What NOT to Do When Buying and Selling a Home

Months ago, I envisioned writing my first blog entry (post social media break) on the ins and outs of executing a contingency buy (selling our home in order to purchase another).  I read through all the necessary exchanges, pinned a variety of sources and ecstatically entered the world of listing my home for sale.  Staging?  Check!  Decluttering?  Double-check!  Shared to social media outlets?  Yes!

Instead, I will share about what not to do.  Though we did, thankfully, accept an offer on our home within three weeks, the process was not nearly as clear-cut as I anticipated.  There were plenty of hiccups along the way.  I present the top four DON’TS of selling and purchasing a home:

4. Purchase another home before selling yours.

The idea sounds terrible.  Because it is.  We did things backwards in this regard.  We fell in love with a home, presented the offer of a contingency buy through a realtor, and then began the process of staging and listing our home for sale.  We were under contract with the new house and all parties were on board.

The owners of our new space decided to make an offer on a dwelling in the midwest.  They attempted a contingency buy within a contingency buy (Inception, anyone?!).  Two weeks passed and because we did not have a buyer for our house, we released said owners from the contract.

Our hearts were broken, and so were theirs.  While we agreed the whole process was not in vain, it likely could have been avoided had we sold our home first.  

Lesson:  You are the rightful owner of a home when you have the keys in hand.

3.  Let your perspective rise and fall based on consumer and/or realtor feedback.

Shortly after listing our home, our realtor began setting up showings for potential buyers.  This was absolutely thrilling! (the first three times…)  Homemade Cinnamon-Sugar Bread?  A must!  Water set out?  You betcha!  Classical music playing in the background?  Check!  Essential oil favorites being diffused?  Of course!

We had about fifteen showings before receiving (and accepting!) an offer.  The two to three weeks in between proved to be a sort of waiting game: waiting for feedback from the other realtors (if they submitted it), feeling ready for someone to bite at a moment’s notice, and praying that the right family would take care of our space.

One of the first feedbacks we received said something to the effect of: “Cute home.  Might want to have crack in the living room inspected; it could potentially scare clients away.”  “What?!”  I thought, “I love that crack; it gives our home character.”  With stained concrete floors throughout, we knew it was nothing to worry about, and that the agent meant well.

Still, the comment stung, and I immediately panicked.  “What if no one wants to purchase our home?!” I lamented to my husband.  “Then it will mean God doesn’t want us to move,” he replied.  Ouch.  Though I knew he was right.

Lesson:  The right people will purchase your home.

2.  Settle for an “alright” home.

I will miss the excitement of looking for the right home.  Truthfully, the search can be downright scary, too!  We looked at a little over ten houses; they appealed to us online.  Many left much to be desired in person.  We began to doubt selling our first home and wondered if we would find one we loved more.

Unless you’re looking for an investment property, or you are into flipping spaces, you want something that is move-in ready.  Don’t settle for a house that is less than what you envision for yourself and/or your family because you fear running out of time.

If any of us (myself, my husband or our realtor) had a “meh” attitude towards the potentials we saw, they were immediately taken off our list.  No questions asked.  This is one of the most important investments you will make; do not settle.

Lesson:  You will buy a home you love.

1.  Take the children to potential homes.

Remember how we did things in the wrong order?  We took the children (all three, ages six and under) to the first home we loved.  They played on the swing set outside (which was a nice bonus!) and were immediately sold, too!

This made it especially confusing for them when things did not work out as we hoped.  We did things differently later. Once all our affairs were certain, and the contracts were in order, we blindfolded them, drove them to our new property and surprised them!  It was a great moment.

Lesson:  Take the children to the new house once it is yours.

We hope you learn from our mistakes and find your dream home.  We give thanks for the new experience of selling our first home and purchasing another.

Now, we move!