The decision behind the move

After more than 20 years in their Eastbridge family home, a couple was ready for a change. They wanted less space to maintain and more time for travelling and enjoying retirement. Their next home would be smaller and easier to manage, but getting there involved more than choosing a property.

They needed some of the proceeds from their existing home to complete the next purchase. They also wanted a clear understanding of their financial position before making a commitment. The question was familiar to many homeowners: should they sell first or buy first?

Making the order of events work

Selling first can provide greater certainty about available proceeds, but it can also create pressure to find a suitable replacement before closing. Buying first can secure the right home, but may introduce financing, timing and sale-related risks. Neither answer is automatically correct.

We worked through their priorities, timing and the practical consequences of each option. The aim was to create a plan that protected their ability to make a considered purchase while accounting for the sale they still needed to complete. In this case, that meant negotiating an offer on their next home with a sale-of-property condition. Such conditions must be carefully understood: they can carry deadlines and other terms, and acceptance depends on the seller and market conditions.

Preparing the existing home for its next owner

With the purchase plan underway, we focused on bringing their family home to market. Preparation and presentation were especially important because the property had been lived in and cared for over many years. We coordinated the listing approach and supported it with strong print and digital marketing, advance promotion and open houses.

The launch was designed to give prospective buyers a clear sense of the home and create meaningful opportunities to view it. At the same time, I kept the requirements of the purchase in view. The sale was not an isolated transaction; its terms and timing would affect the move into the new home.

Two negotiations, one transition

The Eastbridge home generated multiple offers and sold above its asking price. We also aligned the closing dates for the sale and purchase, helping the clients make the transition without an unnecessary gap between homes. They secured a smaller new-construction home in St. Jacobs that suited the lifestyle they were planning.

The result was favourable on both sides of the move, but I would not describe any sale price or purchase price as the “best possible” without a basis for comparison. What mattered most was that the combined outcome supported their financial priorities, timing and quality of life.

This experience is a reminder that successful rightsizing is not simply about finding a smaller property. It is about coordinating the financial and practical decisions so the next chapter begins with more confidence and less disruption.