Why Selling Earlier Worked When Others Waited

About a year ago, I helped a family make a move that required careful planning.

They had recently welcomed their first child and wanted to be closer to their parents. The move itself was straightforward. The strategy was not.

Their mortgage was up for renewal in May, and the goal was clear. Sell the home before that renewal so they could avoid penalties, avoid uncertainty, and move forward cleanly. That meant listing early, before the spring market fully picked up.

There is a common belief that waiting deeper into the spring always leads to higher prices. Sometimes that is true. May has historically been strong. But what people forget is that more listings also come with more competition. Even great homes are not guaranteed standout results when supply rises quickly.

We decided to list early.

That decision came with hard conversations. The sellers had a number in their head that they wanted to achieve. The market did not support it. It took multiple honest discussions to realign expectations with reality.

We sold the home for slightly less than what they initially hoped for. It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.

Here is why.

As soon as their home sold, four other homes went up for sale on the same street. Each one listed higher, believing their home was superior. None of them sold for more. Some did not sell at all, especially once additional listings appeared on nearby streets.

What made the difference was not luck. It was preparation and pricing.

We decluttered properly. We marketed well. Most importantly, we priced the home correctly.

I often describe the list price as the invitational price. Its job is to get the right buyers through the door. It is not necessarily the final sale price. If it is too high, buyers do not walk in. If it is too low, you attract people who cannot buy or who are not serious. The balance matters.

Offer dates worked in a different market. Today, unless a home is truly unique, that strategy often falls flat.

We followed the plan. We listed early. We priced realistically. We created momentum instead of waiting for it.

Here are three things this experience reinforced.

First, timing matters, but only when it aligns with a clear plan.

Second, pricing is about attracting the right attention, not testing unrealistic numbers.

Third, sticking to a disciplined strategy often protects you from what happens after you sell.

No one has a crystal ball. Anyone who claims they know exactly what will happen next is guessing. What you can control is preparation, timing, and execution.

That is what this market rewards.

Essam

P.S. The best outcomes usually come from decisions made early, calmly, and with a plan everyone commits to.