How to UNStress Your Sale

Three things are certain in life: death, taxes … and the stress caused by moving.

Moving is stressful with or without a Realtor®, period. And there’s not much you can do to avoid it. And we’re not just talking about packing and paperwork.

Moving is an emotional process. It’s easy to forget while we’re dealing with all of these jitters that moving actually can represent an exciting adventure. A growth of opportunity and the prospect of new beginnings.

Once the dust settles after your move, you’re entering one of the most memorable times of your life. With any luck, you’ve recruited a Realtor® who’s familiar with the obvious stresses as well as the insidious (and subsequently more detrimental) ones.

You should be able to rely on your Realtor® for more than just closing the deal. Your Realtor® also should be able to calm your trepidation by giving you the support you need.

A good Realtor® should be able to give you as much information about your new hometown as possible, increasing your familiarity with the previously unknown.

It’s important to remember throughout the entire selling and buying process, however, to reserve time for yourself and your family.

It’s not a waste of time, but rather an insurance policy for your sanity and continued happiness. Stress is sneaky, as we’ve all discovered. Stress can eat away at us during what are supposed to be the happiest of times. Any major change in life is stressful.

If it’s supressed, it can wreak havoc both emotionally and physically and spread throughout the family. And there’s nothing worse than moving a grumpy family across the country. For the sake of your continued family unity, keep in mind the following stress-relieving measures:

Remember that it’s perfect normal to feel unsure of your decision right now.

This is called Cognitive Dissidence. Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. This produces a feeling of mental discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance.

You’ve just made a major commitment, and all of us experience those last-second “What on earth did I just do” worries, Instead of becoming overwhelmed with “what ifs” and dread, reframe this decision as a prime opportunity to begin your lives in a new environment.

The old saying “When one door closes, another one opens” definitely applies here.

Trust that your Realtor® Ask as many questions as you need to.

If you can, keep an emergency fund in case you run into any unexpected costs.

One example: If your buyer comes forward after a home inspection is completed and requests a series of repairs prior to move-in, you’ll be prepared. Chances are good that you won’t necessarily agree with the buyer’s requests, but at least you won’t face the additional stress of being short the money for repairs if you plan ahead and save some extra cash (no set amount — just as much as you can handle.

Try to anticipate and prepare for the initial expenses you’ll face upon move-in. Resign yourself to the fact that during the moving process, you’re going to feel as if you’re holding your wallet upside down, and everyone — movers, contractors, buyer, etc. — is sitting underneath, catching the windfall and demanding a larger share.

Keep in mind that this is an investment for the good of your family, and that these costs are a one-time inevitability.

Remind yourself of why you’re moving in the first place.

Envision your new home. Where will you place the furniture? Remind yourself of the home’s primary selling points. Will you have more space? More closets? A large backyard and/or swimming pool? What does your new streetlook like? As often as possible, try to picture yourself and your family fully adapted to your new environment.

Remember to have a little fun occasionally.

You are still allowed to have fun. Even if you feel as if you don’t have a penny left to your name. Take the family out to dinner, to a movie or a picnic — anything that gets all of you out of the house and away from boxes, paperwork, emotions and all of those pre-move concerns.

Keep a regular “date” to get out together — for example, every Friday night leading up to the move. Take your mind off your stress for a few hours, and remind yourself that your family members are experiencing many of the same emotions. Like misery, stress often loves company, so enjoy your time together and remember that this stress won’t last forever.

Regardless of what you’re feeling now, the move will happen and everything will eventually fall into place.

Journeying into the unknown is what makes life rewarding, so trust in your Realtor®’s expertise and in your family’s resilience, and look forward to the journey ahead.

Our job is to try to make the transfer of ownership as easy as possible. Spend a few minutes and call our office to speak with one of our Real Estate Professionals at 661.220.5506 and get going with GATELY!