Zillow was out Monday with this revelation: Selling a home is one of the most stressful experiences in modern life, second only to a relationship break-up.
More than three quarters of Americans who have sold a home in the past three years say it was a stressful experience, and it could easily become more stressful as the market slows and turns in favor of buyers. According to a new Zillow® survey, 36% of home sellers say the process left them in tears, with millennials and parents far more likely to cry at some point during the sale.
Of those who cried, 20% shed tears five times or more. It’s no wonder. In a world of hyper-connection and on-demand everything, selling a home traditionally is one of the few things that has not gotten easier over time.
“If you’ve ever sold a home before, you know how daunting the process can be,” said Zillow Brand President Jeremy Wacksman. “Anticipating that stress can be a huge obstacle that keeps homeowners from moving on to the next stage of their lives. Our survey found more Americans were stressed over selling their home than planning a wedding, getting fired or becoming a parent.”
Selling a home can be challenging for many reasons. Among those surveyed, 70% were stressed by uncertainty over the sale price, 69% were stressed their home wouldn’t sell in their desired time frame, 65% were stressed an offer would fall through and 65% were stressed about fixing up their home for sale.
According to Zillow’s latest research, 61% of sellers are buying a new home at the same time, which adds significant pressure and financial complexity to the process. Zillow’s survey shows that nearly 7 out of 10 people mistimed the process, with more than one-third saying the sale of their home took longer than expected. Sellers can take steps to help speed up, streamline and de-stress the process:
- Prepare your home for sale early and be strategic about when to list. Nationwide, the best time to sell a home is May 1 to May 15. Homes sold in the first half of May sell six days faster and for $1,600 more than the average listing. The Zillow Owner Dashboard is the fastest way to learn which month is the best to list a house in your area.
- Pay attention to online curb appeal. The vast majority of buyers begin their home search online so talk to your agent about using high-resolution photography to highlight your home’s unique features on all devices.
- Be ready to make concessions. Zillow research finds 83% of sellers make trade-offs with buyers, the most common being the inclusion of appliances in the sale.
