Take out the trash

Welcome back to part 5, the final installment of our series where I’m using my Nespresso machine to start my day on the right foot and provide you with real estate lessons you can actually understand.

Today is a simple one – take out the trash. If I don’t empty the pod collection canister, the whole machine will not work. It jams up and no new pods can be put in.

If you asked any of my seller clients over the years what slowed them down the most in the sales process, it would be the preparation phase. It always takes longer than you think to get your house ready for sale.

De-cluttering, purging, cleaning, packing… every last thing you own has to be packed up at some point between our first conversation and the day you hand over the keys.

Don’t let your stuff slow you down and hold you back from moving forward.

I offer all of my seller clients a prep guide that covers what to clean, pack, replace and organize. I’m sharing that with you today, no matter what your plans are.

Click here to download the quick guide.

In case you missed any of the last few emails, here’s a quick recap:

1. Understanding how something works can take something that feels complicated and make it feel achievable.

2. There isn’t one “right” way to do things but the right strategy is the one that works for you.

3. My job often requires managing chaos behind the scenes and supporting my clients, no matter what market conditions they’re trying to move in.

4. Preparation makes the process easier.

5. Take out the trash.

Maybe that’s actually the biggest lesson: there isn’t a perfect formula for buying or selling a home. There’s your situation, your goals, and the strategy we build around them.

So, whether your next move is already on the horizon or still just a thought, I hope this little coffee analogy has given you a few things to think about.

And when you’re ready to start figuring out what your next move could look like, you know where to find me. (Probably drinking coffee somewhere…)

Until next time,

Sarah Fothergill

Sales Representative

Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate Ltd. Brokerage

Direct: 613 315 9365 

Let’s Connect: @fothergill.realestate

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Originally sent to Mind the Market subscribers on August 20, 2026.