Sellers

Preparing for an Open House Last-minute tips to help you show your home the smart way An open house is an important part of the selling process. It lets people know you're selling your home, it gets people talking about your home and, most importantly, it gets people looking at your home. An open house will draw potential buyers, neighbours, real estate agents and others who are just there to "browse" your property. If successful, your open house can turn browsers into buyers and help increase the overall demand for your home. If you're like most home sellers, you'll still be living in your house when the real estate agent begins hosting open house viewings. But don't worry. You won't have a family of four interrupting your Sunday morning bath to ask if the shower curtains are included in the sale! Your agent will be sure to accommodate your schedule and give you lots of advance notice when showing your home. However, having your home open house-ready at all times will save you from…

Closing Costs for Sellers Closing day is pay day (but don't forget about closing costs) Closing day is rapidly approaching, and you're looking forward to finally holding that big cheque. But in all your excitement, don't forget that you'll have to dole out a little bit of cash before the deal is sealed in the way of closing costs. Closing costs are fees owed on or by closing day that must be paid for your home sale to be complete. To give you a rough idea of what to expect, some of the most common expenses are listed below. These expenses are approximations only, may vary by region and are prone to frequent changes that may not be reflected here. Your Royal LePage real estate agent can help you further define more precise numbers. The real estate agent's commission This fee covers all the legwork, marketing and advice provided by your agent, as well as commission to the buyer's real estate agent (the seller pays both!). You can expect commission fees to be around 5% of the home's sale…

How Listing Agents Help Reasons to sell with a Royal LePage real estate agent As you prepare to sell your house and interview prospective agents, you may find yourself wondering: just what exactly does a real estate agent do, anyway? Sure, you see the lawn signs and the MLS listings, but do you know all they do to earn their commission? At a basic level, a good real estate agent will save you time and money. They know your community, what buyers want in a house, how to negotiate house prices and how to close the deal. Your Royal LePage agent will take care of all that and a whole lot more. In every real estate transaction, the number of things to do, know and remember can be daunting. Listed below are the ways your Royal LePage agent will help you get the best price for your home, all the while saving you time and worry. Your Royal LePage real estate agent can do the following (where applicable): Order a complete property profile of your house Perform a professional "Competitive Housing Market Analysis"…

Curb Appeal Basics to enhance your home’s exterior Is your home ready to see other people? It’s a question you need to ask before the for-sale sign hits your lawn. First impressions count, and as home buyers can be a fickle lot, you want your house to be enticing from the outset. This is called curb appeal, and it refers to making your home as attractive as possible from the vantage point where most will get their first impression: the curb in front of your house. The goal is to interest a buyer enough to call your real estate agent and arrange a viewing. If you want drive-by window-shoppers to take things to the next level, here are some tips to improve curb appeal and make that love-at-first-sight connection: Cut and rake the lawn. Patch any dead areas with sod or seed. Cut and trim shrubs. Remove dead tree limbs and other yard debris. Brighten up the garden with fresh shrubs and flowers. Pluck out weeds. Get rid of the clutter. Put away toys and gardening equipment. Touch up peeling paint on…

Selecting a Listing Agent Real estate agents: your guide through the real estate wilderness Think of your agent like a wilderness guide. Just as the wilderness guide keeps you on the right path and away from danger on a backwoods adventure, your real estate agent is an expert and will help you navigate through the complicated areas of the home selling process, and steer you clear of costly pitfalls. Although all real estate agents must be licensed, most Royal LePage agents are also REALTORS®. The term REALTOR ® is a trademark that identifies a licensed agent as a member of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). All REALTORS ® make a pledge to adhere to a strict code of ethics and standards of business practice. An agent is an expert on all things real estate in your neighbourhood. A good real estate agent saves you time and money. He or she knows your community, knows what is important when selling a house, and knows all the intricacies of the process, from marketing your home to negotiating a price and…