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Are you a home owner or a home seller? Making the decision to pack up and move on to the next chapter in one's life is monumental. Whether prompted by death in the family, divorce, job relocation or simply down-sizing as empty-nesters -- having a positive outlook and looking forward not backwards is key to letting go.

Having resided in a home for possibly decades, the task for many of diving in and and purging opens up deep seated emotions and can be an overwhelming event. We've come to recognize that the home selling process, while wrenching for some, can actually be cathartic and healing. Letting go requires adjusting viewpoints. The house and property that has been a home filled with memories must now be treated and perceived as a product for sale. Once this hurdle has been reached, homeowners find that the freedom while a bit scary, is indeed liberating. Until you as a home owner have made this commitment to become a home seller that is ready to move on, you may find that the selling process is hindered and frustrating. How so?

Unwittingly, when a homeowner is not truly committed to the selling process, he/she becomes their own worst enemy. Typically, home owners not ready to sell become deflective and take personal offense to recommendations for additional professional service guidance and recommendations, become overly involved in aspects and details, and ultimately slow and hinder the overall selling process.

Here are some examples of tell-tale seller behavior that may help you to identify if you yourself have made the transition from home owner to become a home seller and are truly commited to selling and moving forward:

• Home Owner: Showing requests are annoying and viewed as intrusive. Needless restrictions are place on availability and the homeowner is inflexible. Home Seller: "Yes! Another showing!"

• Home Owner: The listing agent is required to be present for all showings--even when the potential buyer is working with another experienced, licensed and reputable realtor. Home Seller: Recognizes that only licensed realtors are allowed to show properties, and the presence of the listing agent can make the buyers feel rushed and not free to explore and consider how they would use and enjoy the home. The presence of the listing agent often breaks any possible emotional attachment that may be growing in the buyer as they become uncomfortable. Furthermore, its impedes the buyer's agent from being able to work with his clients openly when discussing making an offer.

• Home Owner: Unrealistic expectations are imposed upon the listing agent to come prior to all showing appointments to disarm/rearm security systems, turn on/off lights and open/close drapes, water plants etc. While circumstances vary from one household to the next, some expectations are not always in the best interest of getting a property sold. Home Seller: Recognizes that only licensed realtors are allowed to show properties; when security remains a concern, a house sitter or trusted friend/neighbor/family member is enlisted to maintain flexibility for showings; light timers are placed throughout the house to accommodate out-of-town or non-resident situations.

• Home Owner: The first inclination is to 'temporarily pull from the market' or to refuse showings when going out-of-town or when attempting to accommodate untidy family members that may be staying at the house. Home Seller: The entire household is engaged in the process and is cooperative; recognizes that elongating the process only generates more carrying costs, prolongs the inevitable sale of the property, and results in the final sale at a discount.

• Home Owner: Over inflates the selling price against the recommendations of the listing agent, possibly setting a high dollar with a 'willingness to stay' if that figure is not met. Home Seller: Gets comps from their agent and discusses best pricing based upon the variables of market time, economy, comparables, actual property value; is open to pricing strategy which may include price reductions.

• Home Owner: "My home is perfect and if the buyer can't see that, they're not the right buyer for my home." Resists styling and staging recommendations intended to appeal beyond the scope of the present home owners' personal style. When addressing previously long overdue deferred home maintenance, the home owner nit-picks  and wrestles with professional services over details and pricing. Home Seller: Wants to be competitive with its own comparables. Looks for time efficient and cost efficient ways to address deferred home issues that could deter a potential buyer, and/or generate a less than optimum selling price.

Have you identified whether or not you are ready to sell? Perhaps someone in your household is having difficulty with the process and slowing down the progress? We can help.

Contact our team and let us put our professional service to work for you!