Working With a REALTOR

Although some people choose to sell their home independently, it is most beneficial to list your home with an agent. There are a number of advantages to having a real estate agent, whether you are the buyer or seller.

When you have decided to list your home, the real estate agent has many roles. They have access to information that can help sell your home faster, and at a higher price.

Your agent may have many clients. And your agent probably works in an office with other agents with clients. An integral part of their job is to be aware of their clients' needs, and so they are always on the look out for their clients' perfect home-which could be yours! Your listing will get more exposure when you use a real estate agent.

Statistically speaking, your listing will sell faster as well. Your agent has a variety of methods to advertise your home, including their own personal website, their Brokerage Website and Realtor.ca (formerly mls.ca)

If you're on the opposite end and purchasing a home for the first time, you would also benefit by seeking out a real estate agent. The agent has many resources and will be helpful to first time buyers by:

• Assessing your needs for your first home. This may be done by asking you questions, and making you aware of areas you may not have considered.
• Directing you to a mortgage consultant to take steps to get a pre-approved mortgage.
• Provide you with information about a home you are interested in.

• Your time is valuable! Let me save you TIME!
• I'm likely to sell your home for MORE MONEY due to the greater exposure I offer (many sellers even NET more after our fee)!
• A 3rd party (REALTOR®) can obtain the prospect's TRUE OPINIONS of your home and relay those comments to you!
• You'll know the buyer is a QUALIFIED one, not just a looker!
• You don't need to personally open up your home to STRANGERS!
• You don't need to spend YOUR VALUABLE FREE TIME showing your home to potential buyers, nosey neighbours, and tire kickers!
• You can SAVE YOUR MONEY by not haveing to advertise your own home!
• You can be professionally represented by someone that can be held ACCOUNTABLE for all the details!

There are many steps involved in the process of buying and selling real estate. Although we may not see each one, here is an idea of how your agent is working for you to meet your needs.

• The agent is responsible to arrange advertising. This may involve in a local newspaper, or their website. Usually this is done in many places to ensure your home is seen by as many people as possible
• Enter new listing into the MLS system so your home officially becomes recognized as on the market
• Arrange photos (interior and exterior) for advertising. These photos may be for a feature sheet, or for the website or both
• Add your Home to their "Featured Listings" and "Just Listed" section of their Website (Tip: Always use a REALTOR with a top-notch professional and up-to-date website)
• Put "for sale" lawn sign up
• Respond to ad call inquires
• Arrange a REALTORS® open house - This is where your REALTOR® will show the new listing to all other interested REALTORS®
• Arrange several open house dates (usually on Sunday afternoons)
• Set up appointments for viewing. Your real estate agent makes themselves available to view your home as soon as possible
• Respond to feedback from showings. The buyer's agent will inform your selling agent how the showing went, and whether the potential buyer is interested in seeing your home again
• Negotiate offers
• Qualify prospective buyers
• Arrange home inspection
• Ensures the conditional time frame placed on an offer is recorded and met
• Present offer to lawyers
• Change lawn sign to "sold"