Selling a House? Good Grief.

Last week I wrote about how the traditional emotional model of grief might apply to the housing market in general. If you recall, the model is depicted by:

• Shock – Is this real?
• Denial – This isn’t happening to me!
• Anger – Why is this happening to me?
• Bargaining – I promise I’ll be a better person if…
• Depression – I don’t care anymore.
• Acceptance – I’m ready for whatever comes.

As I reviewed this entry, I noticed that it suspiciously applies to so much more. For example, I just went through all of these steps during the course of my 5 minute stop at the gas pump this morning, as I watched the numbers whirl by on the gas pump meter.  Then, another flashback, which brought me back to the sale of my last house. That’s why this looks so familiar! This is the exact mental process that I went through when we listed our house for sale:

• Shock – It’s been 30 days and no offers?
• Denial – This isn’t happening to me!
• Anger – Why is this happening to me?
• Bargaining – I guess I need to lower the price.
• Depression – I don’t care anymore.
• Acceptance – …until another 30 days pass. Then it’s either return to step 1 and begin again, or accept the next offer that comes along…sigh…