Downsizing and Real Estate Insights

Nicole Schell, Broker and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) with the Schell Real Estate Team in Waterloo Region, works with empty nesters at every stage of deciding whether, and when, to downsize.Adapted from a social post Nicole originally shared in June 2026. There's No Deadline The best downsizing decisions are rarely made under pressure. You don't need to move today, and nothing about becoming an empty nester requires an immediate decision. What tends to make the biggest difference is understanding your options well before you actually need them, so that if or when the time comes, you're choosing rather than scrambling. The Moment Usually Announces Itself Quietly It rarely arrives as a single clear signal. More often it's a room that sits empty most ...