Strapped in, stomach churning due to anticipation. Your emotions range from excitement to fear. At times feeling that you cannot breath, then realizing you are holding your breath. You want to scream. You can hear the sound of grinding as the gears begin, slowly being jerked forward. For a moment you want to run away and hide. But yet, your curiosity is so great and the anticipation of what lies ahead too compelling. Slowly, going uphill you smell the gears as they are heating up and grinding to pull the cart upward. Your mind is a jumble. Up, up, up. Finally, you can see the top of the hill approaching. Excitement begins to fill you, then, all becomes black. You have closed your eyes tight. Your hands are clenched onto the bar, holding on for dear life. You can feel the wild breeze blow through your hair and hear a wiz in your ears. You feel yourself descending at a rapid rate. Again, all around is chaos. Screaming. Laughter. You want to get off, but you cannot. You must complete this ride.
If you like rollercoasters the above paragraph may sound like fun. Both of my sons and my husband love rollercoasters. One time they rode 17 times in one day! I get motion sick. Selling your home can feel like a rollercoaster ride.
“We are going to sell our house and find a newer, better, bigger, smaller house” (whatever you are hoping your next home looks like); you excitedly tell everyone you know. You get it all cleaned and ready for photo day. You post the listing link on Facebook. Your stomach starts to churn with anticipation, “When will the phone calls start? When will the first showing be?”
You receive the feedback from the first showing. They don’t like the color of your kitchen; they feel your bathroom is outdated. WHAT??? Now you start to fear that no one will ever want your house. Then you become a little mad. You start to even feel that you cannot breathe, and then you realize you are holding your breath.
Your agent calls – you have an offer! You hear the price of the offer- for a moment you want to run away and hide, your mind is a jumble. Up, up, up, finally the buyer comes to the price you can accept.
The next hill brings you to the The Home Inspection report. The buyer wants what fixed?? You feel yourself heating up and you start to grind your teeth. You have closed your eyes tight. Your hands are clenched, holding on for dear life. Thankfully your agent holds your hand through this part of the ride. You and the buyer come to an agreement on repairs. The buyer’s financing is secure.
Finally, you can see the top of the last hill approaching- closing day. Closing day frequently also means moving day. You feel yourself descending at a rapid rate. Again, all around is chaos. Screaming. Laughter. You want to get off, but you cannot. You must complete this ride.
The roller coaster pulls back into the station, a mix of relief and empowerment wash over you. You survived! It had its ups and downs but was worth it. Selling a home can feel very much the same. At times you are not sure why you ever got on the ride. However when it is over and you have opened a new door you realize it was worth it.