Are you thinking that it might be worth waiting to sell your home?

With homes sitting on the market longer and prices starting to fall, more homeowners are becoming discouraged about their prospects for a successful sale. A growing number are delisting their properties, presumably holding out for a more favorable market.

Of course, delaying a sale doesn’t make sense if a shorter commute or room for a growing family is more important to you than maximizing your profits. And while the Federal Reserve is expected to resume interest rate cuts, there’s no guarantee you’d be better off waiting. If and when mortgage rates drop, it would have to be enough to draw out more buyers and higher offers.

But if you do decide to stay put — at least temporarily — you don’t have to just make do. Here are five ways to get the most out of your current home in the meantime.

1. Make your house more livable. If you have the means, key repairs or renovations may not only make you more comfortable, but boost the value of your home once you’re ready to sell. Choose projects that either have a high return on investment (like replacing a garage door or installing a new oven range and sink) or that will dramatically improve your quality of life. A home equity loan or line of credit (SoFi has both) can help cover the costs.

2. Turn your unused space into a side hustle. There’s nothing like earning some extra income to make delaying your move more bearable, especially if it’s low lift. Rent extra bedrooms to roommates or turn a garage or shed into an Airbnb rental. Or get creative by transforming a basement into something like a podcast studio.

3. Move anyway – and rent your home out for a while. If you can’t hold off on moving, consider whether it makes sense to rent your house out instead of selling it. Just be prepared for landlord duties, including screening tenants and abiding by local regulations and insurance requirements. If you move to a rental that costs less than your mortgage, you might even be able to pocket the difference.

4. Stage your space. Getting your house ready for a sale can make you feel less anxious and more prepared when the time is right. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Get any necessary repairs out of the way or look to boost your curb appeal. (A fresh coat of paint or flowers in the front yard go a long way.) Even just decluttering and depersonalizing (think: adding shelves or storage furniture) can brighten your outlook while you’re living there and improve your chances of impressing potential buyers down the road.

5. Save aggressively. You can’t control mortgage rates or buyer demand. But you can put yourself in a stronger financial position when you decide to sell. Use the desire to make a fresh start in a new home as motivation to save your money or pay down debt so you’ve got a stronger financial footing when you make your next purchase. Creating a budget, opening a high-yield savings account, or “paying yourself first” are great ways to help jumpstart this effort.

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