There are two sighs of relief I always talk about with my clients when they’re feeling nervous or overwhelmed about selling.
The first one comes when the photos are done.
Up until that moment, selling a home can feel like a never-ending to-do list. Organising trades, tidying up loose ends, getting everything ready, and feeling like there’s always one more thing to do. It’s tiring, emotional, and often overwhelming.
Then the photographer packs up.
Suddenly, the hard preparation is behind you. The property has been captured at its absolute best, and that first sigh of relief is a big one. It feels like crossing the starting line. The home is no longer just “getting ready to sell”. It’s officially on its way to market.
For many sellers, this is simply a moment to pause and catch their breath. The nerves are still there, but the pressure of preparation has lifted. One chapter has closed, and the next is about to begin.
The second sigh of relief comes after the first open home.
This one is different.
Leading up to that first open, nerves often return. Will people show up? Will they like it? Will they see the potential? There’s often a lot of emotion tied to that first inspection, especially when a home holds years of memories.
Then the open home happens.
Buyers walk through. Feedback comes in. There are real questions, real reactions, and genuine interest. Suddenly, the property feels validated. It’s no longer just your home. It’s a home others can picture themselves living in.
That second sigh of relief isn’t about ticking a box. It’s reassurance. It’s the moment many sellers realise, “Okay, this is working.” The market has responded, and the journey feels real and manageable.
Selling a property isn’t just a financial process. It’s an emotional one. These two moments, getting the photos done and completing the first open home, often mark the biggest mental shifts for sellers.
And when my clients are feeling overwhelmed at the beginning, this is what I remind them of. Those sighs of relief are coming. And when they do, the process suddenly feels a whole lot lighter.