I spend a lot of time helping other people sell their homes. I offer advice, calm nerves, and remind my sellers to trust the process.
Then I put my own home on the market—and apparently forgot everything I tell everyone else. 🤣
Let me tell you, being the homeowner gives you a whole different perspective. Here are five things selling my own home has taught me.
1. Be patient. Yes, I’m talking to myself.
I always tell my sellers, “Be patient. There is a buyer out there.”
Well, guess who needs to take her own advice?
I know homes don’t always sell overnight. But when it’s your home, you start checking for updates, wondering why someone hasn’t scheduled a showing, and questioning everything.
Knowing how the process works doesn’t mean you suddenly stop having feelings about it.
2. Don’t cry over spilled milk—or every little imperfection.
I stressed and stressed about how my home looked. Should I repaint? Redo something? Change this? Replace that?
For my home, what I really needed to focus on was making it clean, decluttered, and welcoming. I didn’t have to repaint, redo, or reinvent every room.
It’s easy to look around a home you’ve lived in and see every little flaw. Sometimes you need to step back and give buyers room to see its possibilities.
3. A showing is a blessing, even when you still live there.
When you’re living in the home you’re selling, getting ready for a showing can feel like a whole event.
Pick everything up. Wipe the counters. Check the bathrooms. Gather everybody up and get out the door.
But I’m reminding myself that a showing is an opportunity. Someone saw enough potential in my home to want to walk through it.
That deserves a little gratitude—even if I’m wiping down the kitchen one more time.
4. Know what you have—and what buyers value.
Selling my own home has reminded me to look beyond the things I personally love about it and think about what matters to a buyer.
That might mean highlighting storage, outdoor space, or a flexible layout. It might also mean considering a home warranty, a year of pest control, or help with closing costs.
Those details can give buyers something meaningful to consider. The question becomes: What about this home could make someone’s next chapter easier?
5. Cool your jets.
This one probably needs to be taped to my refrigerator.
The first two weeks may not bring an offer. Sometimes the first two months don’t either. That waiting can feel personal when you’ve poured so much into a home.
But patience also means staying informed. Trust your agent to watch the market, listen to feedback, and help you recognize when an adjustment makes sense.
And when you’re the agent selling your own home? Take a breath and listen to the advice you would give your own client.
Selling my own home has reminded me how much emotion comes with that sign in the yard. It represents memories, effort, and plans you’re ready to move toward.
I’ve always known that about my sellers. Now I feel it a little differently.
So if you’re trying to sell your home and feeling impatient, overwhelmed, or tired of keeping the counters spotless, I understand.
I’m right there with you—learning to take my own advice, one showing at a time. 🤍
Leave a Reply