Thinking about selling your home? As your agent, it is my responsibility to make this important transaction as stress free as possible while ensuring you attain the highest price the market will offer. Many people sell for reasons that excite them: new job, new relationship, new opportunities; while some must sell for reasons that are upsetting, such as a death in the family, tight financial situations or separation. I want to understand your motivations for selling so that I can ensure we get you to the finish line with your best interest in mind.
I have developed a Seller’s Guide with six easy steps to consider before listing your home to make your transaction efficient and worry-free. Read the highlights below. Want to know more? Contact me today.
01
Let's talk first about why you are selling. People decide to sell a home for lots of reasons. Many of these are happy reasons, but some can cause stress or unhappy emotions. Understanding your motivation for selling will inform critical decisions around pricing and home preparation. As your agent, it is my responsibility to make this important transaction as stress free as possible while ensuring you attain the highest price the market will offer.
02
Is the renovation worth it? To stage or not to stage? Ah, the eternal question, and as an agent I hear it all the time: “But we can’t sell yet. We need to renovate the (fill in the blank) first!” Listing your home is a very public process, as we invite strangers into your home. As a seller, you want your home to look it’s best. Consider exterior curb appeal, home odours and decluttering as a first step in this process. Need more? You’ll be happy you hired me, as I have extensive experience in staging as well as an inventory of furnishings and staging materials to help your home shine!
03
Pricing and Marketing. Pricing is a key consideration and I will provide you with the best and most current information on market conditions and recent comparable sales in your specific neighbourhood. This is where your motivation comes into play (see point 1). Are you under any time constraints? Do you need a certain amount of money from this sale to complete another purchase? As your agent, I offer a full range of marketing services from professional photography, on line access, virtual tours and print marketing.
04
Let's make a deal! All your hard work has paid off and we have received a written offer on your home! What happens next? Once we review your offer, you have three options: accept as presented (pending completion of any and all conditions), negotiate with the buyer and sign the offer back to them for consideration, or reject the offer entirely.
05
Time to complete the sale. Assuming an agreement is reached between the buyer and seller, the deal is almost done! As your agent, I will guide you through this part of the process to ensure all the necessary bases are covered such as ensuring the buyer's deposit funds are received within 24 hours of acceptance, handling any number of offer conditions and renegotiation or discussion this may invoke and to deliver a copy of the Agreement of Purchase and sale to your lawyer. During this time, your lawyer will have a number of tasks to complete for you as well such as preparing the deed to your house, ensuring all legal and financial conditions have been met as well as closing the transaction on the day of closing.
06
Your pre-closing to-do list. Congratulations! the sold sign is on your front lawn! It's time to start planning your move. Do you need a mover, or a rental truck? Does your lawyer have everything they need to complete the transaction? Do you have kids? Don't forget about school registration! Notify Canada Post about your change of address, as well as your vehicle registration, health card, Revenue Canada, credit card companies and anyone else you do business with. Set up/disconnect your utilities, and finally, make sure to leave your house empty and clean.
