Seller FAQs

What are some updates I should do before listing my home for sale?

The top 3 things we always tell sellers to do before listing are:

1. Half pack up. Since you're moving, and need to declutter the space to showcase your home anyway, packing a little lets you prepare for moving out at the same time as listing your home for sale in the best light.

2. Painting can go a VERY long way. From touch-ups to a complete refresh, the rule of thumb for colours when selling your home is that neutrals are best.

3. Clean, clean and clean some more. Giving your home a good scrub, inside and out, is a huge pull for buyers. Pressure wash the driveway. Scrub your blinds. Make sure those bathrooms glisten!

Do I need to have a for sale sign?

Yes! You want your home to sell for top dollar, so don't keep the fact that it's for sale a secret!

Do I need to have an open house?

This completely depends on your comfort level. If you want to host an open house, your Realtor should do it. They normally happen on Saturdays or Sundays, but keep in mind most open houses do not often produce a buyer. They really just help your Realtor build out their book of business, which may eventually result in the sale of your house in the near future.

Is it worth staging my house?

If your home is vacant we would suggest doing some staging to create that cozy, poignant, "home-y" feeling. Most buyers make their purchase choice based off the emotional pull of a property–it has less to do with logic. This can even apply to investors, so making your home warm and inviting really goes a long way.

Can you help me stage my home using my furniture?

Yes, we will walk through your home and make suggestions for changes you could make. If you've already implemented our top 3 tips for pre-sale, then this process will be easy and quick.

Do you hire a professional photographer?

Yes, we have a professional photographer that we like to work with. He offers a full photography package for each of our listings.

Do you offer floor plans with your marketing?

Yes, we believe in having a floor plan for every listing.

How quickly can you have my home on the market?

We prefer to have a week or more before listing a property as this allows time to get professional photos and video taken, floor plans drafted, signage installed, etc. Our biggest challenge is usually picking a great day on which to get those all-important photos! If need be, we can get your home listed on the market in 48 hours, but we sincerely recommend taking the time to put your best foot forward–you only get one chance to make a good first impression. 

Can I be present for all showings of my home?

Yes, you can be home, however we do not recommend it. Buyers coming in always prefer when the sellers aren't home. The feel that they can speak freely with their Realtor, and that there's no pressure.

Can I restrict when people see my home?

Yes, of course. We completely understand that keeping your home sparkling clean while having people come in and out of your home can be a lot of work. We're always happy to work with you and make a schedule that requires 24 hours notice.

How long is your listing contract?

We like keeping a listing contract in place for a minimum of three months when trying to sell your home. That said, we craft all our contracts so that they may be cancelled at any time as sometimes unprecedented changes and life events occur.

Do you offer references from past clients?

Yes, we are quite happy to pass along references from past clients but we must always check to ensure our client is okay with us sharing their information before doing so.

What is a Seller’s Market?

In sellers’ markets, increasing demand for homes drives up the prices. Here are some key drivers of that demand:

• Economic factors; the local labour market heats up and brings an influx of new residents that push up housing prices faster than more inventory can be built.
• Interest rates trending downward; home affordability improves, creating more buyer interest in particular for first time homebuyers who can suddenly afford bigger homes as the cost of money lowers.
• Short-term spikes in interest rates; “on the fence” buyers are compelled to make a purchase if they believe the upward trend will continue–they want to make their move before their purchasing power (the amount they can borrow) depletes.
• Low inventory; fewer homes appear on the market due to a lack of new construction, forcing the prices of existing homes upward because there are less units available.

What is a Buyer’s Market?

A buyer’s market is characterized by declining property prices and reduced demand. Several factors may affect long-term and short-term buyer demand, including:

• Economic disruption; the best example would be a large employer shutting down operations and having to lay-off their workforce.
• Interest rates trending higher; the amount of money the people can borrow to buy a home is reduced because the cost of money is higher, thus reducing the total number of potential buyers in the market. Home prices drop to meet the demand, and buyers can find better deals.
• Short-term drop in interest rates; this gives borrowers a temporary edge and more purchasing power before home prices have a chance to react to the recent changes in interest rates.
• High inventory; a new subdivision can create downward pressure on prices of nearby homes that are older, especially if they lack highly desirable features such as modern appliances, eco-heating, etc.
• Natural disasters; recent events like an earthquake or flood can easily tank property values wherever those disruptions occurred.

What is a Stratified Market?

A stratified market exists where the characteristics of supply and demand differ by price point in the same area (typically, by city). For example, home sales for properties above $1.5M may be brisk (seller’s market) while home sales under $750k may be sluggish (buyer’s market).

This scenario comes along every so often in West Coast cities where international investors buy expensive real estate as a way to park their money in North America. At the same time, sales activity for mid-priced homes could be entirely different.