Do You Have Decision Fatigue When it Comes to Real Estate?

Are you struggling to make decisions? You’re not alone. Do you know that decision fatigue is a real thing? We can all struggle with decision-making, especially when we have so many decisions to make. Most of us have a large number of decisions to make each day. What do we wear? What do we eat? Where do we go? We make business decisions, household decisions, and leisure decisions. And, the more complex the decision, the more likely it is that our energy will be depleted.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, there are countless and complex decisions you have to make. So, don’t be surprised if decision fatigue sets in. It’s normal. And, it’s very understandable.

Think about it, real estate is chock-full of difficult choices to make. You have so many options to choose from, which can cause you to get overwhelmed, tired, and immobilized. What Realtor do I choose? When is the best time to sell? Is it a good time to buy? Do I need to meet with a lender? What lender? Should I make repairs before I sell the house? The list goes on and on, and so do the decisions.

When decision fatigue sets in, there are some things you can do to avoid shutting down. Or worse, from making bad decisions.

1. Recognize that decision fatigue is normal.

Begin by recognizing that the real estate process is overwhelming and decision fatigue is normal. Recognizing decision fatigue will not only inform you, but it will move you to prioritize your decisions and to manage your time and your processes well.

2. Focus on the most important things first.

What are the most important things? That depends, but usually, the important things start with your significant others and your real estate team. Involve your decision-makers at the start and rely on your professionals to help you prioritize your most important decisions. Prioritizing your decisions will help you to focus on first things first.  Consider batching or grouping your decisions. Batching is a great way to simplify the decision-making process.

3. Minimize your options.

The more choices you have, the more drain on your brainpower. Get clear on the end goal and define what you really need and want. It’s better to have a few really good options than a ton of mediocre or poor options.

4. Set some time limits.

Decide upfront how much time you want to give to certain decisions and how much time you are going to allow yourself to execute those decisions. Limits help you to avoid distractions and keep you accountable so that you can concentrate on your housing decisions.

5. Don’t rehash things.

There is no such thing as a perfect decision (or home), so once you’ve made a decision, stop second-guessing yourself.  It’s a game-stopper.  Move forward.

6. Take a break.

It’s ok to tell your Realtor and team that you feel overwhelmed. Tired. Buying or selling real estate is a huge investment of time and money. So, if you feel decision-fatigue raising its ugly head, say so. And then take a break. Taking a break and getting some rest will help you recharge and will refresh your brain.

When it comes to real estate, or any important life decision, it’s important to gauge your energy. Decision fatigue can be a source of stress and can cause you to make poor decisions or no decision at all. So, give your brain a break. Get help and rely on the professionals to navigate the complicated processes for you. Your best decisions are made when things are simplified and streamlined. Better choices result in a better process and lead to success, so when decision fatigue sets in, be sure to follow these simple steps. You’ll feel better, and your home buying and home selling process will be better, too!