Slow and steady: Finding the right moments to pause  

Selling during a pandemic and a relocation to a hot regional market. This couple comfortably paused and regrouped in the face of various challenges.

Meet Michael and Sarah, a couple whose calm approach to selling and buying worked in their favour. 

After twenty years in their city beach home, increased development, traffic and noise all helped influence their decision to try out a regional move. 

To help sell their property, they connected with an agent they’d known for years and felt comfortable with. 

However, as their property came onto the market, a pandemic was impacting the globe. 

Covid restrictions meant stricter conditions on property inspections.  

Six weeks passed by with quiet home inspections and no offers. 

Winter approached and they made the decision to wait it out over the cooler months. A breather to the weekly tidying and packaging up the house. 

Pausing and re-listing in the spring worked in their favour. Restrictions had eased and interest rates had gone down significantly. 

A hot market was now underway across a number of regions. 

The first home inspection was held on a Saturday. By Tuesday, they had an offer.  

Michael and Sarah took a moment with the offer, heading out for dinner before responding. While pausing may not suit every market or circumstance, taking a moment on this occasion proved financially advantageous.   

Relocation relocation

With their property now sold, Michael and Sarah were ready to try a relocation. 

Keen to rent first to test out the area, they struck it lucky, renting a friend’s place in a suburb they were happy to try. 

A one year trial with their landlord friends turned into four years of renting, while researching the area and properties that met their criteria.

As cashed up sellers, they felt they had time on their side. However a moving hot property market caused some panic - were they soon to be priced of their regional area? 

Nothing came up that was right for them. Rather than rushing into something they may later regret, they kept to a firm criteria of what they needed and what they would avoid.

Their previous experience of living with a steep driveway and tricky parking - although as Sarah shared, has made them experts in tight manoeuvring - influenced their need for more suitable and accessible parking. 

They were fortunate to have the ongoing flexible lease arrangement with friends. 

Amid high inflation and rising interest rates, the property market began cooling.

Not long after, an off market property came up that was just right for them, discovered through word of mouth.

Join us for part two in the next issue - how Michael and Sarah purchased their home directly from the sellers, without it ever hitting the market.