Setting a Price
The single most important decision you will make with me, as your Real Estate Professional, is determining the right asking price for your property.

Once you've achieved a realistic sales price, you can count on your property being professionally marketed and promoted to bring more buyers to your door. You can also expect to sell your home for the best possible price in the least amount of time.

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Benefits of Pricing Right

• Your property sells faster, because it is exposed to more qualified buyers.
• Your home doesn't lose its "marketability."
• The closer to market value, the higher the offers.
• A well-priced property can generate competing offers.
• Other Real Estate Professionals will be enthusiastic about presenting your property to buyers.

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The Value of Your Home
The market ultimately determines the true value of your property. Before you compare your home to similar properties and establish a competitive list price, the following points should be considered:

• Location
• Size
• Style
• Condition
• Community Amenities
• Buyer Supply
• Financing Options

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Getting To Know Your Market
A comparative market analysis is an indicator of what today's buyers are willing to pay for a home. It compares the market activity of homes similar to yours in your neighborhood. Those that have recently sold represent what buyers are willing to pay. The homes currently listed for sale represent the price sellers hope to obtain. And those listings that have expired were generally overpriced or poorly marketed.

As your Real Estate Professional, I will prepare a comparative market analysis for your home based on the most current market information. Together, we will establish the proper list price for your home.

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Overpricing Your Home
Many sellers believe that if they price their home high initially, they can lower it later.

Often, when a home is priced too high, it experiences little activity. Gradually the price will come down to market value, but by that time it's been for sale too long and some buyers will be wary and reject the property.

On occasion, the price is dropped below the market value because the seller runs out of time. The property sells for less than it's worth.

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Missing The Right Buyer
You may think that interested buyers "can always make an offer," but if the home is overpriced, potential buyers looking in a lower price range will never see it.

Those who can afford a home at your asking price will soon recognize that they can get a better value elsewhere.

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Early Activity
As soon as a home comes on the market, there is a flurry of activity surrounding it. This is a crucial time when Real Estate Professionals and potential buyers sit up and take notice.

If the home is overpriced, it doesn't take long for interested parties to lose interest. By the time the price drops, a majority of buyers are lost.

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Preparing a Marketing Plan
Your property is not something you sell everyday. In fact, for many people it is their largest asset. A house is very complex to market and the process needs to be well organized. To do the job properly a plan is needed.

As your Real Estate Professional, I will prepare a personalized plan for you containing all activities intended to market your property. Your property will be aggressively promoted via this Internet site, other Real Estate Professionals, the MLS information library (unless it's an exclusive listing), and mailings to potential buyers in your area.

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I Will
* Complete a Competitive Market Analysis for your property, by comparing existing actives and sold properties in your area.

* Provide information about your home to all Sales Representatives at Royal LePage Realty and place it on our home website as well as on kingwestcondo.com.

* Submit a detailed listing to Multiple Listing Service, along with digital photographs inside and out, for distribution to all real estate agents and worldwide exposure via the internet.

* Prepare a Feature Sheet with photographs to be featured at the property for agents and clients and distribute and email it to area sales agents potential prospects.

* Invite all agents to attend an inspection of the property on the day of publication, during an "Agents Open House", usually held on a weekday morning for 2 hours.

* Distribute "Just Listed" cards to the surrounding neighbourhood. People living in the area often have friends and relatives who are interested in moving closer to those they know.

* Install a highly visible "For Sale" sign in your yard for drive-by-exposure, and, with your permission, put a lock box on the property for easy-access showings although this may not be possible for condos.

* Suggest possible improvements that will positively impact your selling price.

* Establish what we mutually believe to be the fair market value of your property and in partnership we will establish the asking price.

* Arrange and record all appointments in our office and I will follow up on a regular basis with sales representatives who have shown the property and gather comments from their prospective purchasers. You will be given status updates continuously.

* Hold Open Houses for the general public - usually on weekends - with your consent. Some condo corporations may not permit this.

* Develop a strong advertising campaign utilizing the MLS system, as well as active marketing to give your property the maximum exposure for a quick sale.

* Act at all times with your best interests in mind and comply with the Code of Ethics of the Toronto Real Estate Board, the Ontario Real Estate Association and the The Canadian Real Estate Association.

