David Khosravi
  • Willowdale Real Estate
  • FAQ Sellers
  • FAQ Buyers
  • Real Estate Blog
  • More ...
    • Contact
    • 1% Commissin Willowdale
    • Willowdale Market Report
    • Yonge and Sheppard Condo Market
    • Free Home valuation
    • Free Staging
    • Team
    • Privacy policy
    • Mortgage Information
    • Links >
      • Tax
      • Toronto MLS Map
      • Bathroom Gallery
      • Kitchen Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ For Home Sellers Toronto​
David K.
FAQ Home for Buyers | >>

1% LISTING COMMISSION Willowdale
Because we work with knowledge & efficiently
Tell me more...
David K. Willowdale Realtor
Watch Video: FAQ Tip #1: What are the initial steps before selling a home?
​1 min.
FAQ Tip #2: ​I need to sell the house I bought last year, Will I lose money?
1 min.
FAQ Tip # 3: I am selling and buying a home at the same time, what is the best strategy?
2 min.
FAQ Tip #4: When is a good time for you to sell your home?
2 min.
FAQ, Tip #5: I Want To Sell My Home, Where Do I Start?
​2.5 min.
FAQ Tip #6:  How Do I Find The Right Agent for Me?
​2 min.
FAQ Tip #7:  How Does The Real Estate Agent Interview Works?
​2 min.
FAQ Tip #8:  What is a Listing Agreement?
​2 min
FAQ Tip #9:  How much does it cost to sell a house?
3 min.
FAQ Tip #10:  What are the factors in determining my home value?
​2 min.
FAQ Tip #11:  How do I know what my home value is?
​1:30 min.
​
FAQ Tip #12: What is wrong with overpricing a home?
1:10 min.
FAQ Tip 13: Should I have a home inspection before listing my home?
1:50 min.​
FAQ Tip 14: How important is my home condition?
FAQ Tip 15: What measures should I take to prepare my home for sale?
FAQ Tip 16: What is staging?
FAQ Tip 17: How does marketing help to sell my home?
FAQ Tip 18: Why should you consider staying away from home during the home showing?
FAQ Tip 19: What is the multiple listing service (MLS)?
FAQ Tip 20: Why should you consider staying away from home during the home showing?
FAQ Tip 21: Buyer's, seller's, and balanced market; what does it mean?  
Picture
Because we work hard to bring you all the best information you may need.
​Thank you. David
Watch Video: Importance of working with local agents
1.5 min
Watch Video: Why do we say real estate is local?
​2.5 min
Watch Video: Interviewing your real estate agent
​3 min
Watch Video: Overpricing A Home For Sale!
​3.5 min
Watch Video: Understanding of Real Estate market
​3 min
Watch Video: Pre-listing home inspection
​4 min.
Terminating listing agreement and firing your real estate agent, why and how?
​9.5 min
Should I sell my home in a hot market and wait for the market to cool off?
​6 min
Watch Video: FAQ, for home sellers
​20 min
Picture
Cannot see the question you looking for Contact David K.

Q. What are the initial steps before selling a home?
(1) Consult with your accountant and financial planner. 
(2) Consult with your mortgage lender or banking institution. 
​(3) Consult with your real estate agent.

​Q . ​I need to sell the house I bought last year. Will I lose money?
Historically, it takes homebuyers three years to break even after the various buying and selling costs. However, the unusual price increase in the last few years, especially in Willowdale, Toronto area, has made it possible to sell for a profit in a relatively short time. 

Q. I am selling and buying a house at the same time; what is the best strategy?
Here are a few points to consider before you decide to buy or sell first.
Financing: Having the proceeds from your home's sale will undoubtedly make financing your next purchase easier. 
Flexibility: buying first means you can move into your new home when you want to. 
Desired property: if you're buying a highly in-demand property, it's better to buy first since such property will not be on the market for too long.
 You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.

Q. Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer; When Is A good Time For You To Sell Your House?
The past trend shows that the Willowdale, North York, and Toronto real estate market is more active in the spring, summer and early fall. However, the decision to sell is highly personal and depends on your needs and what works best for you. Since there are fewer houses on the market in the fall and winter, some sellers decide to take advantage and sell in the low season.
You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.

Q. I want to sell my house, where do I start?
The real estate market is local by nature. In addition, the real estate market is dynamic and changing.
(1 ) You should start by familiarizing yourself with the local real estate market.
​(2) You should look for LOCAL real estate brokerages, real estate agents.

