How to sell the family home
The playbook once you've decided.
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Downsizing timing
Most downsizers I work with waited a year or two too long. Here are the real signals, the false signals, and how to tell the difference.
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When to downsize coquitlam?
Most downsizers I work with waited a year or two too long. Here are the real signals, the false signals, and how to tell the difference. 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.
Is the house still adding to your life, or is it slowly subtracting? That's the whole test. A house that used to be a hub is sometimes just a maintenance project with memories. And that's OK — it just means the role has changed.
The hard part isn't the decision. The hard part is giving yourself permission to stop doing the thing that was right for twenty years but isn't right anymore.
You think about whether you want to go upstairs before you go. That's a signal.
You spend Saturdays on house tasks that used to take an hour. The compound is heavy.
Most days, you use four rooms out of ten. The rest are storage.
Coquitlam values have moved. Your tax bill has too.
The kids live elsewhere permanently. Visits are visits, not residency.
A snowstorm and a shovel isn't a downsizing signal. It's a winter.
If you want to be in the new place for 10+ years, the market today doesn't decide.
Your timing isn't their timing.
Well-meaning. Still not a signal.
Big isn't a reason. Unused is.
Ready to read the playbook? How to sell the family home.
Not sure where you'd go? Best Coquitlam neighbourhoods for downsizers.
Thinking about the specific move type? Detached-to-townhome or detached-to-condo.
If three of the real signals are true today, you're probably already a year past the ideal planning start. That's not a problem — it just means start now, not later. If one is true, you're in the early planning window.
The best downsizing moves are the ones that are planned. The hardest are the ones driven by urgency — health, stairs, one partner not the other. You want to avoid urgency.
Spring and early fall for the sell. The move itself is better done in the quieter months — late spring or early fall.
Rarely. Small fixes, paint, and stage. Renovations for resale usually don't return.
Then you're not ready. Force a shared timeline, don't force a decision.
Six months of planning, three months of execution. Nine months door to door is realistic.
A 30-minute conversation will tell you where you are in the process. No pressure, no pitch.
Once you've got the timing figured out.
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.
Licensed REALTOR® in Coquitlam. Tri-Cities-fluent, written-advice-first. Here's how I work any client file that lands on 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.
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.
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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
More on Selling in Coquitlam
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