Selling a house can be a stressful experience. You may feel excited about the prospect of moving to a new home, but you may also feel anxious or stressed about the process.
Especially true if you’re selling a home you have lived in for many years. You may feel the walls are talking to you or that the house has become a part of your identity. The most important thing to remember is that your home is just a house. It’s a building you have a relationship with but it’s just that, and it’s certainly not something to be afraid of selling. The process will be much easier if you learn to see your home as an investment rather than an emotional attachment. Here are seven suggestions to prevent your feelings out of the way of negotiating a deal.
Prepare Yourself
Do not rush into a decision in deciding whether or not to sell your home. Make sure you know your reasons for selling and be prepared for the selling process. You might have a specific goal to achieve, be it downsizing, upgrading, retiring or moving closer to relatives, or even relocating. Remember exactly why you’re selling your house. Concentrate on the reason instead of dwelling on the feelings of loss. The first thing to do is to get a sense of the value of your home. If you need help, consult a real estate professional, sales representative or broker, someone like the McCarthy Realty Team. We can estimate what your property is worth in today’s market and whether or not the listing agent has overpriced it.
Sell Only When You’re Ready
When you’ve accepted selling your house at that point, you’re finally ready to place it on the market. If you attempt to sell your home before being prepared, you’ll constantly consider the reasons not to take an offer. You’ll be more likely to accept a low bid and miss out on the best price for your home. You’ll also waste time and energy trying to market it for sale when you don’t have the correct information about what’s happening in the marketplace. When you’re ready to sell your home, you’ll need to put it in the best possible condition and prepare it for sale. You might need to do some light remodeling or repairs. If you haven’t done so, consider adding a few upgrades, such as new flooring or cabinets. For example, if your bathroom has linoleum tile on the floor instead of ceramic tile or porcelain, this is an easy upgrade that will help increase the value of your home compared with similar homes priced below yours.
Price Your Home Accordingly
One of the ways that emotions could cost you is through the price of your house. Homeowners who feel emotionally connected to their property will be inclined to set their prices according to their personal feelings, not based on what the market says. The properties are sold at a higher cost than their value and can lead to properties left hanging for an extended period. Instead, think about your property from a buyer’s perspective and seek advice from your agent. Set the price accordingly, and it will sell faster. Another way that emotions can cost you is through your property taxes. If the value of your home goes up, so will your taxes. That can be a problem if you’re not ready for it, and it may even mean cutting back on other expenses to make up for the additional amount.
Don’t Personalize the Staging of the Home
It’s a great feeling to be proud of family and home, and you may think it’s sensible to fill your home’s interior with personal objects and photographs. However, it won’t assist you in selling your home more quickly. Buyers have to be able to visualize themselves living there, but it isn’t easy to achieve that if only they can see your family members living in the house. Set your home up with neutral décor and design, and you’ll have a better chance of selling it. If you sell your home, ensure the lawn is mowed and well-kept. It’s a good idea to have a professional landscape company come in and do some landscaping for you. Don’t forget to remove dead flowers or plants from your garden beds. Ask them to take all their toys and games out of the house if you have children. You’ll be surprised at how much space it frees up! Buyers don’t want to see clutter; they want a blank canvas on which they can imagine their own family living there.
Don’t Attend the Open House
It might be nice to be present during the home’s open house, but it isn’t the best idea. This can make the buyers feel uncomfortable, which means they’re less likely to be truthful in their evaluation of the walk through. Your agent’s feedback from guests at the open house will provide you with the necessary information to make the required adjustments to make your property more attractive to buyers. You need to be aware of the feedback your agent receives from guests at the open house. If several people comment about the property being too dark or small, it may be time for you to consider hiring an interior designer.
Don’t Take Visitor Comments Personally
Most comments your agent receives regarding your property from people visiting your home are positive. It is essential not to take negative remarks as personal. It is easy to get obsessed with who said what, and this may cause you to have a more challenging time trying to sell your house. It could even lead you to decline an acceptable price.
It is more beneficial to look objectively at the remarks and make the changes needed to improve them. If a person previously a victim of negative comments returned to the property and discovered that their concerns were addressed and listened to, they may make an offer. Be aware that the remarks offered by prospective buyers refer to the property and not to you.
There’s No Place for Emotions in Negotiations
Another area where emotions could flare up is the negotiation process. In this scenario, a potential buyer might complain about things wrong with the house to reduce the price. Since it’s their home that they’re discussing and it’s not difficult to criticize the points made.
Instead of arguing their points, accept their concerns and highlight the property’s features and characteristics to justify the price. Be calm, and the odds are high that you’ll end up at the point where both of you are happy.
Final Thoughts
It’s essential to keep a level head during the home selling process and remember that buyers are looking for faults to negotiate a lower price. If you can remain calm and logically address their concerns, you’ll be more likely to reach an agreement that benefits both parties. Remember, it’s not personal–it’s just business!