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How to Sell a Home

How to Sell a Home

Home How to Sell a Home
Overview: A Selling Guide from BCR
CHECKLIST
PREPARATION

FIRST STEP – DEPERSONALIZATION AND DECLUTTERING

SECOND STEP – CLEANUP

THIRD STEP – HOME STAGING

FOURTH STEP – RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS

FIFTH STEP – HOME INSPECTION PRE-LISTING

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE IN PREPARING YOUR PROPERTY FOR THE MARKET

Pricing

OVERVIEW

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN HELP WITH THE PRICING OF YOUR PROPERTY

Marketing

OVERVIEW

IDENTIFYING WHO YOUR IDEAL BUYERS ARE

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS THAT CONNECT WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS

APPEARANCE AND EXPOSURE

GETTING PEOPLE TO SEE YOUR HOME BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN INTERESTED IN IT

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE IN MARKETING YOUR PROPERTY

Showing the Home Off to Potential Buyers

OVERVIEW

WHEN IT COMES TO SHOWING TIMES, BE VERSATILE

DON’T STICK AROUND DURING THE VIEWINGS

ENSURE YOUR PROPERTY IS IN OPTIMAL CONDITION

AN OPEN HOUSE

GETTING FEEDBACK

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN ASSIST YOU WITH PROPERTY SHOWINGS

Receiving a Buyer’s Offer

OVERVIEW

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN HELP NEGOTIATE OFFERS FOR YOUR PROPERTY

CHECKLIST

When you’re putting a home on the market in Toronto, there are plenty of things a home seller needs to be mindful of. Whether you are a seasoned home seller or selling your house or condo for the first time, our comprehensive guide to selling your home will walk you through every step you need to take. Keep reading to learn how to sell a house in Canada:

  1. Prepare and stage a home like a professional.
  2. Price and promote your condo or house (or find a suitable agent to achieve this for you).
  3. Be prepared to show the place to potential buyers.
  4. Make negotiations for the home and close the sale.

FIRST STEP – DEPERSONALIZATION AND DECLUTTERING

Consumers are habitual creatures – people tend to hang onto things they don’t need. Too many things can be a distraction, especially to a potential buyer. When you prepare your property to go on the market, you need to cut through the clutter for selling your house. You need to find storage for clothing, knick-knacks, shoes, books, toys, etc. As a home seller, your space needs to be neutralized as best you can so that a potential buyer can visualize themselves as a resident of the unit. As such, you will need to put away mementos, collections, and personal pictures to sell your house. Hiring a Realtor to sell your home makes the selling process more manageable as the agent can guide you on how to sell your house. 

SECOND STEP – CLEANUP

A home seller can think of cleaning as something that must be done to prepare the property. Think of yourself as a hotel housekeeper getting a room ready for a guest. Baseboards should be washed, cobwebs should be removed, ovens and fridges should be scrubbed down, closets should be emptied, cabinets should be vacated, shelves should be dusted, and carpets should be cleaned professionally. Unfortunately, cleaning is an ongoing endeavor – you’ll need to keep doing it the entire time your home is on the market. That includes cleaning up after your children, washing the floors, etc. After cleanup, you can find a real estate agent to sell your property.

THIRD STEP – HOME STAGING

You can refer to a Realtor to sell your home who can help you with home staging. Staging can be described as optimizing the deal, use, and look of each room in the home. It may entail transforming a home office into another bedroom, furniture rearrangement, wall painting, light fixture replacement, or something as simple as replacing the towels in your bathroom. Staging can be done either by a real estate agent or a professional who can guide you on how to sell your house. You should get a real estate agent to sell your property which can be done through networking and advertisements. Having your property catch the eyes of as many buyers as possible doesn’t need to be a costly endeavour, but it’s a process that should not be rushed through, either. The effort that goes into a home transformation will affect the length of time necessary to sell the property (as well as the offers you receive for it). 

You can be aware of any requirements on how to sell your house by finding a real estate agent to sell your property.

