Don’t Sell Until You’re Ready!

I truly love being a realtor.  It is a great opportunity to earn a living while walking along side someone during an exciting time in their life.  My favorite is selling homes. It’s a privilege and an honor to be a part of the process. I get great satisfaction helping people move on to the next phase of their life, whether it’s upsizing, downsizing, or simply relocating to a new neighborhood.

One challenging situation, is a home seller who is not really ready to sell.  They may think they are ready . . . but in the end there are several factors holding them back.

If you’re thinking about selling your home, don’t enter into the process lightly. It’s a big deal. I am not going to sugar coat it, there is some stress involved in selling a home, but there is a great opportunity for joy as well. There’s a big investment at stake. This, along with a lot of other reasons large and small, is why you want to be 100% sure you’re ready to sell your home. If you think you’re ready to sell, but it turns out you’re not, you waste a lot of time and energy (and sometimes money).

So how do you know if you’re really ready to sell your home?

1. You’re fine with the process.

You must have no problem with the idea of a stranger poking around your house, talking about renovating it, or treating it like a used car.  It is natural to have some of these emotions. If you’ve lived in your house a long time, it’s natural to have emotional attachments. But, if the process of selling the house makes you feel overly protective or defensive, you may not be ready.

2. You are flexible on the right price.

Motivated sellers understand selling a home involves negotiation and competitive market pricing. Understandably, personal budgets are a necessary part of life.  But just as a daily household budget needs to be flexible, so does the expectations of a home sale.  If you have a number “you must get” in order to sell, then you might want to think again. Also, if all of the agents who price your home come back too low for your standards, take a breather and ask yourself if you are ready to proceed.

3. You know where you’re going next.

Prepared sellers have plans, even if those plans aren’t 100% firm. They’re anticipating the move and they are probably even shopping for houses, if only casually at the moment. If you can’t clearly answer the question, “Where would you like to live after you sell?” then you’re not quite there yet.

If you’re unsure on any of these, take a step back and consider how you feel. While some markets favor sellers more than others, a home can sell in any market for the right price. Don’t jump into something before you’re ready.

However, when you’re ready, I’d be happy to help. Contact me when the time is right at 928-277-6404.