02.22.22 | For Sellers

How to Maximize the Sale of Your Home with a Real Estate Agent

With houses selling faster than ever, many homeowners are choosing to sell without the involvement of a real estate agent. Why would anyone do this? For someone unfamiliar with the industry, it looks like a good idea. By selling your house on your own, you avoid paying a commission to the agent. And in this market, you don’t need a lot of exposure to bring in the offers. Simply listing your house on MLS can generate a lot of interest. 

As a result, you see “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) signs popping up more often.

Many sellers believe they’ll end up with more money in their pocket by selling without an agent. However, this is rarely the case. An agent will almost certainly earn more for you than you ever could on your own, even in this fast-paced seller’s market. How could this be? 

Licensed agents are well trained, certified and have access to many resources an FSBO seller does not.  

Here are a few of the many ways an agent can help maximize your sale.

Listing at the Right Time

When you hear the term “Seller’s Market,” it’s a general principle that more people are looking to buy a home than there are houses for sale. However, prices fluctuate in every market, and timing matters greatly. You can’t rely on general principles if you want to maximize your sale. For example, everyone “knows” that Spring is the best time to list your house. But each city is different, and there are other factors at play. Sometimes a new law comes into effect that can affect housing prices. 

Nothing feels worse than selling your house today, only to find out you might have gotten thousands more by waiting a couple of weeks. 

No matter what the market is doing, there are still better times than others to list your house for the maximum return.

Upgrading the right way. 

As a seller, you know you need to get your house in tip-top shape before listing it on the market. But do you know what upgrades to make? Some renovations will increase your bottom line by thousands of dollars.

Some won’t help at all and are a waste of your time and money. Other upgrades can actually hurt your sale. An agent with experience in your area knows what buyers are looking for. This insight will save you a lot of expense and hassle from performing unnecessary renovations.

Effective marketing strategies 

Many home sellers list their homes on the MLS, and that’s the extent of their marketing. But the biggest single factor in getting the most profit from your house is finding the right buyer.

An experienced agent often has a roster of clients who are already searching for a home in your area.

Finding a highly-motivated buyer means your house will sell quickly, with minimal hassle and at a price you can be satisfied with. 

Expert Selling and Negotiation Skills

Without representation, you’ll have to deal personally with everyone who expresses interest in your home. This means constant phone calls, emails and sudden knocks at the door from passersby who saw your sign.

Do you know how to weed out those who want to beat you down on price and those who just want to walk through because they’re nosy?

And when you do stumble across an interested prosper, are you prepared to do a complete sales presentation and negotiate top dollar for your property? 

As you can see, selling a house is more complicated than you may have thought. And we haven’t even talked about the paperwork yet.

Handling the legalities 

Every real estate transaction involves several legal, binding contracts.

If you accidentally violate one of these agreements, you may end up spending your profits on lawyer’s fees. Or a sale you thought was a sure thing could fall through because of some faulty paperwork.

Think of your agent as an investment.

Many real estate agents provide complete service, start to finish. They even pay many of the expenses of selling your home out of their own pocket, including the staging and marketing expenses. 

If your house doesn’t sell, it costs you nothing.

At the highest commission rate, you only have to sell for 6% more to earn back every penny of your agent’s fees. However, you can expect much more. The average sale through a Realtor® is 20% higher than a sale by owner. What does that math look like?

Let’s say you sell your house for $500,000. An agent would add an extra $100,000 to your final price.

Since the maximum commission would be $36,000, you’d have at least $64,000 in extra profits.

Perhaps even more important than the price is the peace of mind that comes with using an experienced real estate agent. You will likely get more money from your sale, and you’ll have less to worry about and fewer expenses. 


Want to know more about how to sell your house the right way? Here are some other articles that will help:


Are you ready to take the first step in finding an agent to help sell your home? You can learn more about our process in our free seller’s guide.

 

Barnett Team - Milton REALTOR®

05.20.21 | For Buyers

Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®

It’s a common question in the real estate world, especially among first-time buyers and sellers. Do I need to work with a REALTOR®? Some people wonder whether they have what it takes to go it alone. That said, most ultimately decide to work with a professional—and for good reason.

In this post, we’ll lay out the benefits of working with a REALTOR®…

The Benefits of Working With a REALTOR® as a Buyer

Thinking of using a REALTOR® to help you buy a home? Here are some of the advantages you can expect.

Unsurpassed Knowledge

If you’re a buyer, a REALTOR® will use their real estate knowledge and local expertise to help ensure your purchase is a success. From school districts to price points to hidden neighbourhood gems, a professional who works in your areas of interest can answer all your questions. In addition, their understanding of the buying process means they’ll always know what’s next—and will be there to guide you through every step.

Local Connections

Your home search will become much easier when you work with a REALTOR® who has a strong local network. From local sellers to home professionals who can help you with repairs if need be, it’s helpful to have connections to tap into. Your REALTOR® will also have access to the MLS, a massive system that agents use to share listings. It’s the best way to find homes that match your criteria.

