Choosing A REALTOR®
Choosing a Real Estate Professional
This is an excellent question because buying or selling a home can be a complex transaction and you want the right person with the right expertise to help you.
In Ontario, all real estate agents must be registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) to be eligible to trade in real estate. So, when you hire an agent, you have some comfort that they will give you relevant guidance, are educated to deliver the advice and services, are insured, and are subject to professional standards and obligations.
Still, choosing an agent is an important personal decision, and there are some steps RECO recommends you take to find the right agent for you.
First, shop around. Get referrals from family or friends who have used an agent or look for one who is active in the neighbourhood in which you are selling or buying.
You will want to clarify what services the agent will offer or provide. The services may vary from brokerage to brokerage and agent to agent. Take the time to understand what they bring.
It is important to know that commissions and fees vary between brokerages and may depend on the services you would want, so be sure to understand what will be provided and what it will cost.
What to Expect
As your Designated Representative, I shall endeavour to provide you with some or all of the following
- Advise you on market conditions
- Keep you up to date with respect to changing market conditions
- Advise you concerning the best strategy to attract buyers and achieve the best price for your home
- Market or advertise your home, on MLS and various other internet formats
- Arrange photographs, videos and virtual tours, if advisable
- Provide recommendations and referrals to other professionals, as required
- Arrange and if advisable, attend home inspections and appraisals
- Arrange showings for prospective buyers
- Review offers
- Advise you on how to handle offers, multiple offers, and competing offers, including sharing various contents with others
- Advise you on various other aspects of the transaction
- Advise you about the risks associated with certain potential buyers to ensure their financial integrity
- Negotiate with buyers to achieve the best results, price, and terms, for you
- Assist you with the successful closing of the transaction.
Getting to know you
One of the first things your Real Estate Professional will ask is, why are you selling your house? Your Real Estate Professional will also explore any time constraints you may have, your financial situation and any future plans. It’s all part of getting to know you so the sale will be handled to your complete satisfaction.
