Among those who admitted to shedding a tear, a whopping 20 percent cried 5 or more times during the agonizing process, according to a new Zillow study.

If seeing your home full of moving boxes has made you tear up, you’re not alone.

Thirty-six percent of all American homesellers have cried at some point while selling their home, a nerve-wracking experience that can rival a divorce or dramatic break-up in terms of stress, according to a new Zillow study that also found that a whopping 20 percent of all sellers who admitted to shedding tears did so five or more times during the agonizing process.

“If you’ve ever sold a home before, you know how daunting the process can be,” said Zillow Brand President Jeremy Wacksman in a prepared statement. “Anticipating that stress can be a huge obstacle that keeps homeowners from moving on to the next stage of their lives.”

More than three quarters of Americans who have sold a home in the last three years found the experience stressful.

Among the reasons for anxiety, 70 percent of sellers surveyed for the study acknowledged uncertainty over the sales price while 69 percent worried their home wouldn’t sell within their desired timeframe. Meanwhile, 65 percent worried their offer would fall through and 65 percent had anxiety about repairs and renovations prior to a sale.

According to a separate Zillow survey, 71 percent of people who are selling a home did not properly time how long it would take — for a third of sellers, the process took longer than expected.

Statistically, homes listed between May 1 and May 15 tend to sell faster. Nationwide, homes listed during the first half of May sold six days sooner and for $1,600 more than an average listing.

But in order to avoid real estate-related stress no matter when you sell, Zillow recommends starting the process by getting professional photos of the home for the vast majority of buyers who will start their search online. It’s also a good idea to know the range of prices and be prepared to negotiate and make concessions.

“Our survey found more Americans were stressed over selling their home than planning a wedding, getting fired or becoming a parent,” Wacksman said.

Email Veronika Bondarenko

How do you stay ahead in a changing market? Inman Connect Las Vegas — featuring 250+ experts from across the industry sharing insight and tactics to navigate threat and seize opportunity in tomorrow’s real estate market. Join more than 4,000 top producers, brokers and industry leaders to network and discover what’s next, July 23-26 at the Aria Resort. Hurry! Tickets are going fast, register today!

Thinking of bringing your team? There are special onsite perks and discounts when you buy tickets together. Contact us to find out more.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
Only 3 days left to register for Inman Connect Las Vegas before prices go up! Don't miss the premier event for real estate pros.Register Now ×
Limited Time Offer: Get 1 year of Inman Select for $199SUBSCRIBE×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×