Searching for the right home takes some very serious considerations as it’s in most cases one’s most expensive investment. The single best piece of advice I would give to anyone looking at purchasing real estate is to Invest Time in choosing the right professional to serve you. Often I’ve heard people having trusted friends and family members help them in purchasing real estate. For all intends and purposes they try very hard. However, the resulted outcome has more often then not been disappointing.

If the choice of a realtor is correctly executed then it will save you time, minimize stress and often save you money. I offer anyone who doesn’t know me a free consultation in my office with no obligation. If they find I’m the right professional to serve them then that’s great. If they find that they are unsure then that’s fine too.

I often find consumers tend to go online in searching for a home and spend many, many hours searching on their own. Why do that when that’s part of my job. Do what you do best and enjoy time with your loved ones.

By using an array of techniques available to me this allows me to profile what my clients are looking in a home in a short period of time. Therefore, allowing me to pinpoint properties which meet their criteria. Keeping abreast of changes in real estate and technology allows me to add additional value when serving my clients.

I am very knowledgeable with the City of Toronto along with surrounding areas such as: Durham region: Pickering, Claremont, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Court ice. YorkRegion: Markham, Unionville, Vaughan, Woodbridge, Maple, Newmarket, Aurora, Thornhill. Peel Region: Brampton, Mississauga Halton Region: Oakville.

Here is a snapshot of what I recommend to buyers:

Determine your wants and needs

This is the single most important step. By asking a series of in-depth questions, I establish what you are looking for in a home. These questions go beyond the commonly asked ones, such as, “How much do you want to spend?” and “What neighbourhood do you want to live in?”

Pre-qualify

This shows you how much you can afford. Purchasers often realize they can afford more than they imagined. I connect you to financial professionals who minimize the time spent on this important process.

Know your costs

There are always additional or hidden costs in purchasing a home. I can assist in estimating these costs ahead of time, so you’re not faced with unpleasant financial surprises at closing.

Match dreams with reality

I perform a detailed analysis of properties available to locate those that match your desires. I have developed exclusive software to assist in this matching process. The result is that you spend far less time looking at properties that simply don’t meet your needs.

Offer to purchase

When we find the property that you want, I work with you to write your offer to purchase. I then represent you with the seller and negotiate the best price for your new home.

Real estate agents charge fees; money that could otherwise be going into your pocket. At least that’s the common misconception amongst home sellers. But is that the reality of the situation? Do real estate agents really take up a large portion of your house sale price? Does a professional real estate agent really cost you that much?

The first thing to acknowledge is that yes, a real estate agent is going to charge you a commission. However, he’s not getting something for nothing. In fact, when you realize what the real estate professional does, you’ll understand that although he does charge you a fee, you are not actually out of pocket. So what does a real estate agent do, and how do they earn their money?

The first thing that a real estate agent brings to the table is an up-to-date working knowledge about houses in your area, what price they are currently selling for, and who’s buying them. This is invaluable because they know exactly the kind of target buyer who will be interested in taking a look at your home with a serious interest in buying it. This kind of buyer is often already qualified so that if they like what they see, you’re more likely to see the sale through to closure than if the buyer hasn’t even started trying to raise finance to buy a home.

An experienced real estate professional will be able to advise you on what needs to be done to your home in order to sell it at the best selling price for your type of home in your area. It could be that his list is actually shorter than yours based on how much return you will get for investing time and money in repairs and updating such things as drapes. You may know your home better than he does, but he knows what sells, and his knowledge on how to place furniture in order to maximize natural light etc could make the difference between selling and not.

Selling a house isn’t like going to the store, picking an item off the shelf and buying it. There a lot of legalities and paperwork to be covered before a closing a house sale. A real estate agent works with this paperwork on a daily basis. They know how to simplify things and get the official process taken care of as quickly as possible. They will negotiate on your behalf with the buyers, the financial people and the legal people so that all the ends are tied up neatly and you won’t have a legal case on your hands in the future because of a form that didn’t get filed, or a negotiation clause that was forgotten in the excitement.

