Perhaps you fell in love at first sight. Or maybe it took some time for those feeling to emerge, but if you're like most homeowners, you love your house. After all, it is home and the place where many milestone moments in your life have taken place. There are memories to be dealt with.
If you're ready to sell it, it's time to sever the heartstrings and take a long hard look at those emotional ties. Yes, this is a bit of a breakup. It's time to shed some light on the flaws, deal with the deficiencies and acknowledge it is time to move on.
Leaving gracefully is always a challenge. Do you simply walk away, or do you engage in some home therapy to make the place more appealing to prospective suitors?
You may recall memories of kids and pets frolicking on the family room floor. They see stained and worn carpet.
You see a roof you have nursed through the years with patches and tar. They see a big expense looming on the horizon.
You see the trees you planted as saplings towering high overhead. They see trees that need to be trimmed.
The pool has a small leak, but it was not a big deal to you. It will be to them.
The decision to sell moves the savvy homeowner from owner to seller, and those are two very different stances. As a seller, your house is now a product to be placed on the open market. The days of it functioning as your home are numbered.
It's easy to overlook flaws when you're in love; you've grown accustomed to the quirks and personality of your home. However, those endearing attributes can cost you thousands of dollars when it comes time to sell.
Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800
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Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333
PalosVerdesLifestyle- Norma's award winning site as the best Palos Verdes homes and real estate blog since 2007. Selected by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty blogs. Awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Lender411 blog review. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.
South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Based on information from the Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing as of the initial date of this article/blog publication and /or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.
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Norma, this post is so true. It is funny how different things look when you have someone else's perspective.
Yes, it is so important to help the sellers make the move from home owners to house sellers. They need to make the transition to view the property as buyers would.
Sue of Robin and Sue
Moving on is tough when there are good memories. We have had clients who are glad to move when there are sad memories, hoping for a better next landing. good post.
I was thinking about this as I was painting the outside trim and mailbox at my house yesterday. I love fresh paint and it makes such a great first impression to have everything in tip top condition. Even if you aren't moving just yet, how hard is it to fix small things? Who would want to do all this all at once??
Norma, it's a bit like ripping off a bandaid. Once the decision has been made to move, it's best to get everything done in a business-like fashion. No dilly-dallying, it will only make it harder to leave.
HI NORMA! Very nice way to address this topic! As great as it is to be in love after all those years - flaws and all - when it's time to move on - we must move on with eyes wide open! -- Gab (PS - I re-blogged this - thank you for allowing that option!)
Norma, With my nursing background, I do counseling sessions with sellers. It is very important to have them put closure when they sell the house by advising different ways to say good bye. Don't forget the children's feelings. Sounds like a post coming.
Margaret
Margaret - I moved from Maine to Florida to California (and few more along the way during my days as a corporate wife) with four children, so I've experienced those "parting is such sweet sorrow" feelings. Children are often overlooked in the moving process.