Selling Your Home
Selling a Home Is a Major Life Transition
Especially for seniors who have lived in the same home for many years.
Whether you're considering a move to a smaller home, a retirement community, or assisted living, we are here to walk with you through each part of the process step by step. While everyone has their own unique set of circumstances, the process of selling a house will typically follow a fairly predictable process.
Selling a Home Is a Major Life Transition
Especially for seniors who have lived in the same home for many years.
Whether you're considering a move to a smaller home, a retirement community, or assisted living, we are here to walk with you through each part of the process step by step. While everyone has their own unique set of circumstances, the process of selling a house will typically follow a fairly predictable process.
If you choose to list your home with us, below are the steps we generally follow:
The Home Selling Journey
1. Complimentary Consultation
We will meet for tea or coffee, usually at your home. We will take the time to get to know you, understand your situation, timelines, financial situation, your goals and biggest concerns. If you have someone supporting you with this process, we will be sure to set up a time to meet that can accommodate everyone’s schedule.
The Home Selling Journey
2. Market Evaluation
Michael will complete a Market Evaluation that not only identifies the location, style and condition of your home, he will take a deeper dive to explore comparable listings and sales in the neighbourhood. He will look at local trends and market conditions, supply and demand dynamics and from there make some recommendations on a sales, marketing and pricing strategy for you.
The Home Selling Journey
3. Complete the Listing Documents
Together, once everyone is in agreement on the sales and marketing strategy for your home, you will sign the listing documents with Michael.
The Home Selling Journey
4. Preparation for Photos & Showings
Prepping the home for sale will look a little different for every seller, depending on your situation. Most commonly, this part of the process includes cleaning, staging, decluttering, and completion of minor repairs in order to ready the home for magazine quality photos.
The Home Selling Journey
5. Photos and Marketing
We have partnered with an exceptional photography and videography team. Once the home is ready, we will schedule our Professional Photography team to come out and capture magazine-quality photos of your property. Imagery is a really critical piece of our marketing strategy and is included in our fee structure.
The balance of the marketing strategy will depend on the specifics of your situation, but can often include listing the property on the MLS or REALTOR.ca website; targeted advertising on preferred social media platforms; strategically-planned open houses; and sharing within our well-established referral network.
Between Listing and Selling
Once the home is listed for sale, we will often have several showings scheduled - either with our clients, or other REALTOR'S® clients. We recognize that some senior clients, or individuals with health or mobility issues, may have some concerns around showing the property. We understand that things like shovelling the driveway in advance of a showing, or vacating the premises may be more difficult for seniors, especially if you are no longer driving.
We will discuss all of those details as we are signing the Listing Agreement and establish a strategy that everyone is comfortable with. Navigating different strategies based on your situation is something we can map out early in the process.
1. Completion of the the Offer to Purchase
The Offer to Purchase is completed by the Buyer’s Agent and submitted on the potential buyer’s behalf to your Listing Agent. Included in the offer to purchase will be things that you may need to consider - sometimes they are identical to everything you mapped out in the Listing Agreement, but often the buyer will ask their REALTOR®
to include some things you hadn’t considered.
Once There is an Offer to Purchase
2. Negotiation and Acceptance
Working alongside Michael, you’ll decide which items in the Offer to Purchase that you will agree to and what you won’t. If you list with Michael, you can rest assured that he has a fiduciary responsibility to act in your best interests while negotiating on your behalf.
Common items you may choose to negotiate:
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Price of the home
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Possession date
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Inclusions - there may be some items the buyers ask you to leave behind
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Conditions - they might ask for time to obtain financing or have a home inspection
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Condition removal time is typically within 10 - 14 days of the offer
Once There is an Offer to Purchase
3. Deposit is Paid
Once the terms are agreed upon, the buyer will submit their deposit which is a % of the sale price or a flat rate, usually of $10,000 or more. This is another item you can work with your Agent on to ensure you have a level of comfort.
Once There is an Offer to Purchase
4. Condition Period
It’s important to remember that the home isn’t sold yet - there may continue to be showings on your property during this time and you may choose to entertain back-up offers. Michael will help you determine the best strategy, taking into consideration all of the details of your situation.
Once There is an Offer to Purchase
Once conditions are removed, the Buyer will be responsible to submit the balance of the down payment and then your home is considered sold!
At this point, you would start preparing for Possession Day to ensure your belongings are removed from the home; you will consult with your lawyer; and book your movers. If you need referrals to moving companies and legal teams, we are happy to support you with that. After over 15 years in the industry, we’ve established an extensive network of talented professionals and preferred partners.
You will also want to update your services and utilities - they should be arranged to be transferred to the Buyer. If you choose to list your home with us, we have a comprehensive checklist to support you with this part of the process.
Packing and cleaning - there are many exceptional organizations that can help you with both of these pieces. For your move out clean, it is generally accepted that the home be turned over to the buyers in a clean manner. You are responsible to remove your trash and all of your belongings, unless otherwise agreed upon.
You are also responsible to turn over the home in the condition the buyers saw it, which means that if there was a broken mirror, for instance, you aren’t responsible to fix it. If you broke it on moving out, however, then it would be your responsibility.
Condition Removal
Once conditions are removed, the Buyer will be responsible to submit the balance of the down payment and then your home is considered sold!
At this point, you would start preparing for Possession Day to ensure your belongings are removed from the home; you will consult with your lawyer; and book your movers. If you need referrals to moving companies and legal teams, we are happy to support you with that. After over 15 years in the industry, we’ve established an extensive network of talented professionals and preferred partners.
You will also want to update your services and utilities - they should be arranged to be transferred to the Buyer. If you choose to list your home with us, we have a comprehensive checklist to support you with this part of the process.
Packing and cleaning - there are many exceptional organizations that can help you with both of these pieces. For your move out clean, it is generally accepted that the home be turned over to the buyers in a clean manner. You are responsible to remove your trash and all of your belongings, unless otherwise agreed upon.
You are also responsible to turn over the home in the condition the buyers saw it, which means that if there was a broken mirror, for instance, you aren’t responsible to fix it. If you broke it on moving out, however, then it would be your responsibility.