​Q. Do I need a real estate agent to sell my house?
No, legally, it is your house, and you can sell your home. However, the question is if you should sell your house yourself? Selling a home requires local marketing knowledge, marketing strategy, and extensive negotiation skills, to say the least of many other details. Hence selling a house is better left to a professional local real estate agent.

Q. How do I locate a real estate brokerage, real estate agent?
The real estate market is local by nature, and there are many local nuances that only an experienced local agent will know. So you can start looking for local real estate agents online. Professional and experienced agents typically have a robust online line presence.
You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.

Q. I have found local real estate agents near my house; what is the best way to go about this?
Make a list of the agents with a robust online presence, such as websites, YouTube channels, and social media accounts. You may also narrow it down based on the good reviews. Selling a home is a crucial process; you should take your time and carefully interview the potential agents.

Q. How does the real estate agent interview process work?
Typically real estate agents are eager to present a listing presentation. You may take the opportunity to learn. Prepare a list of questions that are important for the selling process and you. You may find a list of such questions on my website or online. Some of the critical questions are:
(1) are you a local agent?
(2) are you a full-time agent
(3) are you involved in activities other than real estate sales.
(4) how many years have you been in business, and the number of transactions you typically have in a year?
(5) do you have a pre-marketing plan?
(6) What is your marketing strategy?
(6) How does the commission work?
(7) Is the commission negotiable? These are some of the essential questions to ask. 
You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.
​
Q. What is the purpose of a listing agreement?
By signing a listing agreement, you authorize the real estate brokerage to market your property and negotiate on your behalf effectively. Listing your property with a real estate agent (brokerage) is crucial to selling your house.

Q. How much does it cost to sell a house?
To estimate the cost of selling your home, consider the following items.
(1) real estate commission typically 4 - 5% of home value.
(2) lawyer fees are typically 1400 to $2000.
(3) the mortgage penalty, you need to contact your lender to get the complete picture.
Here are some important but optional items you may consider:
(1) necessary and obvious repairs
(2) landscape clean up
(3) removing or disposal excess furniture and items from the house
(4) cleaning the house, including the windows
(5) staging, depending on the house, can be cost-effective for selling your home. 
​
Q. Do I pay HST on the real estate commission?
Yes, real estate is a service industry and same as other service industries it is subject to HST.

Q. Is there any other fees to list my home?
There are no fees associated with listing your home with us. The real estate industry is commission base; the commission is typically a percentage of the sold price.

Q. Who is responsible for the Toronto and Ontario land transfer taxes?
The Buyer pays land transfer taxes.

Q . What are the factors in determining my house value?
The values of properties can vary substantially from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. Here are some of the most critical factors.(1) Location, (2) Size, (3) Type of Property (Detached, condo, semi, townhouse, etc.) Condition
Finishes & Features (Exterior and Interior), (4) Valued physical features (such as ravine lot, southern exposure, amenities), (5) Age

Q . How do I know what is my house value?
The most common and ideal method is to look into the comparable properties and evaluate the price.
 You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.​

Q . What is Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), and how does it help?
Comparative Market Analysis is a comparative document which will be prepared for our clients who are looking to sell their home.
This document considers several factors, such as:
  1. Recently sold properties in your area.
  2. Features those properties had.
  3. Features your property has.
  4. Size of the properties.
  5. Age of the properties, and more.
  6. CMA will assist you in determining a realistic listing price.

Q. Is it a good strategy to price the home higher for possible negotiation? 
Over-pricing a home for negotiation is a strategy used for a long time and worked well until the internet showed up. With online home search tools so standard, all the buyers have immediate access to all the new listings. In addition, online tools provide buyers with the ability to filter and compare local properties. Hence, over-pricing your home will reduce the demand for your home and only drive the buyers to similar homes priced at a market value.

Q . What is the ideal pricing for my house?
Correct pricing is the most effective strategy that generates interest, resulting in more offers and fewer days on the market, hence ideal conditions for selling your property.
You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.

Q. Should I get the pre-listing home inspection?
To have a home inspection before the listing is an excellent idea for the following reasons. As a seller, you'll have control over the selling process. If there are minor issues discovered, you should make repairs since buyers will make a big deal of the minor problems, complicating the negotiation process. You can present the buyers with a pre-listing inspection to boost their confidence and reduce the fear elements from the selling process. Hence, attracting more buyers to the table and increasing the chance of multiple offers.
You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.

