7 Home-Selling Mistakes to Avoid in Burnaby and the Lower Mainland This Fall

Selling a home is never as simple as putting a sign on the lawn and waiting for an offer.

That is especially true in the current market.

According to Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, Metro Vancouver recorded 1,869 residential sales in August 2026, with sales 20.7% below the 10-year seasonal average. At the same time, active listings were 26.2% above the 10-year seasonal average, giving buyers more selection and putting extra pressure on sellers to get the details right.

In this type of market, small mistakes can cost a seller time, negotiating power and money.

Here are seven mistakes I would avoid if I were selling a home in Burnaby or elsewhere in the Lower Mainland this fall.

1. Pricing the Home Based on What You Want

One of the fastest ways to hurt a listing is to price it based on what you need to walk away with, what a neighbour sold for two years ago, or what you believe the home should be worth.

Buyers are comparing your property against everything else available right now.

If your home is noticeably overpriced, many serious buyers will simply move on.

The better approach is to look closely at recent comparable sales, active competition, condition, location, lot value, renovation quality and how quickly similar properties are actually selling.

The goal is not simply to get your home listed.

The goal is to position it so buyers see value and are motivated to act.

2. Doing the Wrong Renovations Before Selling

This is a big one.

Some sellers spend $30,000, $50,000 or more preparing a property for sale without knowing whether they are going to get that money back.

Not every renovation adds equal value.

A dated kitchen does not automatically need to be replaced. Sometimes paint, lighting, hardware, repairs and proper presentation will deliver a far better return.

With my construction and renovation background, I look at the house differently from someone who only looks at comparable sales.

I want to know which improvements buyers will notice, which defects could create concern, and where spending money will actually improve the sale.

Sometimes the best renovation before selling is no renovation at all.

3. Ignoring Maintenance Problems

Buyers are looking more carefully at homes when they have plenty of choice.

Loose railings, water staining, cracked caulking, damaged flooring, old plumbing components, poor drainage and unfinished repairs may seem minor to a homeowner who sees them every day.

To a buyer, they can create a much bigger question:

“What else has not been maintained?”

You do not have to make an older home look brand new.

But obvious maintenance issues should be reviewed before the property hits the market.

4. Using Weak Photos and Generic Marketing

Most buyers will see your home online before they ever walk through the front door.

If the photography is dark, the rooms look cluttered, the floor plan is missing and the listing description sounds exactly like every other property online, you are giving away one of your biggest opportunities.

Professional photography, video, floor plans, Matterport tours, strong copy, social media exposure and targeted online marketing all help create that first impression.

A listing should be marketed like a product launch, not simply uploaded to MLS®.

5. Making Showings Difficult

Living in a home while it is listed can be disruptive.

But if buyers have several properties to choose from and your home is difficult to see, some of them will simply see something else.

You do not need to give buyers unlimited access.

You do need a showing strategy that makes the property reasonably accessible when serious buyers are most active.

Every missed showing is a potential missed buyer.

6. Negotiating Only on Price

Price matters, but it is not the only part of an offer.

A strong offer can also depend on financing, inspection conditions, subject-removal dates, completion dates, possession, deposits and other terms.

The highest offer is not automatically the strongest offer.

The objective is to understand the complete offer and negotiate the entire package.

7. Hiring an Agent Based Only on the Suggested List Price

If three agents tell you your home is worth $1.5 million and another tells you it is worth $1.7 million, the $1.7 million opinion can sound pretty attractive.

That does not make it accurate.

A listing presentation should include the reasoning behind the price, comparable sales, competing listings, market conditions and a clear marketing strategy.

You should also know exactly what the agent is going to do once the property is listed.

Pricing high just to win the listing can cost sellers valuable time.

Selling in Fall 2026 Requires Better Execution

The current market does not mean homes cannot sell.

They absolutely can.

But buyers have more choice, and that means sellers need to be sharper about pricing, condition, preparation, presentation and negotiation.

If you are thinking about selling a home in Burnaby or anywhere across the Lower Mainland, I can walk through the property with you, identify potential issues, discuss which improvements are worth considering and build a selling strategy around the property itself.

Robert Almeida
RE/MAX Crest Realty
604.862.8000
robert@HomesForBC.ca
HomesForBC.ca