Downsizing and estate sales
Leave the family home on your own terms
I am a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, a designation I earned because so much of my practice is helping longtime homeowners rightsize and helping families through estate sales. There is no rush here. The timeline is yours, and every step is explained before it happens.
Or call directly: 519-895-6393
20+
Years serving Waterloo Region
SRES
Seniors Real Estate Specialist
CNE
Certified Negotiation Expert
Born here
Raised in Waterloo Region
The approach
Patient help, at your pace
01
Conversations before listings
Downsizing starts long before a sign goes on the lawn, and I welcome the early conversations. What is the home likely worth? What would preparation involve? What could come next? You can ask all of it with no commitment attached, and if the answer is to stay put for now, I will say so.
02
The house, and everything in it
A longtime family home holds decades of belongings, and sorting them is often the hardest part of the move. I pace the process so it never feels like a race, and I can connect you with trusted contacts for clearing out the house and keeping up the property while it sells.
03
Estate sales, alongside lawyer and family
When a sale is part of settling an estate, I work alongside your lawyer and the estate representatives rather than replacing them, and keep every family member informed in plain language. I handle it with compassion and understanding, and steady business sense.
04
A plan for what comes next
Rightsizing only works when the next chapter is real: a condo near the things you love, a bungalow in one of the townships, or a move closer to family. I help you weigh the options with the same honesty I bring to the sale, so both halves of the move fit together.
Wondering where to begin? A free home evaluation gives you an honest number for the family home, and browsing condos in Kitchener, Waterloo, or the township villages shows what the next chapter could look like. If a child or grandchild is buying their first home in the same season of change, I guide that side too. And if you just have a question, ask it, no obligation attached.
Proof
Estate sales, in their own words
It was pleasure working with Rebecca. She is professional, prompt with meetings and in handling the offers. She doesn't pressure you to "choose me!", instead she relies on referrals from satisfied clients. She stays in touch throughout, letting you know of house showings and offers. Since this was an estate sale, she also was able to give me a few contacts for the clearing out the house and for lawn care.
Rebecca was very professional and caring. Our sale was an estate sale and Rebecca handled it all with kindness, empathy and great business sense. She was able to make an extremely stressful situation much easier.
Downsizing questions
Asked around many kitchen tables
Honest answers for homeowners and for the families helping them.
What does your SRES designation mean for seniors and estate sales?
SRES stands for Seniors Real Estate Specialist, a designation focused on the needs of older homeowners: rightsizing from a longtime family home, coordinating with family members, and handling estate sales with care. In practice it means patient timelines, clear communication with everyone involved, and no pressure to move faster than the situation allows. For estate matters, I work alongside your lawyer and estate representatives rather than replacing them.
We are not sure we are ready to downsize. Is it too early to talk?
No. Some of the most useful conversations I have are with homeowners who are years away from any decision. Talking early means you learn what the home is likely worth, what the options look like, and what preparation would actually matter, all without committing to anything. When you are ready, the groundwork is already done, and if you decide the right move is to stay, that is a perfectly good outcome too.
Can I buy a new home before my current one sells?
Yes, and many of my clients do, though the order involves real trade-offs. Selling first gives you certainty about your budget but adds timing pressure to find the next home; buying first secures the home but leaves you carrying two properties until the sale closes. Together we walk through your finances, your risk comfort, and the current market before I recommend a sequence, and then I coordinate both transactions so the closings line up.
How do you get paid?
Real estate commissions in Ontario are not fixed and are agreed to in writing before you commit to anything. I discuss my commission structure openly at our first meeting, including how buyer and seller sides typically work, so you know exactly what the arrangement is up front. If you decide not to proceed, the conversation costs nothing.
On your timeline
Start the conversation whenever you're ready
Whether the move is months away, years away, or part of settling an estate, tell me where things stand. I will meet you exactly there.
Prefer to talk? 519-895-6393