Q. What are the downsides of the pre-listing home inspection?
(1) The seller has to pay for the pre-listing inspection. However, the inspection costs only a few hundred dollars, and the benefits of the pre-listing home inspection outweigh the cost in many folds.
​(2) if the pre-inspection discovers major issues, legally, that information may need to be shared with the potential buyers. Remember, a buyer's inspection may discover such an issue and come as a surprise to the seller. In the worst scenario, legal action may pursue in future.

Q. How important is my house condition?
You are competing with other sellers in the community to get the top dollar for your home. You do not want to be at a disadvantage. It is NOT difficult to have your home at its best look so you can make a good first impression with buyers.
You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.

Q. What measures should I take to prepare my home for sale?
Here are some of the examples you should consider. Everyone in the real estate industry will tell you that curb appeal is the most important and the first impression a buyer will have from the house. You should remove personal items and unnecessary items that contribute to cluttering. Consider making minor but necessary repairs like willow caulking, bathroom caulking, fresh paintings. And make sure there are no odours in the house. Finally, you may consider professional staging, 
You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.

Q. What is staging?
Staging is taking necessary steps to improve your house's condition for a better presentation during the process of selling. Staging involves avoiding cluttering by removing the excess furniture or items from the house, re-decorating, and in some cases renovating your home before listing it for sale.

Q . Am I obliged to put a for-sale sign on my front lawn?
You are not required to; however, we highly advise it. The for-sale sign is a local marketing tool, and Without you miss out on valuable opportunities to find the right buyer.

 Q. How does marketing help to sell my home?
Many buyers are looking for a house like yours; marketing is essential to attract their interest. Effective marketing will increase the demand and competition for your home, resulting in more money for you. 

Real Estate marketing has mostly moved online. And Top agents take this seriously. Top professional agents have a solid online campaign. They spend a lot of money on platforms like Facebook, Google advertising, YouTube, Instagram. You need an agent that is established online and has an online advertising strategy to sell your home.

Q. What is pre-marketing?
Pre-marketing is a marketing process before the house is on the market. The idea behind pre-marketing is to drum up the new listing coming to market. Such marketing will increase buyer demand for the house.  A higher demand promotes competition among the buyers and increases the chance of getting more money. Experience real estate agents will have a pre-marketing plan to get the best price for the seller.​

Q . Are open houses still a viable marketing method of selling a property?
With mobile technology and leaps in photography and video, open house marketing has become an outdated method in pursuing buyers. Most people prefer a private showing where they can think and respond more naturally to the home. However, in specific neighbourhoods and communities, the open house is still an excellent method to attract buyers.  

Q. Why should you consider staying away from home during the home showing?
Regardless of how inconvenient it may be, you mustn't be present at home during the showing as a seller. For one, when the buyer (or the buyer's real estate agent) meets the seller, the seller gets the opportunity to ask questions. For example, what is the time frame you need to move out of your house? Have you purchased a property that you are selling your current home? Why are you selling your home? These questions may appear innocent, but they may reveal your motivation like you are under financial or time pressure depending on how you answer. Information is power, and in this case, the information will shift the balance to the buyer's advantage. Savvy buyer agents will take whatever they can get to turn the table around, and you will find yourself negotiating up a low offer. In addition, it is critical for buyers to feel free to walk around the house and imagine their future living home.
You like to learn more read my BLOG POST on the topic.

Q . What is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?
The Multiple Listing Service, referred to as the MLS, is a centralized location of all homes for sale by real estate agents. The MLS is the most valuable tool for real estate agents, as you can imagine, for the following reasons:
  • The MLS database is available online.
  • The MLS is local, with all the homes for sale by agents
  • It is easy and fast access
  • It provides search and filtering tools to customize the search for home buyers.
  • It contains the most reliable and accurate information.

Note that many believe one massive MLS database is serving all that is not true. But regional real estate markets have their own MLS managed and operated by them.

Q. How does the MLS work?
Only real estate agents have access to the MLS databases, and real estate agents pay a small fortune to use the service. The MLS databases contain extensive information on recent as well as older listings and transactions. With continuous software improvement, the MLS search and filtering tools give the agents incredible tools to locate the right home for their clients.  

