Selling Real Estate

Selling a Home – What to Expect

When you decide to sell your home (or any other piece of property in Ontario), finding a brokerage and a salesperson you trust is an important first step. Understanding what to expect also helps you navigate the selling process, and manage your time and energy.

Initial Meeting

Our first meeting at your home (or at the property you wish to sell) allows me to see both the physical structure, the land on which it sits, and the neighbourhood in general. We discuss the timing of listing your home, your expectations, needs and plans for the future, current real estate market conditions, comparable area sales, the property’s specific features, and any renovations you have completed. Pricing, commission, marketing strategies, and everyone’s favourite subject – the pre-listing To Do list – are all topics we cover in detail, at either the initial meeting or a follow-up planning meeting.

Once you have decided to move forward with me, the process of selling your home can usually be broken into three phases:

Pre-listing Preparation

Preparing your home for showings can be as easy as completing a few simple tasks, or it can be more involved. The ultimate goal is to show your home at its best, but you determine how much and what work you want to do. I help coordinate everything from repairs, decluttering and pre-packing, to staging, professional photography and pre-sale building inspections, depending on your needs and circumstances.

As you get ready for showings, I have my own checklist of tasks to complete, and information to gather, to best present your home.

Pre-listing Preparation

Preparing your home for showings can be as easy as completing a few simple tasks, or it can be more involved. The ultimate goal is to show your home at its best, but you determine how much and what work you want to do. I help coordinate everything from repairs, decluttering and pre-packing, to staging, professional photography and pre-sale building inspections, depending on your needs and circumstances.

As you get ready for showings, I have my own checklist of tasks to complete, and information to gather, to best present your home.

On the Market

Once your home is listed for sale, your primary responsibility is keeping it show-ready, both inside and out. Showings can pop up on short notice; there is nothing convenient about having your home on the market. The more flexible your circumstances allow you to be, the easier it is for agents to show your home to potential buyers.

When an offer is received, we review the details and negotiate as needed. After an offer has been agreed upon and accepted by both parties, the conditional period (if there is one) begins. During this period, while your buyers are fulfilling their conditions, it is important you continue to maintain your home in show condition. In some situations, it may even be desirable to continue showings.

Sold Firm – Celebrate and Get Packing!

When your buyers notify us they have fulfilled or are waiving their conditions, the sold sign goes up and your home is sold firm!

After celebrating and sharing your news, the post-listing work begins. This usually includes arranging movers, notifying utilities, forwarding mail and packing, among other things. I provide clients with a checklist to help with moving preparations and gladly offer support or resources as needed. I also send a copy of the fully signed offer to your lawyer and mortgage professional, and ensure all necessary paperwork is completed for the listing brokerage.

Sold Firm – Celebrate and Get Packing!

When your buyers notify us they have fulfilled or are waiving their conditions, the sold sign goes up and your home is sold firm!

After celebrating and sharing your news, the post-listing work begins. This usually includes arranging movers, notifying utilities, forwarding mail and packing, among other things. I provide clients with a checklist to help with moving preparations and gladly offer support or resources as needed. I also send a copy of the fully signed offer to your lawyer and mortgage professional, and ensure all necessary paperwork is completed for the listing brokerage.

Who Pays Me?

In Ontario, the seller usually pays the listing brokerage a percentage of the sale price as the commission. The percentage to be paid as commission is negotiated before listing your home, and the total commission paid by you is split between the listing brokerage and the brokerage representing the buyer.In practical terms, on the day of closing, your lawyer will set aside the funds to pay my brokerage (the listing brokerage) the agreed-upon commission.

My brokerage then divides the commission payment between itself and the buyer’s brokerage. The listing and buyer brokerages further divide the commission between themselves and the agents who represented the buyers and sellers.

Please note: I do not accept referral fees. I ask those offering referral fees to make a donation to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. It is important my clients know that when I refer a person or company it is solely because I believe in their product or service, not because I will benefit in some way.

What to Expect – Working with Me

I don’t believe it is my job to sell you on anything. I do believe that, as a REALTOR® it is my role and responsibility to provide you with:

facts and knowledge to help you make informed choices and decisions as educated buyers
advice and perspective based on many years of experience buying and selling homes
resources and specialists to help your decision-making with knowledge outside of my own expertise

You can rely on me to be truthful, respectful of your time, knowledgeable about Ottawa real estate, and attentive to your needs. I am an experienced negotiator, flexible when needs/wants/timing/plans change, and ethical as well as conscientious.

Key Documents for Sellers

There is plenty of paperwork in any real estate transaction. Understanding each document is key to being a knowledgeable, confident seller. Too much information all at once can be overwhelming though, so each time we get together I will go over another piece or two in the paperwork puzzle until you have a clear overview and understanding of each document.

When selling property with a licenced REALTOR® in Ontario, the following are plain language versions of some of the most commonly used documents.

Working with a REALTOR® (PDF)

Listing Agreement (PDF)

Agreement of Purchase and Sale (PDF)

Agreement of Purchase and Sale (Condo) (PDF)

Confirmation of Cooperation and Representation (PDF)