Top Three Tips for Stress Free Home Selling

As a real estate agent in Portland for 12 years now, I’ve come to terms with the fact that not everyone gets as excited about the home selling process as I do. In fact, for some people, it’s an anxiety-ridden experience! Although a visit to your real estate agent’s office isn’t as bad as going to the dentist or the tax preparer’s, I can see why selling a home can stress people out.
For one, most people are selling the home they live in. Saying goodbye to all those memories and facing the uncertainty of life somewhere else is hard in itself. Add to that the fact that for most people, again, their home is their biggest investment, and going through the sale process can be a little nerve-wracking.

Having a great real estate agent on your side is my #1 tip for reducing stress during the home selling process. After all, you wouldn’t drill your own teeth, so why would you be your own marketer, salesperson, negotiator and deal-closer — all the things real estate agents do in the process of selling your home?

Fortunately, most people do choose to have a real estate agent list and sell their home for them. Unfortunately, they still tend to take on more stress during the process than they really need to. Here are my top three tips for making that stress go away, so that you can focus on the important things — like your own life!

1. Keep informed. The more you know about the process, the easier it is to relax. Ask your real estate agent as many questions as you can think of. Trust me, we don’t mind! In fact, we’ve created a series of videos sent out to you at key moments in the sale transaction to try to preemptively answer questions, before you even think of them. (Curious? Check it out here.) If you’re worried that you’re not getting the best price for your home, ask for a comparative market analysis that shows what homes are selling for in your area.

2. Don’t be afraid to make requests. Your Portland real estate team is here for you! Need the home sold by a certain date? We can certainly push for that. Do you need additional time in the home after closing? Let us know. Want to keep that nostalgic chandelier in your dining room? No problem, as long as we know about it. After all, real estate agents can do a lot of things, but we’re not mind readers. The more you tell us, the more relaxed you can be knowing that the sale of your home is in good hands.

3. Keep it in perspective. Don’t let selling your home consume your life. Take time for yourself and maybe even use this opportunity to add new activities to your life that help calm you down. A daily walk, meditation, art class — who knows, you might start a practice that will enhance your life for years to come!

Some people aren’t sure how much they should lean on their real estate agent when selling a home. The truth is, we love it when home sellers are active and engaged in the process, but it’s not essential. After all, selling homes is my job and I love to do it. I tell home sellers to do as much as they can and want to on their end, and leave the rest to the experts. Click here to check out my listing package!