We know moving is emotional. We’ve been there.
Buying and selling a home can be one of the most significant transactions in a person’s
life. It is a process that can be filled with excitement, anticipation, and, at times,
frustration. Homeownership represents an achievement of a goal for many people, and
it can often trigger strong emotions. However, as much as it can be a joyous
experience, it can also be very emotional.
In the past year, both Jessica and I have moved. As we advocate, we started with a pre-
approval to understand our budgets, and really laid out our needs and wants. The
emotional rollercoaster of buying and selling a home began with the search for the
perfect property. For each of us, the search was somewhat overwhelming, leading to
anxiety when we didn’t know where we’d live. In my case, I was outbid on my first offer,
and quickly had to move on to the next. We each had an idea of where we wanted to be
in the Des Moines metro, which limited our options overall. Luckily, I was able to find the
right home before it came on the market (which, by the way, is something we always try
to do for our buyers).
Once I found my home and was under contract, the next stage brought feelings of
elation and excitement, but also uncertainty. Even though I had been through this
process before, both personally and professionally with my clients, I panicked at every
step: inspection, underwriting for my loan, appraisal, and more. In fact, I inundated my
poor lender with calls every other day, asking for an update. Essentially, I became the
“needy” client, with myself as a REALTOR® tasked with talking myself off the ledge
regularly.
At the same time, it was time to sell my previous home. Like many sellers, I felt
bittersweet about the process, bouncing back and forth from sadness and nostalgia at
closing this chapter to excitement at moving on to new opportunities. The most daunting
task in front of me was preparing my old home for sale: pre-packing, staging, styling,
moving things, and getting rid of all the stuff. Shameless plug: Luckily, I own a national
staging company for sellers to prepare their homes for sale: Stagerie, so I knew exactly
what to do.
The day of our first showing, I’ll confess frankly, I was a nervous wreck. It’s extremely
difficult to open your home to strangers and wait to see if it’s good enough for them! But
the house was ready, the cats were gone, and we managed to sell on the first showing
with the ideal offer for all parties.
Even after an agreement has been reached, the home inspection process can add more
stress and anxiety. Home inspections can uncover issues that buyers didn’t originally
see, leading to feelings of disappointment or anger. Meanwhile, sellers may feel a
sense of frustration and discouragement if issues come up during the inspection
process. Luckily, my house had been well maintained, and the inspection process in this
case didn’t uncover any major repairs.
Finally, the closing process can bring a range of emotions, including relief, satisfaction,
and sometimes even disappointment. While closing on my new home was a fulfilling
moment, saying goodbye to my former home was bittersweet.
In conclusion, we know from experience that buying and selling a home can be an
incredibly emotional experience. It is a process that involves high stakes and significant
investments, and it can trigger a range of emotions, from excitement and anticipation to
frustration and anxiety. Our goal is to walk through this process with you, validate all
your emotions, and advise you as to your options in a way that keeps you grounded.
Considering a move? If you have a REALTOR®, that’s great. If you don’t, the Home Sweet Des Moines team (brokered by Realty ONE Group Impact) is ready to help. Here’s how to contact us:
● Nora Crosthwaite: [email protected], 515-783-9815
● Tawnia Martin: [email protected], 515-867-4436
● Jessica Shanley: [email protected], 515-707-5750
We’d love to help.
And even if you’re not moving, feel free to say hi. We love all our clients, past, present, and future!
Have a fabulous spring and summer!
Licensed in the state of Iowa
Home Sweet Des Moines – Realty ONE Group Impact
