The One Thing I Wish Sellers Knew

In the fast-moving landscape of Canadian real estate, pricing a home is no longer just a matter of personal sentiment – it’s a strategic decision that can make or break your sale. Too often, sellers list with their hearts instead of their heads, clinging to a number that feels right rather than one that’s supported by the market. The consequences?

Lost momentum, dwindling interest, and ultimately, a price lower than you hoped for. This article is an insider’s plea to help sellers avoid the emotional trap of overpricing and embrace a smarter path forward.

The High Cost of Overpricing Your Home 

If I could whisper just one truth into the ear of every home seller in Canada, it would be this: overpricing your home can cost you far more than you expect. In a housing market already balancing on tight margins, a too-optimistic listing price isn’t a power move—it’s a slow leak in your strategy. 


The Market Doesn’t Wait for Wishful Thinking 

Canadian buyers are savvy. Thanks to MLS listings, market reports, and endless scrolling through real estate apps, they're well-versed in what a home “should” cost. An overpriced property sits. And sits. And sits. 

While you wait for someone to bite, your neighbours are selling. Momentum builds around comparable listings—not yours. That long "days on market" number becomes your biggest liability. Buyers start wondering if there’s something wrong with the home. Eventually, price drops follow, but the damage is done. You’ve lost your chance to wow in those first two weeks—the golden window. 


Overpricing = Underperforming 

It may sound counterintuitive, but pricing your home fairly—based on data and reality, not sentiment or sunk costs—often leads to stronger offers and even bidding wars. Canadian cities like Barrie, Halifax, or Kelowna have seen homes priced right fetch more than those that aimed too high from the start. Why? Because perception matters. Value draws attention. Attention creates competition. 


Holding Out Isn’t Free 

Every extra week your home sits unsold carries a price tag: 

- Mortgage payments continue 

- Property taxes accrue 

- Insurance remains active 

- Staging and upkeep costs mount 

And that’s not counting the psychological cost—the nagging stress, uncertainty, and plans put on hold. 


Sellers, Be Strategic, Not Sentimental 

It’s tempting to believe your home is worth that magic number. After all, you’ve loved it, invested in it, dreamed big. But the market doesn’t measure emotional equity. It measures demand, location, condition, and price. If you truly want the best return, listen to your agent, not your ego. Get a professional appraisal. Study your local market. Look at recent sales, not old listings. 


The Takeaway 

In Canada’s ever-shifting housing climate, realism sells. Pricing your home right isn’t “leaving money on the table”—it’s setting the table for success.