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by Christine Côté · Home Matchmaker · Icon Agent with eXp Realty
Thinking about selling?
There's a lot out there. Most of it is noise.
Let's simplify what actually matters.
What is my home actually worth?
This is the first question everyone asks.
And the one most people get wrong.
It's not based on online estimates. And it's definitely not what your neighbour sold for last year.
Your home is worth what buyers are willing to pay right now.
In your area. In your condition. In today's market.
Two homes can look identical on paper.
And sell for completely different numbers.
Should I sell now or wait?
This is where people get stuck.
If you're basing your decision on national headlines, that's your first mistake.
Real estate isn't one market.
It's local. It's specific.
You'll hear both sides.
The market is slowing.
The market is strong.
And depending on who you ask, both are true.
The market doesn't decide for you.
Your situation does.
If your life is changing,
if your needs are shifting,
that matters more than timing anything perfectly.
You can be in a strong market
and still make the wrong move.
And in a slower one
and make the right one.
Most people don't get this wrong because of the market.
They get it wrong because they forget to look at their own situation first.
What should I fix…
and what's a waste?
This is where most sellers lose money.
Not because they didn't do enough.
Because they did too much in the wrong places.
Most upgrades don't come back dollar for dollar.
You don't need perfect.
You need intentional.
Clean. Maintained.
Easy to walk into and feel right.
That's what sells.
Know the full number
What will I actually walk away with?
This is the number that actually matters.
And most people avoid it.
Because it's not the sale price.
It's what's left when everything hits.
Commission. Fees.
Mortgage penalties. Closing costs.
Same sale price doesn't mean same outcome.
Two people can sell for the exact same number
and walk away in completely different positions.
This number decides what you can actually do next.
Run your numbers privately
Private. No pressure.
Selling to buy? Read this first.
This is where people get it wrong. In a competitive market, you don't go shopping and then figure out how to sell your home. That's how you lose.
If you need to sell your home to buy another one, your home needs to be on the market or completely ready to go live before you even start looking. Not halfway ready. Not "we'll see what happens." Ready.
Because the moment you find the right home, you won't be the only one. And if your offer depends on selling your home, you have no leverage. You can be accepted… and still get pushed out by someone who doesn't have that condition. That's the reality.
The strategy isn't to hope it works out. The strategy is to be in control.
When your home is listed, you control your timeline. You decide your closing date. You negotiate from a position of strength. You're not guessing. You're not scrambling. You're positioned to win.
This isn't about rushing you. It's about preparing you properly so when the right home shows up, you're ready to move without hesitation.
The problem isn't a lack of homes. It's a lack of preparation. And that's what costs people.
My honest approach
I've been in this enough to know what actually works. And what doesn't.
Every situation is different. But people make the same mistakes over and over.
My job isn't to tell you what you want to hear.
It's to make sure you don't learn things the hard way halfway through.
I slow things down when they need to slow down.
I step in when it matters.
And I'll be honest with you. Even when it's not what you want to hear.
Because that's what protects you.
This isn't guesswork.
There's a process to this.
And when you follow it, it actually works.