# How to Sell the Family Home in Coquitlam > The honest playbook for selling the family home in Coquitlam — prep, pricing, emotional logistics, and the mistakes that cost downsizers the most. **Source:** https://soldbycraig.ca/how-to-sell-the-family-home-coquitlam/ **Author:** Craig Johnston, REALTOR® (BC Licence V99960) · The MACNABS · Royal LePage Elite West **Site:** https://soldbycraig.ca --- Seller playbook for downsizers ## How to sell the family home in Coquitlam Selling the family home is a real estate transaction and an emotional project at the same time. Most agents only handle the first half. Here's the full playbook. [See the playbook](#playbook) [Plan it with Craig](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) 1% Ranked Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® 2% Nationwide Top 2% Team Member — Royal LePage nationwide 44 Local Lived in the Tri-Cities 47+ years ★ Team The MACNABS Quick Answer How to sell the family home coquitlam? The honest playbook for selling the family home in Coquitlam — prep, pricing, emotional logistics, and the mistakes that cost downsizers the most. **Craig Johnston, Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®** and 47+ year Tri-Cities resident, can walk you through the local context. Free Strategy Call ends with a written one-page plan in 24 hours. Also read [Home evaluation](/home-evaluation/) [How to price your home](/how-to-price-your-home-in-coquitlam/) [Sellers resource hub](/coquitlam-seller-resource-hub/) [Book a Strategy Call with Craig](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) ## Three phases, three different jobs Phase one: decide and prep. Phase two: list and sell. Phase three: buy and move. Most problems happen because people collapse these phases into a month. The successful downsizes I've been part of gave each phase the time it needed — four to eight weeks each. This guide walks through each phase honestly, including the parts most agents skip because they're not transactional. **Prep:** Declutter, light refresh, photography. 4–8 weeks. **List & sell:** Pricing, exposure, negotiation. 2–6 weeks. **Buy & move:** The harder half. 6–12 weeks. ![Craig Johnston selling the family home](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-3.39.56-PM-scaled.png) ## Prep phase — what actually moves the needle ### Declutter aggressively One storage unit, one donation pile, one keep pile. Rooms must look bigger than they are. ### Paint is the best ROI Neutral paint. $4k in, $30k in perceived value. Nothing else returns like this. ### Floor refresh Hardwood buffed, carpets cleaned or replaced in key rooms. ### Lighting matters Swap warm 2700K bulbs everywhere. It changes showings. ### Kitchen + primary bath Small spend only. Faucets, hardware, light. No renovations. ## Prep phase — what to skip ### Kitchen remodel You won't return it. Buyers want the price discount instead. ### Roof replacement (unless required) Disclose and credit. Don't sink capital. ### Custom closets Buyers won't pay for them. ### Landscaping beyond tidy Clean and trim, don't reimagine. ### Personal taste upgrades Your style is your memory. Buyers want blank canvas. ## Pricing discipline is everything For the 2026 context see [June 2026 market update](https://soldbycraig.ca/real-estate-market-update/) and the [Coquitlam market guide](https://soldbycraig.ca/coquitlam-real-estate-guide/). Pricing 1–3% under the last comparable sale wins in most months. Pricing at the aspirational number almost always costs more than it captures. ![Craig Johnston advising downsizers](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/F883FFAD-16AB-439A-8921-3FD6B1489036_1_105_c.jpeg) ## The emotional logistics most agents miss You're not just selling a house. You're closing a twenty-year chapter. That's real. It needs room. My job is to handle the transactional piece with enough calm that you can handle the emotional piece. That means a slower intake, clear expectations at every step, and real honesty about timing. You don't get this from an agent doing 40 sales a year. [Book a downsizing consult](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Downsizing hub](https://soldbycraig.ca/coquitlam-downsizing-resource-hub/) ![When to downsize](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-3.39.56-PM-scaled.png) ### When to downsize Are you ready to sell? [Read more](https://soldbycraig.ca/when-to-downsize-coquitlam/) ![Best neighbourhoods for downsizers](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/craig-serious-300x300.jpg) ### Best neighbourhoods for downsizers Where you'll go next. [Read more](https://soldbycraig.ca/best-coquitlam-neighbourhoods-for-downsizers/) ![Seller resource hub](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/F883FFAD-16AB-439A-8921-3FD6B1489036_1_105_c.jpeg) ### Seller resource hub All seller guides in one place. [Read more](https://soldbycraig.ca/coquitlam-seller-resource-hub/) ## Seller FAQ for downsizers ### Should I sell first or buy first? Sell first. It locks the budget and removes the stress of dual payments. ### How long does it take? Six to twelve weeks from decision to SOLD sign in a normal market. ### What's the biggest mistake downsizers make? Pricing on emotion, not comparables. The second biggest is skipping the declutter. ### Do I need to stage? Partial staging is usually enough. Empty rooms lose more than poor staging. ![Craig Johnston selling family home](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-3.39.56-PM-scaled.png) ## Ready to plan the sale? Let's walk through your house together — no pitch, just a real