Selling a home is always emotional — even more so when it’s the only one you’ve ever owned. For us, it wasn’t just about moving out; it was about closing one chapter so we could begin building another.
But along the way, I learned that selling your apartment doesn’t have to be overwhelming or luck-based. With a few smart choices and the right mindset, you can make your home more appealing to buyers — even if it’s small, simple, or far from perfect.
In this post, I’m sharing our story of selling our tiny apartment, the lessons we learned, and the practical things that helped us sell it faster — all while keeping our values and sanity intact.
Selling Our Tiny Apartment
Tuesday, 27. June 2017 was the historic day when we signed the papers and sold our only home. By today, all the money has already arrived in our account — most of it went toward paying off three student loans, and the remaining amount will soon go to our builder.
The Selling Process
Selling the apartment was, in itself, a very interesting process. We did not use any agents. After posting the listing at the end of April, we waited anxiously for calls — but the only people who called were real estate agents. We waited like that for two weeks, and since there were no interested buyers, we decided to lower the price a little. (Our plan was to adjust the price each month until a certain limit — below that, it wouldn’t make sense to sell.)
Two days after setting the new price, we finally got the first call. That, of course, meant a deep clean, moving out the kids’ beds, and arranging everything exactly as it looked in the listing photos.
Tip: Set a clear pricing strategy early on. Decide your lowest limit and adjust gradually — this helps you act confidently without panicking.
Showing the Apartment
Showing the apartment to potential buyers was not easy. Each time, we had to scrub everything spotless, move out the children’s beds, toys, and anything unnecessary — using the dusty attic of our building as temporary storage.
Not everyone selling their home has to go to such lengths, but since we were selling a small studio apartment under the roof, every square meter mattered. We lived there practically on top of each other, so for a buyer to picture themselves living there, I had to create an ideal vision — what the apartment could look like if it belonged to just one or two people.
That meant staging the home to feel calm, airy, and harmonious — no clutter, just space, order, and coziness.
The best comment we ever received from a visitor was:
“It looks exactly like in the photos.”
Her biggest fear was that the apartment would look much worse in real life — messy and lived-in, as so many listings tend to be. That was one of the hardest parts of showing the apartment and one reason I didn’t want to do too many viewings — it was simply a lot of work every single time.
Tip: Stage your home for the life your buyer dreams of. Even in a small space, simplicity and order help them see themselves living there.
Honesty with Buyers
Another thing we made a point of doing: we were completely honest. With everyone who came to see the apartment, we talked openly about what wasn’t perfect — what could be improved, and what we might change ourselves if we were staying. We didn’t try to hide anything; if anything, we highlighted the flaws.
Buyers found that refreshing. It helped them make a thoughtful, informed decision. When buying an older apartment, nothing can be perfect — and pretending it is doesn’t help anyone.
Over the years, we had visited many homes ourselves and often heard only endless praise from sellers. Nothing ever seemed wrong — which only made us suspicious. I wanted our potential buyers to feel that they could trust us completely.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to be honest. Pointing out small imperfections can actually build trust and make your home stand out from others that feel “too perfect.”
Finding the Right Buyer
The first person who came to see the apartment was a lovely young woman who immediately liked it. She had another viewing the next day, so she didn’t commit right away. But the following day, she called back — she wanted to come for a second look. After that, she reserved the apartment.
On the very same evening that she made the reservation, our phone started ringing off the hook — suddenly everyone wanted to come see it!
Tip: Be patient. Often the right buyer comes just when you start to lose hope — and one genuine connection can change everything.
Staying for a While Longer
The reservation process lasted about five weeks, because the buyer needed bank financing with government support. During that time, we also received other offers — even for higher prices — but since we had already given our word to the first buyer, we didn’t want to go back on it.
Because we didn’t yet have another place to live, we negotiated with the buyer to stay in the apartment for a couple more months — until the end of summer. In return, we left all the furniture, which she needed anyway. Fortunately, this arrangement worked perfectly for both sides: she didn’t need the apartment immediately, as her new job (the reason for moving) started later.
Tip: Sometimes flexibility wins more than a higher price. If you can offer terms that fit the buyer’s needs, it can make the sale smoother and friendlier for both sides.
Finding a Temporary Home
Once the sale was finalized, we knew we’d need to find a temporary place to stay while our new house was being built. It didn’t have to be fancy or big — just something simple and affordable, so most of our money could go toward construction instead of rent.
We knew we could always stay with family if needed, but with two small children and another baby on the way, that wouldn’t be easy for anyone.
Our goal was to move into our new home as soon as it became livable — even if that meant no kitchen yet, no finished stairs, no baseboards or furniture. It doesn’t have to be perfect. We just need a roof over our head.
The house frame is scheduled to go up in early August, but moving in right away won’t be possible. The next big step will be securing a mortgage — but that’s a story for another post.
What Helped Us Sell Our Apartment Faster
- Keeping the listing honest, simple, and clear.
- Staging for potential buyer.
- Pricing strategically — with a clear lower limit.
- Being flexible with the buyer’s needs.
- Staying true to our word and values.
Final Thoughts
Before selling, we spent quite a bit of time getting our tiny apartment ready for buyers. You can read about how we prepared it for sale in this post.
Selling the apartment wasn’t a huge emotional trauma, but I think the real tears will come when we finally move out.
Below are the photos that were in the listing — now already someone else’s home.
