Enough already. I tried. I really did. I cleaned, I feng shui-ed, I put in flowers, I made attractive flyers, I staged, I did it all. I’m done. I’m throwing in the towel. This house is NOT for sale. The May mantra is no longer “sell this house.” Now it has become “love this home.”

I wanted to sell. I wanted to make the change for several reasons, but never because I didn’t like my house or neighborhood. I like both, I can afford my home, and I’m staying.

My timing was off. Selling during construction season is to be avoided at all costs, believe me. The further along the construction progresses, the scarier it is to potential buyers. Nobody is biting, and prices in my area, and others, are dropping.

At this point, the type of home I would be able to afford wouldn’t make the move worthwhile. I’d rather stay here and make some changes. After all, I do have some equity in the house, and some ideas about what I’d like to do here.

Now that I’ve made this decision, I feel like a weight has been lifted. I won’t constantly check my phone, afraid that I’ve missed a call from some realtor who wants to set up a showing. I won’t run around every morning like a chicken with its head cut off making sure that every little thing is exactly perfect. I won’t wonder who might be in my home. I feel better already.

Tomorrow the sign comes out of the yard, and I start to relax in my own home again. I can honestly say, I’m looking forward to it.