Selling your home can be one of the most stressful situations to be in, simply because, for the most part, it's completely out of your hands.  

Whether it be a buyer or a seller's market, being on the selling side is never easy. You are constantly waiting...waiting for showings, waiting for offers, waiting on inspections, waiting on the buyer's conditions to be removed, it can start to feel like a neverending waiting game. 

On top of waiting, you can also add packing, searching for a new home, making life-changing decisions, dealing with your finances, and of course keeping your house in pristine condition while doing so to ensure it's ready for any last-minute showings. We won't lie to you...it's not easy, however, it is temporary! 

JP Real Estate specializes in assisting you throughout the entire process, offering a helping hand, making suggestions, taking some of the workload off your plate, and will be a listening ear because we understand how stressful this can be. 

Here are a few tips on how to manage the stress and anxiety that may arise during the sale of your home. 

Practice Self-Care

It may seem like there are not enough hours in the day, especially now with selling your home, but taking some time to take care of yourself will help you get through this process much easier. Go for a walk, get a massage, have a hot bath, or simply take a few minutes each day to just sit quietly and focus on something other than your to-do list. 

Eating right and ensuring you get enough exercise during this time is extremely important as well. We understand how busy you are and calling to order some take-out or swinging through the drive-thru may seem like a great idea at the time but this will not give you the nourishment and vitamins your body needs. Try meal prepping one day per week so that you have some fresh healthy meals that are easily accessible or ordering food from a local market that provides nutritious meals that at easy to heat up and eat in a hurry.  

Set up a home showing system

Keep your home as tidy as possible at all times so that when the call comes in for a last-minute showing, you're not running around trying to clean it in a hurry. A few decorative boxes around your home are a great place to stash those daily items you use but don't want laying around when someone comes to see your home. You can also start packing early, there's definitely no need to pack your entire home, however, putting the things you don't use often into boxes and storing them neatly in your garage or a spare room will give your home a much tidier and spacious appearance.  

Home staging is another great way to ensure your home is ready to show at the drop of a hat. Having a professional come through your home and stage it to appeal to buyers will assist you in knowing what to remove and what to keep in place.  

Worst Case Scenario Plan 

We don't want to frighten you with this one, but having a 'worst-case scenario plan' in place will save you a lot of headaches if things don't go as planned. For example, if you're purchasing a new home and its dependant upon the sale of your current home, but your current home isn't selling, you need to have a plan in place with your realtor and lender to ensure there are contingencies in place to extend your closing date on the new home. Also, keep an eye on the market, you may not be able to close on that new home, so having an idea of what else is out there is a great backup and will ensure you're ready to start looking right away. 

We understand that these are things you don't even want to think about, but being prepared will make life much easier if things go south.  

Hiring the Right Agent

Hiring an agent you trust, who understands you, your wants and needs, and can guide you through each step of the selling process will give you the peace of mind that you need during this time. 

Find an agent that is willing to sit and listen to all your concerns, worries, desires, and needs for your sale. Your realtor should know you and your expectations. 

Also, be sure that your realtor does a thorough walkthrough of your home and points out any repair that should be made prior to listing your home on the market. This will not only increase your home's value, but it will save you a lot of work and potential disputes with the buyers in the long run. 

Hire someone with excellent communication skills who will be accessible to you when needed, can assist you with inspections, review all documents and explain the "fine print" to you when you're needing some extra help.