HOME TRENDS
How to Reduce the Anxiety of Selling, Buying a Home
written by JENNIFER BLAKE REALTOR, LICENSED IN MD. AND PA. SULLIVAN SELECT LLC Deciding to buy or sell a home is a major decision. I wish I could say that you will have a stress-free experience dealing with the real estate market, but I can’t. There will be some factors in the process that tend to create anxiety. The good news is that preparing for and understanding the process will help alleviate many of the unknowns. The best way to start the endeavor is to hire an experienced real estate agent to guide you through the process. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced investor, having the right agent is imperative. When moving, it’s easy to create negative scenarios with unknown factors that weigh on our minds. Communicate anxieties, ask questions and seek answers. Once your agent explains the hurdles involved with buying or selling a home, the unknowns become fewer and the bigger picture begins to emerge. Maintaining your mental health and general wellness will greatly affect the outcome. Taking obstacles one step at a time is a great approach. For example, if you need to be approved for a loan, do that step first. If you know you want to sell your house, then start preparing it for sale. Once you commit to that and study your options, the rest of the process will fall into place. A positive mental attitude is crucial to having a less stressful experience.
Understanding outcomes is helpful to keep anxiety at bay. There might be challenges if you sell your home, such as buyer financing falling through, unreasonable repair requests, changes in settlement dates or movers not being able to relocate you in time. Buying a home creates its own set of challenges – between low inventory, offers not being accepted and difficulty asking for reasonable repairs. I like to point out that establishing a worst-case scenario contingency plan helps tremendously. There are always ways to make deals work if both parties are willing to compromise somewhat and keep their focus on the bigger picture. A fantastic way to deal with stress is to visualize the outcome and practice self-care: • Pack some boxes, then do some stretches or yoga. • Play your favorite music while preparing for your move. • Take walks to get out of your house and make time to enjoy nice days. • Pack one room at a time. • Drink plenty of water and rest when you can. • Continue your daily health routine. • If you are exhausted, get a massage or visit with friends. You will survive this process and you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Your best days are ahead. For more information, contact: Jennifer Blake Sullivan Select LLC 13146 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown Jenblakehomesales 301-745-5500 • Cell: 410-746-4420
