How stressful is selling your home? Respondents in one survey ranked it higher than divorce, losing a job and becoming a first-time parent. Emotions can cause you to make bad decisions at a time when it's important to keep a clear head. Here are some expert tips to keep your emotions in check when selling your home. 

1. Understand Why You're Selling
   Have you accepted a great new job offer? Maybe you need more room for your growing family. Understanding why you're selling your home lets you focus on the ultimate goal and keep from being distracted by bumps and curves along the way.
2. Declutter and Depersonalize
   As you prepare to sell your home and move to a new one, reminders of memories made in your current house will assume even more important to you. Make a point to clear any clutter and pack up photos, souvenirs, and other personal memorabilia. In addition to minimizing your attachment, this activity will make your home more attractive to potential buyers.
3. Avoid Expectations
   Unfulfilled expectations lead to disappointment, which in turn leads to emotional thinking. For instance, if you set your mind on selling your home within a specific time period and it doesn't happen, you may start to panic and make poor decisions. Deal with the factors you can control and stay flexible with the rest.
4. Stay Out of Showings and Open Houses
   As a home seller, it's only natural to be curious about the reactions of potential buyers, but the homeowner side of you makes it hard to remain neutral in the face of negative comments or disinterest. Make it easier on yourself and buyers by finding somewhere else to be during showings and open houses. 
5. Set an Accurate Sell Price
   Your home may be priceless in your eyes, but buyers aren't paying for sentimental value. Don't let emotion cloud objectivity and cause you to scare buyers off with an inflated price. Study the current housing market, particularly in your neighborhood, and price your home accordingly.
6. Follow a Positive Lifestyle
   When stress causes you to lose sleep or eat poorly, it affects you emotionally as well as physically. Ultimately you end up in a vicious circle where bad health and negative emotions feed off each other. Don't let the process of selling your home consume your days. Take care of yourself and make time for enjoyable activities to maintain balance.
7. Hire a Real Estate Agent
   ​​​​​​​The real estate industry is constantly changing, so no matter how many homes you've sold, it's difficult to stay up-to-date on trends, regulations and market conditions. An experienced real estate agent can skillfully guide you through the process and be an objective third party to keep you on track.

Selling your home is a potent emotional experience.  Acknowledge your feelings, but don't let them take over. Approach the sale as the business transaction it is and pour your emotions into making your new house a home.

A garage sale is an ideal way to get rid of clutter, earn extra cash, and make your home look more appealing--especially if you're listing it for sale. People don't want to see your kids' toys or the book you're reading when they come to an open house. They want to imagine their things in the house. A garage sale can also help you save on moving costs. Instead of paying to move everything you own to your new home, a garage sale will lighten the load of moving plus put money in your pocket.

Here are three pointers to plan your way to a successful garage sale.

1. Increase Your Curb Appeal
   When you have a yard sale, the front of your home is like the entrance to a conventional store. People may choose not to check out your sale if your yard looks run down or unkempt.
   
   Taking care of your yard will make your home easier to sell and get you higher prices for your garage sale items. Mow your lawn, remove weeds, and have any cracks in your driveway or your sidewalk repaired. If needed, repaint your siding and your front door. Make sure items like bikes that aren't for sale are out of sight. If your property is large or you have lots of overgrown trees and shrubs, you can save time by using a landscaping company to trim all your vegetation and plant some appealing flowers.
2. Advertise
   You can post free classified ads on many websites. Add photos of the items you're offering if possible. You should also let your friends know about your garage sale through social media and post an ad in your local paper. On the day of the event, add a few signs to your front yard, and put signs around your neighborhood with your address, the time of the sale, and arrows to let people know which way to go.
3. Organize Your Items
   Sort through your belongings to ensure you don't inadvertently dispose of anything you want to keep. Then, put the items you want to sell on folding tables or clothing racks, and put the things you want to get rid of most in the front. Dust knickknacks or furniture and wash musty clothing or blankets. Don't place small items on your lawn or your floor. Most people don't want to have to bend over to shop, and some people could have trouble reaching objects on the ground. Also, make sure that you have plenty of change and a way to accept payments electronically.

Having a garage sale that's easy to find with reasonable prices will help you let neighbors know that you're moving. It can even attract potential buyers. After the garage sale, much of the work you do to prepare will continue to attract people and help you get a higher price for your home.