FOURTH STEP – RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS

Many people tend to procrastinate when little things need to be fixed. We put off fixing leaky faucets, peeling wallpaper, drywalling dents, and excavating gutters. A handyman can be brought in to finish such minutiae – getting a professional to handle these matters tells buyers you have a well-maintained home. As a home seller, you can handle the little things, though, like changing light bulbs that have burned out.

After renovations and repairs, it is better to find a real estate agent to sell your home; otherwise, you can make a note of these tips on how to sell a house privately in Ontario, Canada. 

FIFTH STEP – HOME INSPECTION PRE-LISTING

If a home seller has ownership of a property, completion of a home inspection (pre-listing) must be performed before the condo or house goes on the market. Doing so will isolate any problems with the property that buyers could object to. For instance, a home inspector could determine that a roof replacement will be necessary for the house. Upon hearing that revelation, a home seller can opt to a) have the roof replaced/repaired before it goes on the market, or b) integrate the costs into the asking price. Your home’s deficiencies will impact the amount you receive for it. If your home is being priced competitively, ensure that a pre-listing inspection report is accessible to buyers (as it will stimulate them into making an offer). 

There is a real estate agent cost to sell your home. You may have speedy offers from buyers when you get a real estate agent to sell your property.

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE IN PREPARING YOUR PROPERTY FOR THE MARKET

  • We will tell you things that others will not. The advice we give you will be honest, which will help you in getting the highest amount possible for your property. Such honesty will be bold – you might not want to hear that the family dog has an offensive odor. You might not want to hear that the colour you chose for your walls could be a deterrent for potential buyers. Nonetheless, the things we tell you are done to optimize a buying price.
  • We will help you prepare your home for a showing. You’ll have access to over 100 professionals in the industry, including gardeners, plumbers, painters, and handymen.
  • Our stagers and designers will help transform your home into a sellable commodity. We have a staging warehouse with all types of accessories and furniture. Contact us for more details about our home staging services.
  • We will hire commercial cleaners to sanitize areas you may have neglected.
  • We work with a client concierge service that works on a full-time basis. If someone is needed to open a box or wait for a locksmith, we will take care of that for you.

OVERVIEW

Your home’s value is based on how much money a buyer wants to pay. However, with strategized pricing, a home seller won’t have to worry about leaving money on the table during the negotiations stage. 

Should your home be priced for bidding competitions? Should you set a high price and be open to negotiation? Is there a particular time in the year that your home will sell for higher? Does it matter if your asking price is a whole figure (like $800,000) or ends with an odd one (like $709,900)? What should be included in your asking price? When should you lower it? 

You can put the right price on your house by hiring a Realtor to sell your home. The asking price of your home is on par with first-number naming during negotiations, so it’s prudent to choose the proper asking price when selling your house. If you overprice your home, it might end up being unsold for a while and you might wind up selling your home for lower than you wanted to. On the other hand, if your asking price isn’t enough, then you won’t get what you were capable of for the property. Thus, hiring a Realtor to sell your home may be beneficial for you. You can also refer to a local agent to sell your home who is aware of houses for sale in Canada.

When you’re thinking of how to sell a house privately in Ontario, Canada and when you’re trying to establish the value of your home, you must assess the following:

  • Homes that were sold within your area recently.
  • Properties that are still up for sale.
  • Existing conditions of the market.
  • The pros and cons of your property.

A home seller should be aware of the overall pricing system of houses for sale in Canada. It is worthwhile to keep in mind that the asking price of the property will fluctuate when selling your home. The amount you ask for is contingent on when your home is sold, along with who your competition is. There are benefits of using a Realtor to sell your home as the agent will consider these factors while selling your house.

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN HELP WITH THE PRICING OF YOUR PROPERTY

  • We understand comparative sales and the overall market. We eat, breathe, and sleep Toronto real estate.
  • We see the homes you are competing with in person while they’re on the market. As such, we understand how pricing should be established.
  • We understand what gets sold, what does not, and the reason it doesn’t.

