One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners is, “Should we sell first, or should we buy first?”
It’s a fair question because neither option feels completely comfortable. Selling first can leave you wondering whether you’ll find your next home in time, while buying first can create financial pressure if your current home doesn’t sell as quickly as expected. Most people assume the challenge is choosing the right order, but after helping hundreds of clients through this transition, we’ve found the real answer is usually much simpler.
Success isn’t determined by whether you buy or sell first. It’s determined by having a strategy that allows both transactions to work together.
That was exactly the situation one wonderful couple found themselves in when they decided it was time to move on from their condo at Red Brick by Amacon in Burnaby’s Edmonds neighbourhood. They loved their home, but as life evolved, they were ready for more space and began looking toward a townhouse in Coquitlam that would better support the next chapter of their lives.
After the move, they shared a review that genuinely meant a great deal to our team:
“Working with Jessica and the whole team was such a great experience! Michelle went above and beyond throughout the entire process of our townhouse search… Jessica also went above and beyond with selling our condo and it was achieved in less than 3 weeks.”
What stands out to us isn’t the timeline or even the successful sale. It’s that they felt supported from the very first meeting through to the day they received their keys.
One part of their review, in particular, reflects something we believe is often overlooked.
“Michelle kept us focused on obtaining our main goal…”
When people begin searching for a new home, it’s easy to become distracted. A beautiful kitchen, an oversized patio, or an unexpected listing can quickly pull attention away from the bigger picture. That’s why one of our most important jobs isn’t simply opening doors or arranging showings. It’s helping clients remember what they’re trying to accomplish and making sure every decision supports that objective.
For this couple, the goal wasn’t simply to own a townhouse. It was to create more living space without placing unnecessary financial stress on the move. Every recommendation, from preparing their condo for the market to evaluating prospective townhomes in Coquitlam, came back to that single objective.
At the same time, selling a home requires a very different mindset than purchasing one. Buyers are evaluating possibilities, while sellers are presenting their home to the marketplace in the strongest possible light. That meant developing a marketing strategy specifically for their Burnaby condo, investing in professional staging and photography, and carefully positioning the property to attract qualified buyers as soon as it became available. While no sale timeline can ever be promised, thoughtful preparation gave the property every opportunity to make a strong first impression.