pre-showing checklist. Chances are you’ll figure out a system as you go, but the earlier you can get it into place, the better. Some things you can do now are clear spaces in your home that you can quickly fill with items that are usually not stored but should be put away for showings, like pet beds, toys, towels, robes, and mail. If you have items that you intend to take with you when you leave, like laptops and/or other valuables, keep a bag near the front door that you can quickly pull and fill with the things you want to take along.
4. Set up your home to sell
One of the most overwhelming parts of selling a home is the lack of control you have over the process. You don’t get a say in who decides to come by for a showing or when an offer gets made. But what you do have control over is how much effort you put into optimizing your home for a quick sale. Follow the home selling tips that are specifically designed to move your house off the market as fast as possible. The process becomes more mentally difficult the longer it goes on, but if you’re taking the steps to present your home in a way that’s most appealing to buyers, you’ll know that it’s just a matter of the right person coming along, and not any sort of failure on your part.
5. Request a 4-hour notice
Before your home gets listed, your real estate agent will go through the showing rules and expectations. While it’s very likely that last-minute showing requests will still come in (and you should take those if you can), a request of four hours’ notice gives you enough time to finish up what you’re doing, organize your schedule, and prep the house. Request too much notice and you may be turning off buyers who want to come in sooner rather than later.
6. Don’t take negative feedback too personally
Easier said than done buts remember that negative feedback comes from an outside point of view, and not targeted at the current homeowners. “I don’t like those window treatments” or “This kitchen is too cramped” are simply opinions, and while they may mean a particular buyer loses interest in the property, they don’t mean you’ve done anything wrong.
7. Remember that it’s worth it
Stay focused on the end goal. You put your home on the market for a reason and every showing is getting you closer to that goal. Keep your head up – even when things get tough – and remember that while the ordeal may be stressful, it’s just part of getting where you want to go next.
Selling a house isn’t known for being a stress-free experience, but millions of people have done it before you and millions of people will do it after you. You’ll make it through, and when you do, you’ll see that it was all worth it and you can start focusing on all of those other stresses that accumulate to make regular everyday life.