The journey of selling a home rarely runs smoothly and can cause homeowners an untold amount of stress – from broken chains to property inspections revealing unexpected issues that can wreak havoc on resale value.
Previous research from Legal and General has revealed that moving home is widely considered to be the most stress-inducing life event that adults can experience, even more so than having a baby or going through a divorce.
With this in mind, the property experts at GetAgent have worked with Master Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and hypnosis expert Rebecca Lockwood to create a 10-minute hypnosis track, designed to provide those currently selling their home with the tools to relax and calmly deal with anything the process throws at them.
Stress can manifest itself in several ways, with a lack of sleep and stress-induced illness being two of the main consequences which can have a serious impact on your ability to cope with not only the process itself, but day to day life.
With 12,000 searches every year for “moving house stress” the estate agent comparison portal has partnered with Rebecca to provide a set of useful tips on how to get through the process without losing your cool, alongside a hypnosis track which is designed to reduce the feelings of stress throughout.
Rebecca commented: “When we feel stressed about how something is going to resolve itself, stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol build up – which can cause the body to go into fight or flight mode.
“During hypnosis, you are taken on a relaxation journey to release these stress hormones from your body. You’re encouraged to focus on the positive outcomes, and trust in the process, and this is why hypnosis can be an ideal technique to aid relaxation and cause a reduction in stress and anxiety for those selling a house.
“There are so many things outside of your control when you move house, whether you’re selling or buying a property, and so taking time out of your day to listen to a hypnosis track could be a great way to re-centre, focus on the positives and trust that your journey will work out in the end.”
Rebecca’s Quick Fixes for In-The-Moment Stress
Listen to a short meditation audio that helps to relieve stress
Place your hand on your heart and breathe deeply: in through your nose and out through your mouth for five breaths
Put on your favourite music and just listen – dance if you feel compelled to!
Rebecca reminds anyone going through this to bear in mind that hypnosis is most effective when you stay open to the process.
She commented: “It’s important to remember that hypnosis is supposed to support you to feel relaxed and comfortable, and to help you achieve feelings you want to feel.
“When listening to a hypnosis track, sit somewhere comfortably, with your head supported, or lay down somewhere comfy if this is preferable. Avoid any distractions by turning your phone off and go to a place where you won’t be easily disturbed; the more you can immerse yourself in the experience of being hypnotised, the more likely you’ll be able to reap the benefits.”
Practical Tips For Minimising House-Selling Stress
Colby Short, co-founder and CEO of GetAgent added: “We understand just how stress-inducing selling a property can be, with many feeling like they have a huge lack of control over the process. Selling your home and moving to a new one is a really daunting experience, and it’s totally normal to feel like it’s a bit much sometimes. Go at your own pace and remember that you’ll soon be settled in your new home – and all the stress will have been worth it.
However, whilst a little bit of stress is unavoidable – and to be expected – there are some practical things you can do to minimise pressure:
1. Find a reliable estate agent. Don’t rely on the highest valuation, and instead use hard data to pick the best agent for you, in order to give yourself the best chance of selling your home.
2. Decide if it’s really the right time to sell your property – our data shows that March, May and June are the most popular months for sellers to put their homes on the market, but the right time for you will depend on personal and financial circumstances – as well as the state of the local market.
3. Getting necessary house checks and surveys completed as early on in the process as possible.
4. Ensure your property is valued correctly in order to minimise the chances of a sale falling through at a later date.
5. Choose the right buyer – while it may be tempting to go for the highest offer, consider how confident you are in a prospective buyer, as their financial position and logistical situation (and overall reliability) could affect how successful the final sale is.
The biggest thing to remember though, is that selling your home is supposed to be an exciting period of your life! Moving home, for whatever reason, is an amazing opportunity to try new things and change up parts of your lifestyle and daily routine. Whether it’s joining a new gym, or redecorating a space that wasn’t bringing you joy, moving house can bring numerous benefits, once you get through the hard part.”
