SELLERS | Around the Kitchen Island

Summer is one of the busiest times of year for vacations and for real estate.

Every year, I hear the same question:

"What happens if we get an offer while we're away?"

The good news is that selling your home while you're on vacation is not only possible, it's often easier than people expect. In fact, some sellers actually prefer being away during the busiest part of the process.

Prepare Before You Pack

A little planning goes a long way.

Before you leave, we'll make sure your home is ready for showings, discuss how you'd like offers handled, and make a plan for staying in touch while you're away.

We'll also talk about things like:

• Your preferred communication method

• Time zone differences

• How quickly you'd like to review offers

• Any decisions you'd like to make ahead of time

When everyone knows the plan, there's very little that can't be handled remotely.

Showings Don't Stop Just Because You're Gone

In many ways, being away can actually make showings easier.

You don't have to rush home to tidy up after work, load the kids into the car, or find somewhere to spend an hour while buyers walk through.

Your home stays ready for showings, and buyers can view it with fewer scheduling obstacles.

Less disruption for you often means more flexibility for buyers.

Technology Makes the Rest Easy

Today's real estate process is designed to work wherever you are.

Offers, amendments, disclosures, and other documents can all be reviewed and signed electronically. Whether you're at a lake in British Columbia or on a beach halfway around the world, we can keep everything moving without interrupting your vacation.

A Few Simple Security Tips

Before you leave, it's worth taking a few extra steps to give yourself peace of mind.

• Pause mail and package deliveries, or ask a neighbour to collect them (depending how long your vacationing for)

• Put interior lights on timers.

• Avoid announcing your travel dates on social media.

• Leave a spare key with someone you trust in case something unexpected comes up.

• Let your Realtor know how to reach you in an emergency.

These small details help your home stay looking lived in while you're away.

Why Some Sellers Actually Prefer It

It might sound surprising, but many of my clients tell me they enjoyed the process more because they weren't living through every showing notification. Instead of wondering how each showing went or feeling tempted to straighten another pillow before the next one, they were able to relax and enjoy their vacation while I handled things back home.

Sometimes a little distance makes the process feel a lot less stressful.

Enjoy Your Vacation. I'll Handle the Rest.

Selling your home doesn't have to mean putting your summer plans on hold. With a little preparation, clear communication, and the right strategy, your sale can continue smoothly while you're away making memories.

Around the Kitchen Island: Life doesn't stop because your home is on the market. My goal is to make sure your real estate plans fit around your life, not the other way around.

SELLERS | Around the Kitchen Island 

One of my favourite things about summer showings is that buyers aren't just looking at a house—they're imagining their life there.

They're picturing coffee on the deck, kids playing in the backyard, evening barbecues, and quiet nights under the patio lights. Summer has a way of turning buyers into daydreamers, which also means they're noticing things they probably wouldn't in the middle of winter.

Outdoor Space Matters

In July, your outdoor spaces become an extension of your home.

A tidy lawn, healthy gardens, clean patio furniture, and a welcoming deck all help buyers picture themselves enjoying the space. You don't need a magazine-worthy backyard—you simply want it to feel cared for and inviting.

If you have an evening showing, turning on your outdoor lights can make the space feel even more welcoming.

Comfort Counts

Nothing distracts buyers faster than walking into a hot house.

If you have air conditioning, make sure it's running before the showing. If you don't, close the blinds during the hottest part of the day and use fans to keep the home comfortable.

While they're inside, buyers are also paying attention to natural light, where the sun hits throughout the day, and whether there are shady spots to enjoy outside. These little details help them imagine what everyday life could look like.

Let Summer Tell the Story

Every season highlights something different about a home, and summer is all about lifestyle.

If your flowers are blooming, let them shine. If your herb garden is thriving, leave it looking its best. Set out a few cushions on the patio furniture and let buyers see how the space is meant to be enjoyed.

You're not just selling a house—you're helping buyers picture the memories they'll make there.

Around the Kitchen Island

We spend so much of our summer outdoors. Morning coffee on the deck, dinners with friends, backyard games, gardening, and those evenings that seem to last forever.

When buyers walk through your home this time of year, they're looking for a place where those moments can happen. Helping them picture that lifestyle is one of the simplest—and most effective—things you can do before a summer showing.

SELLERS | Around the Kitchen Island (2)

If you've ever thought about selling your home during the summer, chances are someone has told you to wait until spring. After all, the kids are out of school, vacation plans are in full swing, and if you're lucky enough to live in Calgary, the mountains, lakes and patios tend to pull our attention away from just about everything else. It feels logical that the housing market would slow down too.

But here's the thing: real estate doesn't stop in the summer. It simply changes.

The spring market often gets most of the attention, which has created the perception that it's the only "good" time to sell. While spring is certainly busy, summer continues to bring buyers into the market, and many of them have a reason they can't wait until September. People are still being transferred for work. Families are trying to move before the next school year begins. Some homeowners have already sold and need to find their next home. Others want to get settled before winter arrives.

The buyer pool may be a little smaller than it is in April or May, but the buyers who are actively looking in July and August are often highly motivated. They're not browsing for fun. They're looking because they need to make a move.

One of the biggest advantages of selling a home in summer is something many homeowners overlook: less competition. Spring brings a flood of new listings to the market. By mid-summer, many of those homes have already sold, and inventory often begins to shrink. That means buyers have fewer options to choose from. A well-prepared, well-marketed home can sometimes stand out more in July than it would have during the busiest weeks of spring.

Summer also happens to be one of the best seasons for showing off a property. Lawns are green. Gardens are blooming. Trees are full. Patios, decks and outdoor living spaces are being used exactly as they were intended. Longer daylight hours make it easier to schedule showings and allow homes to feel brighter and more inviting.

In a city like Calgary, where we spend so much of the year looking forward to summer, buyers aren't just purchasing a house. They're buying a lifestyle. They're picturing morning coffee on the deck, evenings around the fire table, and backyard barbecues with friends and family. That emotional connection can be a powerful part of the selling process.

Now, does summer have its challenges? Of course. Showings can be a little less predictable. Some buyers will be away on vacation. Weekend activity may fluctuate depending on long weekends, travel plans or the weather. But serious buyers remain serious buyers.

In my experience, the season itself is rarely the deciding factor in whether a home sells successfully. Pricing, presentation and marketing matter far more than the month on the calendar. A home that's priced correctly and marketed effectively in July will almost always outperform an overpriced home listed in April.

Which brings me to something I tell clients often: there isn't a perfect time to sell a home. There's a right time for your life.

Whether that's spring, summer, fall or winter, the best time to make a move is when it aligns with your goals, your timeline and what's happening in your world. The market will always have its seasonal rhythms. Life doesn't always wait for them… and sometimes, summer is exactly the right time to make your move.

Thinking about selling your home in Calgary this summer? I'd be happy to talk through your options, answer your questions, and help you decide whether the timing makes sense for you—without any pressure and on your timeline.

See you around the kitchen island,

Erika