Dear David,

We have been thinking about selling our home since just after COVID, but after spending what seemed like years confined to the house during lockdown, we wanted to open our doors to family and friends again before moving to a retirement village. Some of our neighbours sold just after COVID and did really well. Looking at the market now, it feels like we may have missed our window of opportunity. Did we make a huge mistake waiting this long to sell our home? – DISHEARTENED

DEAR DISHEARTENED: “When is the right time to sell?” is a common question we try to help people answer. Each situation is personal, and as you can imagine, decisions are shaped by more than just the state of the market.

If we could predict the future, many people would aim to sell at the very peak of the market. There will always be a few sellers who hit the jackpot because their timing lines up perfectly, but that’s never something we can truly know as it’s happening.

In my opinion, it’s more important to ask what a couple of years of happiness are worth in the grand scheme of things. Having just lived through COVID, you chose to stay in your home for a few years to enjoy time with family and friends. This is not foolish, it’s a very human decision.

I once heard Warren Buffett say that at his advanced stage of life, he could buy just about anything he wanted, except for more time. That insight has stayed with me. It’s a reminder that while money matters, time matters more. Those few extra years spent in a home you love, living the life you want with family and friends, have real value – and are priceless to many.

You and your neighbour who sold at the peak of the market have one thing in common: you’ll both graduate to glory carrying exactly what you came with, and nothing more. In the end, none of us gets to keep a few extra dollars. What we get to keep is the legacy of a life well lived, the time we enjoyed, and the relationships we built along the way.

So no, I would not look at your choice as a huge mistake. I’d say you made the best decision for you personally, with the information you had. You chose happiness, comfort, and familiarity when those things really mattered.

PRO TIP: When people are choosing the right time to move, there are typically many factors in play. Finances matter, but so do jobs, children, aging parents, friendships, and life circumstances. Each of these carries a different weight, depending on your stage in life. The “right time to sell” is different for everyone, and it’s rarely just a financial decision. It may help to talk these things through with professionals you trust, so you can weigh the practical, financial, and personal aspects of your decision before taking the next step. #Advice #AskDavid #TheNegotiator 

David is a top-selling Broker in Kitchener-Waterloo Region. He works personally with you when selling or buying your home. Moving? Get it right. Ask David today! Call or text 519-577-1212.