Offer Stage Assistance

Once you find the right match, a REALTOR® can help you craft an offer that’s competitive yet protects your interests. It’s a delicate balance, and there are a variety of elements to consider. From your sale price to your deposit to the conditions you choose to include (or omit), your agent will provide guidance on what to include to help you achieve your desired result.

Negotiation Expertise

What happens if you have to enter into negotiations? Your REALTOR® will advocate on your behalf, using recent local data to justify any points they make. They’ll also draw on their general experience and knowledge of buyer psychology to position you for success.

Help With the Details

Buying a home comes with all kinds of paperwork, logistics, and costs, which are necessary to wrap up your purchase. Your REALTOR® will make sure all these loose ends get tied up. Just as importantly, they’ll know how to work with all parties involved—from other agents to inspectors to lawyers—along the way.

Should I work with a REALTOR® if I’m a seller?

Wondering if you should work with a REALTOR® as a seller? The truth is, there are many good reasons to do so. If you decide to take this step, you’ll see some major benefits.

Accurate Pricing

Pricing a home is an art. You want to attract the highest offers possible without intimidating buyers or turning them off. That means the number you set can’t be too high, or too low. Luckily, a good REALTOR® will have the local market expertise to help you settle on just the right number. They’ll even provide a document known as a comparative market analysis to help you understand recent sold prices for homes like yours—and assist you in making an informed decision.

Careful Home Preparations

A skilled REALTOR® will know how to see your home from a buyer’s perspective. Based on that knowledge, they’ll provide guidance and connect you to trusted professionals who can help you maximize its appeal. From decluttering and cleaning to staging, home preparations can make all the difference.

Masterful Marketing

Marketing is another crucial piece of the puzzle. From 5-star photography and beautiful print pieces to social media and digital campaigns, your REALTOR® will do everything in their power to make sure your home makes a strong impression.

Offer Review & Negotiations

Your REALTOR® can help you understand the context of any offer you receive. If multiple bids come in, they can also help you weigh the upsides and potential downsides of each one. Lastly, going up against an agent on your own during negotiations is no easy feat. The right professional will have the skills and experience to do that for you.

Careful Closing

From coordinating with the buyer’s agent and other parties to ensuring that due diligence is done, a talented REALTOR® will make sure closing is smooth. They’ll navigate you through the final walk-through and remind you of the steps you need to take—like changing your utilities.

The Bottom Line

Many buyers and sellers try to go it again—before ultimately deciding to work with a REALTOR®. That said, some people do sell their own homes. If you’re considering it, your best bet is to talk to a professional to learn the benefits and drawbacks!

Interested in speaking to an experienced local agent? Whether you’re buying or selling, get in touch to take the first step—or simply learn more about what working with our team is like.

Ready to learn what buying with us is like?

Download our buyer’s guide right now.

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01.7.21 | For Buyers

December 2020 Market Statistics

December’s market update is here!

Before sharing December’s market stats, we first want to recap 2020 and then finish this off by touching on 2021 predictions.

2020 RECAP

Despite the year we had with COVID, economic uncertainty & lockdowns, it was a record breaking year in Real Estate. The average sale price across the GTA reached a new record of almost $930,000. That is up 13% year over year. We saw a lot of competition for single family homes last year, which resulted in them experiencing the strongest price growth in the suburbs.

DECEMBER’S MARKET STATS

 

Let’s look at the December stats for Milton, Burlington and Oakville.

 

 

 

 

 

PREDICTIONS

Now let’s talk about 2021 predictions. The real estate market was extremely competitive in 2020 and we are expecting 2021 to be no different.

There are 4 main factors that will impact the real estate market this year.

⁠1. Immigration – In 2020 immigration dropped although Canada is planning on welcoming 1.2 million people between 2021 & 2023. ⁠⠀

⁠2. Interest rates – Interest rates have been at an all time low and are expected to stay low throughout 2021.

⁠3. Housing supply – We have been in a sellers market for months now and with people continuing to make significant lifestyle changes we don’t anticipate this changing. Currently supply is extremely low, so if you have been thinking about selling now is a great time.

⁠4. COVID 19 – The pandemic has caused buyer preferences to change. 2020 had many of us reconsider what is important to us, especially when it comes to our home. We anticipate home-buyer trends to continue to shift in 2021. ⁠⠀

 

RE/MAX Canada is currently anticipating that Ontario will experience 7-12% price growth in 2021.

Do you have questions about the GTA real estate market?

Reach out to learn more about your local market—and how we can help!

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How To Hire a Real Estate Agent As a Buyer

12.21.20 | For Buyers

How To Hire a Real Estate Agent As a Buyer

You’ve planned and saved, and now it’s finally time to start your home search in earnest. Not so fast. Before you take the next step, you’ll want to ensure you have helpful expertise on your side.

The truth is, the right real estate guidance could mean a smoother, more enjoyable buying experience—and a better purchase price. If you’re ready to buy, read our top tips on how to hire the best local professional for you!