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Negotiating the Sale

• Once the above marketing has been successful and an offer has been obtained, I will be there to competently negotiate the offer on your behalf.
• The goal of the negotiation is to obtain the best price and terms that are most suitable for you. This can be a complex process and it is vital for us, as sales representatives to possess excellent negotiating skills.
• I have established many valuable contacts in the financial field: the financing of a purchase can be a crucial factor in determining whether or not a sale can be finalized.
• To provide access to all major financial institutions for potential buyers in order to assist in the sale of your property.

After the Sale

• After the sale I act as a liaison between you, the purchaser, the lawyers, the home inspectors and the co-operating broker.
• I am always available for your questions or concerns and will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transaction.

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Listing Agreements
The first formal step in marketing your property is to enter into a Listing Agreement - a contract that commits me as your Real Estate Professional to actively market your home for a specified period of time. It also commits you to a pre-established marketing fee that is to be paid upon the successful closing of the sale.

We may also require the following documents:

• Plan of Survey or Location Certificate
  A Survey of your property which outlines the lot size and location of buildings as well as details of encroachments from neighbouring properties. This may be required in certain areas to complete the sale of your home. Your legal professional may recommend a survey, especially if significant changes have been made to your property.
• Property Tax Receipts
  Most Listing Agreements require that the current annual property tax assessments be shown.
• Mortgage Verification
  Few homeowners know the exact balance of their mortgage as it is paid down. You will be asked to authorize your mortgage lender to provide the figures required.
• Deed or Title Search
  This document is a legal description of your property and the proof that you own it.
• Other Documentation
  In some instances, it may help the sale of your property if you can provide prospective buyers with information on such items as annual heating, electrical, and water expenses, as well as any recent home improvement costs.

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Show Your Home
First impressions are lasting impressions. You will want to make sure the buyers looking at your home are left with the best possible impression. As your Real Estate Professional, I can help you achieve that goal.

Exterior of Your Home

• House in good repair
• House number easy to read
• Eaves troughs, down spouts and soffits in good repair
• Garage/car port clean and tidy
• Litter picked up
• Cracked or broken window panes replaced
• Lawns and hedges cut and trimmed, garden weeded and edged
• Walks shoveled and salted
• Boot tray inside front door
• Doorbell and door hardware in good repair
• Porch and foyer clean and tidy

Interior of Your Home

• Chipped plaster and paint touched-up and replaced
• Doors and cupboards properly closed
• Leaky taps and toilets repaired
• Burned out light bulbs replaced
• Squeaky doors oiled
• Mirrors, fixtures, and taps cleaned and polished
• Seals around tubs and basins in good repair
• Floors cleaned, garbage containers empty
• Inside of closets and cupboards neat and tidy
• Appliances cleaned
• Countertops neat and polished
• All lights turned on
• Air conditioner turned on in warm weather
• Fresh air in house
• Fireplace lit in cooler weather
• Halls and stairs cleaned
• Drapes opened during daylight
• Carpets freshly vacuumed
• Fresh flowers in various rooms
• Jewelry and valuables locked safely away or taken with you
• Valuable property, such as objects of art, vases and figurines out of reach, out of sight, or locked away
• Pets absent, where possible, or contained during the showing, and litter boxes clean

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Elements of an Offer
There are six key components to the elements of an offer. They are:

• Price
  Depending on the local market conditions and information provided by me, your Real Estate Professional, the price you set may be different from the buyer's offering.
• Deposit
  The buyer's deposit shows good faith and will be applied against the purchase of the home when the sale closes. As your Real Estate Professional, I can advise you on an appropriate amount.
• Terms
  Includes the total price offered and the financing details. The buyer may arrange their own financing or ask to assume your mortgage, especially if it has an attractive interest rate.
• Conditions
  These might include "subject to home inspection", "subject to the buyer obtaining financing", or "subject to you selling your property".
• Inclusions and Exclusions
  These might include appliances and certain fixtures or decorative items, such as window coverings or mirrors. These items would remain in the house after you vacate the premises.
• Closing or Possession Date
  Generally, the day the title of the property is legally transferred and the transaction of funds finalized.

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