For most homeowners, selling a home feels less like a transaction and more like a second job, one that demands not just your money, but your time. According to Opendoor’s survey of 1,000 recent buyers and sellers on what they call the “Home Move Tax,” the time cost of selling is bigger than most people expect.
What the data shows
- 71% of Americans say selling a home feels like a second job, which is unsurprising once you factor in cleaning, staging, repairs, and showings.
- Employed sellers are losing real work time. The survey estimates Americans lose over $430 million in missed work time preparing homes to sell.
- “Quiet moving” is on the rise: 13% of respondents admitted taking time off without telling their employer to handle moving tasks.
Selling can take a toll on well-being, too: 85% of sellers in the survey reported losing sleep over the sale, driven by worries like an offer falling through (41%), saying goodbye to the home (37%), the wait for offer acceptance (36%), prepping for listing (36%), leaving memories behind (32%), and managing repairs (32%).
Where the time actually goes
Every hour spent on the selling process is an hour not spent on your career, your family, or just catching your breath. Recognizing that cost upfront makes it easier to decide how much of it you want to take on yourself versus hand off.
How the right agent changes the math
A good agent functions as your project manager, advocate, and guide rolled into one by setting a competitive price, staging the home, coordinating showings, managing negotiations, and handling the paperwork. Part of my process with sellers is building a plan of action upfront that outlines the projects most likely to maximize your return while minimizing time on market, plus references to vendors who can help if work is needed.
Beyond the tangible tasks, there’s real value in the peace of mind that comes from local market knowledge and experience including fewer sleepless nights, and more time for what actually matters to you.
Thinking about selling and want a realistic sense of the time and effort involved for your specific home? Let’s talk it through.
Keep reading
Survey data referenced from Opendoor’s Home Move Tax research. Questions about selling your Denver home? Reach out to Marla directly.