Advice for Home Sellers from Kelly Raulston's Personal Experience

My husband and I chose to put our home on the market. There was a home that we were interested in, but we had to sell our home in order to purchase. During this time there were good moments, bad moments, and ugly moments. We both worked full time jobs, and the time that we had, we used to it to rest or better ourselves. But the process of getting our home on the market, was also a fulltime job.

Travis and I….

• Debated over what items to get rid of vs. what to keep
• Were overwhelmed with the amount of stuff we had
• High-fived when we made progress (big and little)
• Reached out for help when we realized we needed it
• Still made time for things that were important for us (working out, celebrating moments with loved ones…)
• Started falling in love with our house again
• Celebrated when we got the house we wanted under contract.
• Were up
• Were down
• Were tired
• Went around and around

I tell you this because I am REAL. Yes, I am a successful and productive real estate agent. Yes, I have helped my clients countless times getting their home on the market. But YES, I truly understand how it feels to get my personal home on the market.

Other Than...

1. Working with a licensed real estate agent who you can trust, communicate with, and will be a proactive member of your team.
2. Talk to your local lender BEFORE you put your home on the market to know your budget.

Advice For Home Sellers:

• If you are even remotely thinking about selling your home, ever, start de-cluttering and de-personalizing. Depending on your lifestyle, this could take the most time.
  • Before you pack an item, ask yourself if you need to donate that item, or trash the item. This is an opportunity for you to eliminate items in your home that no longer spark joy. Moving gives you an opportunity to FINALLY get rid of the items that you have squirreled away and haven’t touched in years.
• Ask for help. If someone offers to help you, take the help.
  • Whether is it staging advice, moving, borrowing their truck, taking you out for coffee, mowing the lawn, cleaning… if someone is willing to help you, take the help. It is easy for your pride to get in your way; however, your pride may cost you more time.
• Release control over things you have no control over.
  • This is easier said than done. The sooner you realize this, the better the process will feel. Sure, there may be stressful times, but it is how you react to them that will change the process.
• Realize what you have time for, and what you do not have time for.
  • Items you have time to do, make them a priority and use your time as efficiently as possible.
    •  If you only have an hour to work on the house, set the timer for 60 minutes, and clean the whole time.
    • If you want to be able to fit in “you” time, wake up earlier in the day to work on you.
  • Items you do not have time for, and if the budget allows for it, hire it out.
• Eat healthy meals and drink plenty of water (balanced with carbs, protein, and fat).
  • This will give you more energy to help you move boxes, the patience to handle stress, and potentially keep you fuller longer so you aren’t tempted by junk.

Remember...

Just like other phases of life, this won’t last forever. This is only temporary. You have goals, and selling your home may be able to help you reach those goals. 

Kelly Raulston

“Reliable and Ready” REALTOR® since 2016. I was born in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, but was raised in Texas since 1997. When I found out we were moving to Plano, Texas, I remember looking forward to riding a horse to school and a brand-new pair of cowboy boots! Growing up in Plano prepared me to be competitive, quick, and to have a strong work ethic. I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Axe’em Jacks! That is where my love for East Texas began. The nature, warm smiles, football games, and community values can't be beat! I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. I was a middle school math teacher in Tyler, Texas. I met my husband, Travis, in Sunday school, and we have been married since September 2016. I love being a REALTOR® in East Texas! Relationships are genuine, the area is beautiful, and the market is rockin’! I am an involved REALTOR® to better the community. Some of the organizations I am involved with are: The Professional Development Committee, Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee, and Tyler Educational Networking Group. Some awards I have won were “The Hustle Award” in 2016, and “Rookie of the Year” in 2017. When I am not working with my clients, I like to spend quality time with my friends and family doing the following: running, target practice, read and participate in book club, and playing with my dachshund Greta.