OVERVIEW

Despite what some Realtors will tell you, marketing entails much more than simply listing a home on MLS. When you think of how to sell a house in Canada, and you wish to reach buyers to sell your house, here’s what your marketing strategy should include:

IDENTIFYING WHO YOUR IDEAL BUYERS ARE

If a home seller can learn anything from big-box stores, it is that effective promotion must focus on a certain market. The more information about an ideal buyer you have, the better suited you’ll be for selling your house. What kind of people are more inclined to purchase your property? Do they support children, or are they bachelors? What age range do they fall under? Do they already reside in the neighbourhood? What benefits and features matter to these people? Having a Realtor to sell your home can help you have a lucrative deal. 

Additionally, you may benefit by hiring a local agent to sell your home as the agent is aware of houses for sale in Canada and has overall knowledge of the demographics of buyers who might want to purchase your home.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS THAT CONNECT WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS

Not all buyers react to marketing the same way. The wording of your promotional materials should be crafted to capture the eye of your ideal buyers when selling your home. Will a buyer respond to a flyer of yours in their mailbox? Or will they be more inclined to react to a social media video/post? Does your ideal buyer have a real estate agent already, or are they working solo? The language and terminology you use to engage your buyers must be capable of eliciting a response from them. 

There are benefits of using a Realtor to sell your home who can guide you on how to sell your house.

APPEARANCE AND EXPOSURE

96% of people looking for a new home do so using the internet. Therefore, if they don’t see your listing, you’re depriving yourself of important exposure. Quality pictures are vital if you want to capture the eye of a modern buyer for selling your home. Regardless of how great the camera on your phone is, it won’t be sufficient. It is our belief that you can’t go wrong with a professional photographer. A thorough social marketing and digital strategy expands a home seller’s visibility online. 

Don’t forget to ask the help of a Realtor to sell your home whenever you feel the need.

GETTING PEOPLE TO SEE YOUR HOME BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN INTERESTED IN IT

While your ideal buyers might be on the hunt for a new condo or house as we speak, you are encouraged to optimize visibility for your property for everyone. Someone interested in buying a house for sale in Canada or condo might be using a real estate agent to do so, as opposed to searching for one on the internet. Promoting your property effectively ensures that it will be in the minds of people who may be on the fence about buying a house or condo. To such people, a home seller’s property will be one they visualize. 

Choosing the right agent to sell your home may be advantageous for you because the agent can guide you on how to sell a house in Canada. In this case, you can use a Realtor to sell your home who can put your interests first.

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE IN MARKETING YOUR PROPERTY

  • We have our own style of property marketing. We integrate the greatest aspects of conventional advertising with established social and digital marketing tactics in order to give each home optimal exposure.
  • We also work alongside buyers, and therefore, we understand how their minds work. We are experts at ideal buyer profiling, and as such, we can determine where they’re situated before we target them.
  • We don’t use the cameras on our phones to take pictures – when we put together marketing materials, we hire professional web developers, writers, designers, and photographers. In doing so, we make your property stand out online, to the point where people are motivated to schedule a viewing.
  • The marketing strategies we use are tailored to ideal buyers. Our customized marketing campaigns are broken down to target a few types of audiences: Realtors working with potential buyers, buyers in the market already, and those who haven’t made any decisions to purchase property yet. Our advertising campaigns are customized to target these specific groups.
  • We are not surprised to see you on our site because we receive more than 90,000 website visitors each month. There will be no shortage of eyes on your property.
  • We market the whole neighbourhood, not just your residence. We use things like neighbourhood boards on Pinterest and infographics about your area to do so. We help buyers get a feel for your home by way of virtual tours and videos.
  • We know what it takes to make a property stand out from crowds so that they get noticed by people who matter.

