Very often people list their home for sale expecting a quick sale at the asking price, thinking buyers will immediately fall in love with it because they love it so much. But the reality is usually very different. Buyers are choosy & see all the flaws, the price keeps getting negotiated down, and/or the house sits on the market unsold far longer than the seller expected. Then disappointment and all those negative feelings set in. With some preparation and planning ahead, though, you can stay positive when selling your house in Kansas City even if it takes a little longer than you’d like.
Fall Out of Love
The reality: not everyone will love your home as much as you do. So the first step you can take to stay positive when selling your house is to fall out of love with it – or at least try to view it with a critical, realistic eye. Otherwise, you’re likely headed for disappointment.
A good move toward this end is to remove all your personal items to help you transition mentally from owner to seller. We want buyers to envision the potential of themselves in the home and not be distracted by personal affects. The idea is to achieve some distance from your home so that it becomes a house you’re selling and also helps make your upcoming move simpler and more organized. If your attachment to it remains too strong, it could cloud your judgment during negotiations or at other critical points.
Get Involved
One of the best ways not to stay positive when downsizing in Kansas City is just to sit back, let your agent do everything, and wait for buyers to come flocking and waving money. Yes, your agent is the knowledgeable professional, but you have a part to play as well. Working alongside your agent before your home goes on the market and communicating about your game plan strategy will make the process feel more simple and streamlined. Staying on track with each step will help you feel more in control with the downsizing process & usually nets our sellers more money on the sale of their home. Once your home goes active on the market it needs to be available for showings – which is very important to keep your downsizing in Kansas City plans moving along. Aside from staying actively engaged, just doing something, always helps in maintaining a positive attitude.
Be Reasonable on Price
This is related to our first suggestion to help you stay positive when downsizing and selling your house in Kansas City (falling out of love with your house). Sometimes sellers are unrealistic about what their home is worth in the market. You may think your home is worth every bit of your asking price and that the price is worth holding out for, but a lot of buyers won’t see it that way. So you have to do some research and be reasonable. Work with your Seniors Real Estate Specialist® to discuss your goals and review professional data when determining a target list price. Having a game plan is always important.
In reality, your house is worth only what buyers are willing to pay for it. And to get a good idea of what that is, you’ll need to look at similar homes in the area that have sold recently. A little research here will keep you from pricing unreasonably high and so causing your house to sit unsold for months and months.
Strive for the “Homey” Feel
One of the best ways to stay positive when downsizing in Kansas City and selling your home is simply to feel confident that you’ve put all the odds in your favor and prepared well with the guidance of your downsizing professional who’s been through the process many times before. When you have, a sale fairly soon is in your favor! But you do have to make sure you give your house a”homey” feel so buyers can envision it as their own home.
A good way to proceed is to visit some of your local competing open houses and see what they are doing right. This is what buyers in your area are going to see and compare your home to & what their money can buy in the current market. In general, though, you need to make sure the curb appeal is crisp and refreshed, the kitchen is cheery and inviting, that you’ve removed everything that personalizes the living room, and that the home overall is de-cluttered, fresh and clean. The idea is to create an emotional response in buyers that will translate into an offer.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of the common “misconceptions” when you’re trying to sell a home. But most of these misconceptions can be dispelled, and you can stay positive when selling your house in Kansas City, with some mental and physical preparation. Of course, the best way to stay positive is to know you’re in good professional hands.
