Vacant homes let a buyer's lender assess the property on its own merits without a lease complicating the financing, since most residential mortgages assume the buyer will occupy or the property will be delivered empty on possession day. The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 sets the notice period, often 30 to 60 days, a landlord must give before an occupied home can be delivered vacant.
An occupied property narrows your buyer pool to investors and buyers willing to wait out a lease, but it also removes the cost and disruption of a vacancy period while the home is on the market, and rent continues to come in during the sale process.
The right choice comes down to which buyer pool actually wants your specific property. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.