conversation about prep, pricing, and timing. [Book the walkthrough](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Downsizing hub](https://soldbycraig.ca/coquitlam-downsizing-resource-hub/) Keep exploring ## Next reads Once you know you're selling, plan what comes next. [when-to-downsize-coquitlam/Check your timing.](/when-to-downsize-coquitlam/) [best-coquitlam-neighbourhoods-for-downsizers/Where to go next.](/best-coquitlam-neighbourhoods-for-downsizers/) [downsizing-detached-to-townhome-coquitlam/The most common path.](/downsizing-detached-to-townhome-coquitlam/) [coquitlam-downsizing-resource-hub/All downsizing guides.](/coquitlam-downsizing-resource-hub/) [Book a downsizing walkthrough](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) About Craig ![Craig Johnston, Coquitlam REALTOR](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/craig-serious-300x300.jpg) Craig Johnston Licensed REALTOR® · Coquitlam & the Tri-Cities I have spent the last 47+ years living in Coquitlam, 9+ years on Burke Mountain, helping move-up buyers and sellers get from where they are to where they want to be — without the panic of owning two homes at once or selling under value. I work the Tri-Cities every day: Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, Heritage Mountain, and the rest of Coquitlam’s move-up neighbourhoods. If you want a straight read on your timing, pricing, or move-up strategy, the fastest next step is a short call. **Specialty**Move-up sellers & upsizers **Coverage**Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam **Experience**47+ years living in Coquitlam, 9+ years on Burke Mountain, serving families [Book a Strategy Call with Craig →](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) ” From Craig “I operate the way I'd want a REALTOR® to work with my own family — written advice, honest trade-offs, and no hedging on the hard questions.” ![Craig Johnston, REALTOR®](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/craig-serious-300x300.jpg) Craig Johnston REALTOR® · Coquitlam Why Craig for this decision ## The four pillars I run every file on Licensed REALTOR® in Coquitlam. Tri-Cities-fluent, written-advice-first. Here's how I work any client file that lands on this page. [Start with a free Equity Map](/home-evaluation/) [Call 604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092) Local resident Lives and works in the Tri-Cities; kids in SD43. Written positions Pricing, negotiation, and disclosure in writing — never verbal-only. Full representation Equally strong on buy-side and sell-side; no part-time bias. Same-day response You won't be waiting a week for a callback. Next steps ## Three ways to take the next step — pick the one that fits. [If you're just exploring Book a Strategy Call No pitch. Just scope your options and walk away with a written next-step plan.](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [If you're actively shopping Set up a custom search Matched to your criteria with written comparable-sold data on every showing.](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [If you need an answer now Call 604-202-6092 Same-day response during business hours. Tri-Cities local line.](tel:+16042026092) Questions? I'm real local help. [Talk to Craig](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) Authority Sources & Local Resources ## Verify everything — the sources behind this page Pricing, regulatory disclosures, and tax implications when selling in Coquitlam — every one of these has an authority behind it. Cross-reference before you list. Municipal & Transit - [City of Coquitlam — municipal services, bylaws, permits ↗](https://www.coquitlam.ca/) - [City of Port Moody — municipal services ↗](https://www.portmoody.ca/) Real Estate Authorities - [BC Financial Services Authority — real estate regulator ↗](https://www.bcfsa.ca/) - [BCFSA — real estate consumer resources ↗](https://www.bcfsa.ca/public-resources/real-estate) - [BC Assessment — property values & search ↗](https://www.bcassessment.ca/) - [Greater Vancouver REALTORS® — monthly market reports ↗](https://www.gvrealtors.ca/market-watch/monthly-market-report.html) - [Greater Vancouver REALTORS® — Home Price Index ↗](https://www.gvrealtors.ca/market-watch/hpi.html) - [BC Government — Property Transfer Tax ↗](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/property-transfer-tax) - [CMHC — mortgage insurance & housing data ↗](https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/) External links open in a new tab. I'm not affiliated with these organizations — they are cited as independent authorities. Any time a number on this page differs from the authority, the authority wins. ★Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® ![Medallion Club Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®](/assets/medallion-club-badge-60.png)Medallion Club Team Member President’s Club Team Member 47+ Years in the Tri-Cities ## What Coquitlam clients actually say after working with Craig Real reviews pulled from Google. No paid placements. No curated-only-positives. Every client below closed with Craig — most sold over asking, several within a week. ★★★★★ “Craig sold my property in just 6 days. After receiving one offer, he quickly reconnected with all the other REALTORS® who had viewed the property, and before I knew it, we had multiple offers — all over asking price. Craig didn’t stop there; he negotiated even better terms for me.” Heather Fox Sold with Craig · Over asking, 6 days ★★★★★ “We worked with Craig on three real estate transactions. In all cases he was extremely professional and efficient. In