OVERVIEW

Your property is prepared, the right price is established, and the marketing endeavours have proven to be effective. Now, buyers are eager to visit your home! At this stage, consider doing the following:

WHEN IT COMES TO SHOWING TIMES, BE VERSATILE

Having a house for sale in Canada and selling your property can be quite inconvenient. If you would like to sell the home for top dollar, you’ll need to be flexible with when potential buyers want to see the place. Keep in mind that a majority of people have jobs with 9-to-5 hours. Therefore, many of your showings are bound to take place either on weekends or weekday evenings. 

Hiring a local agent to sell your home can benefit you as the agent has knowledge of services and amenities in your home area and can market your property in a lucrative manner.

DON’T STICK AROUND DURING THE VIEWINGS

As tempted as you may be to brag about the things you renovated or warn people about the home’s faults, it is better that you don’t engage with potential buyers at all. People don’t feel at ease looking at homes with the current homeowner looming over their shoulders (even if you’re not on the same floor). As a home seller, you are encouraged to allow these people to do their own exploration. Go see a movie, go for a stroll, or have dinner out. Go somewhere – anywhere – other than be at home.

ENSURE YOUR PROPERTY IS IN OPTIMAL CONDITION

When you have a house for sale in Canada, empty your cat’s litter box, clean the floors, wash the dishes, have the bed made up, and crate your pets (or even better, have them join you).

AN OPEN HOUSE

Studies show that 4% of Toronto homes get sold because of open houses. Based on our experiences, we believe open houses are far more effective. These viewings let potential buyers see your property in a low pressure/non-threatening environment. Some buyers who initially weren’t thinking of buying a condo or house ended up changing their minds, post-open house visit. If an open house is not an optional, try a virtual open house or 3D virtual tour!

GETTING FEEDBACK

Don’t forget – what buyers can feel and see will heavily influence their desire to purchase your property. Responding to objections and concerns promptly will make a big difference in the amount of time your home remains up for sale. Getting the help of a Realtor to sell your home will benefit you.

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN ASSIST YOU WITH PROPERTY SHOWINGS

  • The only objective we have is to get your home sold when we hold open houses. Some Realtors will capitalize on this opportunity for self-promotion, engaging with agentless buyers.
  • Feedback is solicited from each agent that shows your property to potential buyers. We obtain input from buyers about their initial reactions to the place.
  • We offer status reports each week (or more frequently, if you’d like) chronicling the number of showings, your home’s feedback, and what’s going on in the market while your home has been for sale.

OVERVIEW

An offer might be issued to you or your Realtor from a buyer in person. Alternatively, the offer might be emailed to your real estate agent. Depending on the age of the buyer, the offer might even be sent by a fax machine! You can get help from your Realtor to sell your home and review the offer. 

The following key negotiation points will be addressed in the offer:

  1. Conditions
  2. Irrevocable Date/Time
  3. Closing Date
  4. Price
  5. Deposit Amount

After an offer is received, a home seller can use one of the following responses:

  1. Decline it.
  2. Accept it. In doing so, you are committing to the sale of your house.
  3. Issue a counteroffer. Your counteroffer can contain a higher price and/or better conditions. From here, the buyer can either decline, accept, or counter your offer. They can also choose to walk away from the deal.

It’s better to find a real estate agent to sell your home. Negotiating is an art and choosing a real estate agent to sell your home is crucial. If the real estate agent has been selected wisely, you’ll get solid guidance and advice from them to achieve a desired price. Thus, choosing the right agent to sell your home will be beneficial. The final pricing choices when your home is being sold ultimately are yours and yours alone. However, it is beneficial for a negotiator to be with you at this time. 

HOW THE TEAM AT BCR CAN HELP NEGOTIATE OFFERS FOR YOUR PROPERTY

  • Our staff excel at negotiations. Nobody in our industry has more tricks up their sleeves than us. People who negotiate with us aren’t prepared for the caliber of skill we exemplify during this process.
  • We will represent you during negotiations as if our own homes were being sold. We are not susceptible to pressure or bullying, nor will we make any moves without consulting you first.
  • We have a comprehensive understanding of legalities involved with this process, and can simplify any fine print for you. We will strive to make this entire process as hassle-free as possible for you.