Real estate agents use the information for:
  • To estimate home value
  • To generate real estate market reports
  • List homes for sellers 
  • Search homes for buyers

Q. Should I list my home on the MLS?
Yes, you should. The benefits of listing your home on the MLS is undeniable for the following reasons:
​
  • The most crucial factor is exposure; imagine presenting your home to every potential buyer.
  • Real estate agents use the MLS to look for homes for their clients, which is more exposure to serious buyers.
  • The real estate industry trusts the information on the MLS because of the roles and regulations in place.
  • The simultaneous exposure to all potential buyers because of the popularity of the MLS and online search tools

The higher exposure at a short period translates to quick and increased demand for your home. Higher demand is the best approach to get you the top dollar for your home.

Q . Do you post listings on MLSⓇ and Realtor.ca?
Yes, considering the importance of these platforms (MLSⓇ and Realtor.ca), we list your property on both platforms as part of our services.

Q . Is there any fees to post my listing on MLSⓇ?
No, there are no fees or service charges to list your property on MLSⓇ.

Q . What is a buyer's market?
A buyer's market occurs when there are more available properties than there are property buyers. The buyer's market favours the buyer since more houses are available to choose from; hence buyers are in a better negotiating position.

Q . What is a seller's market?
A seller's market occurs when there are more interested buyers than there are available properties. A real estate seller's market puts the seller in a better negotiating position. This type of market typically results in more multiple offer situations, higher prices and homes selling quicker.

Q . What is a balanced market?
A balanced market is the result of an equal number of buyers and sellers. 
​
Q . What is the essential factor in helping my home sell fast?
Your property may have all the updates, and it is in a great location, but if it isn't priced right, you may find yourself waiting for an offer that may or may not come in. It is vital to determine an accurate market value for your property by using market analysis and comparative sales.

Q . Why do some people hold off offers (delayed offer presentation) until a specific date, and should I do this?
Delayed offer presentation is a strategy that is based on pricing the property at a price point, typically 10% below the real market value, that will encourage multiple offers. In these cases, the sellers are hoping that they will create a bidding war for their property. This strategy works for some homes but can sometimes backfire when no offer comes in.

Q . What can go wrong with delayed offer presentation (multiple offers)?
You may lose buyers because some buyers are not comfortable with the bidding war or find a different property before the offer presentation. The delayed offer presentation strategy does not guarantee a fair offer; hence property may not sell on the offer presentation day. As a result, the property may lose its initial appeal to the buyers.  

Q . What is a Bully Offer?
Bully offers (or pre-emptive offers) are submitted before the offer presentation date. Bullying offer expires before the established date, trying to circumvent the delayed offer presentation process. As a seller, you may look into the details, accept it, reject it or ignore it. 

Q. I have accepted an offer from the buyer, but the buyer has not sent in the cheque?
If you have accepted the offer and signed a contract with a buyer, you are bound by it.

Q . My house has been on the market for some time, and it is not selling. What could be the difficulty?
Factors that may negatively impact selling your house are:
pricing it too high
poor marketing or a lack of marketing
lack of preparation in keeping your home in a good condition
Attempting to sell without a real estate agent

​Q . Is it possible to briefly take my house off the market and on a later date to put it back?
If you would like to take it off the market, we will arrange it for you. We can always re-list it at a later date.

GOTO FAQ HOME BUYERS


David Khosravi
David Khosravi
Cannot see the question you looking for Contact David K.
Picture

​WILLOWDALE REAL ESTATE
​Privacy policy
Important Disclaimer
Sold Properties in 2021
​Real Estate Blog
​FAQ Sellers
​FAQ Buyers
​Contact
David Khosravi
416.990.2424
​drdavidkg@gmail.com
Salesperson
Soltanian Real Estate Brokerage Inc.
Copyright © 2021
  • Willowdale Real Estate
  • FAQ Sellers
  • FAQ Buyers
  • Real Estate Blog
  • More ...
    • Contact
    • 1% Commissin Willowdale
    • Willowdale Market Report
    • Yonge and Sheppard Condo Market
    • Free Home valuation
    • Free Staging
    • Team
    • Privacy policy
    • Mortgage Information
    • Links >
      • Tax
      • Toronto MLS Map
      • Bathroom Gallery
      • Kitchen Gallery