the case of the two sales, both houses were sold for over asking and within the one week of going on market. Craig analyzed the market accurately and advised on a selling price that was fair and saleable.” Ann English 3 transactions · 2 sold over asking in a week ★★★★★ “Craig recently sold my townhouse in West Vancouver in less than 6 days for over asking price. Craig is one of the most prolific and highly motivated REALTORS® I have seen in the Realty business, and I have extensive experience buying and selling properties of all sorts.” Riverplate Equities West Vancouver townhouse · Over asking, 6 days ★★★★★ “We consider ourselves lucky to be able to work with Craig over the last 5 years, over multiple transactions. He is a professional who is guided by integrity, honesty, and punctuality. Craig is a seasoned and well-informed realtor who will be a great asset on any real estate journey.” Jaeyoung Joo Google Local Guide · 5 years, multiple transactions ★★★★★ “As first-time home buyers, we had a myriad of concerns. Craig immediately put us at ease by taking the time to address each of our questions thoroughly and patiently. At no point did I feel pressured or rushed into making a decision. Instead, Craig empowered us with all the facts and options.” Jeff Kwok First-time buyers ★★★★★ “One of the most dedicated and professional REALTORS® I’ve encountered. No matter the value of the property, Craig puts great care into preparing high-quality marketing content. With his in-depth knowledge of the Coquitlam area, I highly recommend Craig to anyone looking to buy or sell.” Allan Liang Coquitlam specialist ★★★★★ “His creativity, top-notch communication skills, and a solid plan were instrumental in selling high and buying low. His foresight in negotiation skills, predicting outcomes before they happened, truly set him apart. A remarkable professional who exceeded expectations.” Matdori Google Local Guide · Sold high, bought low ★★★★★ “Craig absolutely delivered on his promise of selling my condo, exceeding my expectations. A++ communications and he kept me informed and educated every single step of the way. Rock solid performance and a very quick above asking sale, I am beyond grateful.” Rich & Andrew Condo sold over asking ★★★★★ “We were referred to Craig by a friend and knew from day one we were in great hands. The marketing was outstanding — we received seven offers, and Craig held firm on our priorities. When we re-listed in January, it sold in three days at the price we wanted, and he went on to find us an off-market buy in Vernon.” Jim Turnbull 7 offers · Sold at target price · Off-market buy in Vernon [Read the Google reviews →](https://www.google.com/search?q=craig+johnston+macnabs+coquitlam+reviews) More on Selling in Coquitlam ## Keep Digging Craig writes the Tri-Cities coverage most REALTORS® won't. Every page below is built on the same ground-truth data and the same negotiation playbook Craig uses for every client. [**Selling in Coquitlam hub** →](/coquitlam-seller-resource-hub/) [Coquitlam seller resource hub](/coquitlam-seller-resource-hub/) [Sell your home in Coquitlam](/sell-your-home-in-coquitlam/) [Coquitlam seller timeline](/coquitlam-seller-timeline/) [Downsizer case study](/coquitlam-downsizer-case-study/) [Downsizing resource hub](/coquitlam-downsizing-resource-hub/) [Detached → condo downsize](/downsizing-detached-to-condo-coquitlam/) [Detached → townhome downsize](/downsizing-detached-to-townhome-coquitlam/) [Why some homes don't sell](/how-showings-work-and-why-some-homes-dont-sell/) In this topic cluster · downsizers Keep reading in the downsizers cluster - [Detached to condo](https://soldbycraig.ca/downsizing-detached-to-condo-coquitlam/) - [Best downsizer neighbourhoods](https://soldbycraig.ca/best-coquitlam-neighbourhoods-for-downsizers/) - [Downsizer case study](https://soldbycraig.ca/coquitlam-downsizer-case-study/) Or see the full library at [the downsizers section of the resource hub](https://soldbycraig.ca/coquitlam-real-estate-resource-hub/#downsizers). [Book a Strategy Call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Home Eval](/home-evaluation/) More Tri-Cities guides ### Explore the neighbourhoods connected to this page - [→ Maillardville (Coquitlam) guide](/maillardville-coquitlam-guide/) - [→ Ranch Park (Coquitlam) guide](/ranch-park-coquitlam-guide/) - [→ Eagle Ridge (Coquitlam) guide](/eagle-ridge-coquitlam-deep-dive/) - [→ Anmore estate homes & acreage](/anmore-estate-homes-acreage-guide/) - [→ Best luxury REALTOR® in Coquitlam](/best-luxury-realtor-coquitlam/) - [→ Port Moody move-up buyer guide](/port-moody-move-up-buyer-guide/) Tri-Cities monthly ## Get the honest Tri-Cities market read, monthly. June 2026 Coquitlam detached HPI is $1,649,000, -4.8% YoY. What that means for your buy or sell decision — without the salesy fluff. One email per month. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam, no listings flood, no marketing automation games. Genuine monthly update from a 47+ year Tri-Cities resident. Best REALTOR® by area ## A specialist for your specific Tri-Cities city or neighbourhood. [Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-coquitlam/) [Burke Mountain](/best-realtor-in-burke-mountain/) [Westwood Plateau](/best-realtor-in-westwood-plateau/) [Heritage Mountain](/best-realtor-in-heritage-mountain/) [Port Moody](/best-realtor-in-port-moody/) [Port Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-port-coquitlam/) [Anmore](/best-realtor-in-anmore/) [Belcarra](/best-realtor-in-belcarra/) [Or compare all Tri-Cities specialists →](/best-local-realtor-tri-cities/)