Buyers Remorse: 4 Ways to Conquer It

You’ve finally signed the last document. That “For Sale” sign turns to “Sold” in front of your brand-new home. The real estate agent hands you the keys, and you’re full of emotions. You should feel on top of the world, excited to move into a home of your very own. But what if you don’t feel good? What if, in fact, you feel bad? You feel anxiety over buying a house, and you’re panicked. This, my friends, is buyer’s remorse.

Why do I care about you and your remorse? Not so long ago, I also bought a house. I felt overwhelmed with creating a new budget, navigating property taxes, and all of the maintenance work I had ahead of me. Eventually, however, I overcame the fear of first-time home-ownership and grew to love my house, living day to day in my home without a care in the world. How did I conquer the hand-wringing existence you currently find yourself in? Follow these tips to help calm your nerves and fast-track your way into the rewarding world of home-ownership.

Control only what you can control
Stoic philosophers believed that to live a more content life, you should attempt to control only the things you have the ability to control. Even though they were pretty much constantly getting exiled, those guys knew their stuff.

You may feel like you’re on the brink of a full-fledged panic attack, but try to calm your fears and give this new home a chance. (Plus, you paid your closing costs, and you can’t turn back so easily now.) So strap yourself in. This is your reality now, so control what you can and make the best of it.

Remind yourself of all the reasons why you bought the home in the first place. This wasn’t a split-second decision, after all. You put in a lot of time, money, and effort to find your perfect home. You might be surprised at how quickly those anxious feelings fade when you focus on accepting (and enjoying!) your new space.

Check off one thing
Now that you’ve accepted that this is your new house, why are you panicking? Is it because you worry you will lose your job and miss your mortgage payments? Is it because there are many improvements to make to your house?

Make a list of your worries or concerns and solve just one of them. Paint a room, put in a new light fixture, or set a new emergency fund savings goal. Cross one thing off your list, and you’ve just made progress toward settling into daily life as a homeowner.

Throw a party!
Most well-adjusted adults don’t use “party” as a verb. But it’s time to make an exception, because when you buy a house? It’s time to party. Have a cookout, host a grown-up dinner party, or throw a tailgating party in your new home. The point is: Gather your friends, family, and loved ones in your home for a celebration. The enthusiasm will be contagious. Your guests will be genuinely excited for you and your new home purchase, and some of that excitement might just rub off on you too.

Find your favorite place
Walk around your house and consider each room. Be mindful of the light and of the space. Find your favorite place in your house and just enjoy it. Drink it in. Appreciate this spot. It’s the best spot in the house and this is your house. You bought it!

Whenever you feel your anxious mind running away again with buyer’s remorse, come back to this spot. This is a good, relaxing spot. It’s home. And soon the rest of the house will be too. Take a deep breath. Your buyer’s remorse will pass, and eventually, when you’re enjoying your new home (and maybe even considering buying a vacation house), you’ll wonder why you ever worried.

Source: Trulia.com, written by John Viera

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