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Let Your Realtor Negotiate the Best Deal when Buying or Selling

Written on December 3, 2011 at 3:50 pm, by

It doesn’t matter whether or not you are buying or selling a home, having a qualified realtor with the right amount of experience can be the best weapon you’ll have to close a deal with the best possible terms.  Not only does your realtor need to be a good salesperson, they must also be a good negotiator.  And make no mistake, good negotiation skills is an art that requires plenty of practice to before you become an expert.

Price is the first thing that most think of when they think of what their realtor will be negotiating for them.  And it is true that this is one of the biggest things that will need to be ironed out.  Of course, the sellers will always want to sell at the highest price while buyers will want the lowest.  A quality real estate agent will have done their homework in studying the market comparables to assess the fair market value of a property.  Once this has been completed, it becomes the foundation by which an acceptable price can be agreed upon by both parties (seller and buyer).

But price isn’t the only thing that a realtor may have to negotiate.  Below are some things a buyer vs. a seller may want negotiated by their realtor.


Typical Items a Toronto realtor may need to negotiate on your behalf:

-Closing Costs – many buyers (especially first time homebuyers) will ask that the seller pay all or at least part of closing costs.  In a very competitive market, such as we have now, this becomes an even more standard request.

-Furniture – things like washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, and chandeliers are all standard things that a buyer will want to be negotiated into purchase price of a home.

-Move Out Day – often times a realtor will negotiate a move out date that is actually beyond the actual closing day.  Many times a seller will not be able to move into their new home and need the extra time which is something that can be worked out during negotiations.

-Repairs – If there are certain repairs that need to be made, they can either be completed by the buyer or by the seller.  A realtor could potentially negotiate a credit to allow buyers to complete repairs once they have taken ownership of the property.

The truth is that having a good realtor on your side that’s highly adept in the art of negotiation can be invaluable to you as you go through the process of either buying or selling a home in Toronto.

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5 Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent

Written on December 3, 2011 at 3:49 pm, by

If you are planning on selling your home in Toronto, chances are you will be working with a real estate agent.  A real estate agent is someone who specializes in facilitating the home buying and selling process.  But you must remember that all real estate agents in Toronto are not the same; so before you jump in with the first person you find, there are a few question that can help you figure out whether you’ve found a true professional or an amateur.

Question #1:  How long have you been in real estate?
While it is nice to help someone out who is just getting started in the business, this may not be the real estate agent you want helping you sell your half a million dollar home.  The goal here is to know what level of expertise you will be getting when you sign up with a particular agent to represent you in the sale of your home.

Question #2:  Do you have any references?
If you are working with someone who is a referral this step may not be necessary; but when you are deciding on a real estate agent who you know nothing about, speaking to past clients can help give you valuable insight on the level of client service you can expect to receive.  Also, if the agent doesn’t want to provide references it may be a red flag that you should continue searching.

Question # 3:  What are your marketing plans?
Knowing if your real estate agent plans on advertising in the newspaper is something you’ll want to know upfront; also, when and how often will an ‘Open House’ be scheduled.  The aggressiveness of the marketing plan has a direct correlation to how fast you will be able to sell your home.  If there are discrepancies in what you expect and what the real estate agent plans on doing, you have the opportunity to work that out up front by asking the question.

Question #4:  Is the home ready to go on the market?
Any Toronto real estate agent worth their weight in gold should be able to walk through your home and give you an idea of any small changes you can make to help increase the likelihood that your home will be sold as quickly as possible.   Be prepared to hear suggestions to de-clutter or even painting walls a more neutral color.  Your real estate agent should be able to give you tips on making your home appeal to a wide range of buyers.

Question #5:  How accessible are you?
This is one of those questions that it is good to ask in the beginning.  The reason is because you don’t just want a real estate agent who is going to disappear once they have a signed contract.  You want to be certain that this person will respond with a sense of urgency to any phone calls or e-mails.  When you make your expectations clear up front things have a tendency to go smoother.

Asking all or some of these questions can help you find the real estate agent that’s right for you.

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Choosing the Right Realtor

Written on December 3, 2011 at 3:45 pm, by

It doesn’t matter whether or not you are the buyer or the seller, having a good realtor on your team is integral to success.  A realtor is not only a professional working within the real estate arena that can assist you with buying or selling a home; a realtor should also be seen as your personal advocate (or agent) in helping you meet your specific goals.

If you are in the market for a good realtor, there are a few ways to go about making sure you select the best person to fit your personality and needs.  While every person is different, you can use the following list as a guide to help you ensure you’ll find a real estate professional you feel comfortable working with.


Tips on Selecting the Best Realtor

Tip #1 – Referral
You’ve heard it before that “word of mouth is the best advertisement”; well this is never truer than when it comes to picking a real estate agent.  Poll your friends and family and see if you can get a recommendation.  Since you’ll be asking people that you know, and hopefully trust, it should be easier to find someone that will be reliable and easy to work with who can help you get results.

Tip #2 – Check the Signs
Odds are when looking to buy or sell, you begin noticing all the real estate For Sale signs in the area.  By checking to see if there is one name that appears to be showing up on a lot of signs you may be able to get a heads up on a quality realtor in the area; remember that if they do a lot of business, chances are they are top notch and okay to work with.

Tip #3 – Set up Interviews
If you can’t get a referral and there is no one name that stands out as someone you should give a try, why not set up a time where you can screen a few candidates to see who you like best.  Get together a few questions and either set up a meeting in person or on the phone to see who you like best.

While these suggestions can be used as tools in helping you locate a realtor, there are never guarantees.  At the end of the day, no matter which realtor you choose, you must remember to stay involved in the process and make sure your needs are met when it comes to buying or selling a home.

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