Conducting Interviews

Contrary to popular belief, not all buyer’s agents are the same. By speaking with a few different professionals, you can get a sense of what’s out there—and help ensure that you find someone who’s well-equipped to serve your unique buying needs.

Before interviewing prospective agents, jot down a few important questions. Some that you may want to touch on include:

• How well do you know my neighbourhoods of interest?
• Can you walk me through the buying process?
• Can you tell me a bit about your negotiation style?
• If I find myself in a multiple-offer scenario, how will you help me win?
• What’s the best way to contact you?

In addition to providing you with insight into the interviewee’s approach, sitting across from someone can help you get a sense of what they’re really like. If you feel at ease, it’s likely a good sign!

The Right Experience

It goes without saying that you want to work with someone who has a very solid grasp of the buying process. From obtaining pre-approval to making an attractive offer to wrapping up closing details, they should understand the common challenges associated with every step—and how to overcome them.

Next up, consider community expertise. If an agent has been working in your area of interest for years, they’re probably a great resource. If they can tell you about recent price shifts, local school districts, and the places that serve up the best coffee, it’s another potential sign that you’re in good hands!

You’ll probably also want to get a sense of whether they’re familiar with all property types. For example, you want to work with someone who has a reasonable amount of condo expertise if you’re buying a unit. Likewise, it may be helpful to know whether they’re used to working with buyers like you. In some ways, your needs will be different depending on whether you’re a first-time buyer or a downsizer.

Ask About Connections

These days, the best real estate agents offer full-service experiences. That means more than hands-on attention, ongoing expertise, and a willingness to help at any time. It’s also about having an available network of trusted professionals to assist you with anything that falls outside of their scope of expertise.

Trust us when we say, finding an agent with a reliable list of industry contacts is worthwhile. From mortgage brokers to real estate lawyers to professional movers, having insider connections who represent the best in the business can make the buying process much lower-stress.

Speak to References

Last but not least, don’t be afraid to ask for references. Some buyers are hesitant to take this step, but agents are used to it. Perusing reviews and testimonials can give you a good idea of the level of service (and results) a professional provides, but it won’t tell you the whole story. Nothing beats being able to ask questions firsthand!

There’s no doubt that finding the right agent takes a little more work than picking the first professional you come across, but it’s worthwhile. By doing your homework, you can help ensure a better buying experience—and a result you’ll be more than happy with!

 

Interested in learning more about our buying services?

Get in touch to learn how we can help make your next purchase a success!

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How To Hire a Real Estate Agent As a Seller | The Katherine Barnett Team

12.7.20 | For Sellers

How To Hire a Real Estate Agent As a Seller

Are you preparing to sell your home? The first thing you’ll want to do is find the right agent. Having a skilled professional by your side will help ensure that every step—from pricing to staging to negotiations—leads to the best possible result. It all starts with a practical approach to your search.

If you’re selling your home, here are a few tips for finding the ideal real estate professional for your needs…

Conducting Interviews

After some googling—and perhaps asking around amongst friends and family—you should have a shortlist of agents who seem like a good fit. Once you do, it’s time to start setting up interviews. There’s no better way to find out who you could work well with than by sitting down to chat one-on-one. Here are just a few questions to consider asking:

• How long have you worked in my community?

• What is your average sale-to-list ratio? (This is a home’s final sale price divided by the last list price).

• What sets you apart from your competition?

• Can you tell me a bit about your pricing strategy?

• How might you market my home?

Of course, one of the most important considerations is your comfort level. An interview will provide you with a window into how a given professional does business—and allow you to assess how well you’ll likely get along during the selling process.

The Right Qualities

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to interviewing a seller’s agent. That said, there are a number of traits that the professional you work with should have. Here are just a few of the qualities to look out for:

Local experience

Whether they’re helping you set the perfect price or assisting you in marketing your property to local buyers, an agent’s area knowledge is crucial. A professional who knows your community—from neighbourhood schools to how much local homes have recently sold for—is well-positioned to help you locate and work with the right buyer.

Industry expertise

Of course, your agent should be more than a local insider. Before you start working with them, you should ensure that they understand the process inside and out. Try asking about everything from their staging and marketing to their strategies for handling multiple offers and unexpected closing details. Their answers will provide a lot of insight into their experience.

A strong track record

While hearing what an agent would theoretically do in various scenarios is helpful, their past performance is usually an even better indicator of how they’ll serve you. For the homes they’ve sold, what is their average days-on-market? How many homes did they sell last year? Asking for and carefully considering an agent’s statistics can be helpful.

What To Ask For

When an agent tells you about the results they’ve achieved for clients, you don’t have to take their word for it. If you want to learn what working with them is really like, consider requesting potential references.

On the marketing front, you’ll want to ask to view some past materials. From flyers to online listings, everything used to promote a home should be appealing, polished, and professional-looking. If you find the samples you see compelling, chances are that the agent responsible for them has what it takes to market your property with finesse!

Interested in learning how we can help you sell your home? Reach out today to set up a consultation!