On the surface, it may seem that a real estate agent is there to take your money, but in actual fact, his experience and knowledge will help you speed up the process, and because of his negotiating skill, could put more money into your pocket than you pay into his.

One of the most important things to do when purchasing a home is to find a great real estate agent to make the process flow smoothly and effectively.  A question many people ponder is how to find a good real estate agent.  The best agent may not necessarily work at one of the top ten agencies in the area.  The agent who will work best for you would be an experienced agent who will listen to your needs, act in a professional and ethical manner and knows the market in your area.

1.)Word-of-Mouth or Referral
Most real estate professionals attract a sizable amount of business because of a satisfied client who recommends them to a friend, family member or neighbour.  When you are thinking of purchasing a home, it is a good idea to ask those around you who they have used and ask them to elaborate on their specific experience with the real estate agent in question.  Successful real estate agents strive to make customer satisfaction their number one priority and will do everything they can to facilitate a good experience for a customer.  Try to find an agent that has a proven track record and reputation for delivering quality service, customer satisfaction, and have experience in the neighbourhoods that you are looking in.

2.) Do an Online Search For Real Estate Agents
There are many online resources available when searching for a real estate agent referral, but this by no means ensures quality.  The agents referred online may have paid a fee to the website owner to be listed in the directory.  Performing a Google search of the top agents in your area and then reviewing their websites will give you a good list of agents to interview.  Agents who have experience in the field will tell you, but a newer agent will more than likely have the extra time to spend working with you.  Review any customer testimonials or feedback about an agent you may be interested in retaining.

3.) Visit Open Houses in the Area
You should visit some area open houses where you can actually meet with a potential agent in a non-threatening manner.  Here you can see how they work, collect business cards, formulate an opinion and talk with them on a personal basis.  If you are thinking about selling a home, pay close attention to how the agent presents the home.  Make sure the agent is polite, informative, approachable and professional.  Does the agent promote the home by handing out professional looking feature sheets or other related materials?  Is the agent trying to play up the features that make the home more enticing?  Or is the agent in the corner, back turned and uninvolved in the whole scenario?  

4.) Pay Attention to Real Estate Signs
Carefully monitor the real estate signs in your neighbourhood.  Observe how long from the day they go up until the home is actually sold.  An agent who has a high sales turnover might be a better choice than an agent who has lots of for sale signs but few sold signs.  An agent who gets results is what you want.

5.) Why Agents Use Printed Advertising
There are two main reasons real estate agents use printed advertisement.  First is to advertise and sell a specific piece of real estate.  Secondly, advertising is used to promote the agent handling the transaction.  By checking the local Sunday real estate ads in your neighbourhood and then checking the agents website, you can find the agents who may specialize in your particular neighbourhood.  Contact the agent and inquire about their expertise and ask any other relative questions you may have.

6.) Seeking Recommendations from Other Real Estate Professionals
Ask around and seek out other real estate agents for a referral.  Most agents are happy to refer a buyer or seller to another associate, if the service you require is not a specialty they can provide.  Some agents only specialize in resale property, while others work predominantly with the sale of new homes.  Other agents work exclusively with commercial or investment properties.  Mortgage brokers are a great resource for agent referrals; many brokers have first-hand knowledge and can point you in the direction of a top-quality real estate agent and remember professionals tend to refer like-minded peers. There is also typically a referral fee involved for the referring professional so be careful that they refer you to the best Agent not the one that pays the highest referral fee.

In the buyer brokerage arrangement the real estate agent’s sole allegiance is to the buyer, not the seller. In a sub agency arrangement the real estate agent’s legal and fiduciary responsibility is to the seller, not the buyer. The reality is that hardly any buyer agrees to a sub agency arrangement now a days, it is almost exclusively a buyer brokerage arrangement.

A buyer’s real estate agent is usually compensated by the vendor through the listing broker. The buyer brokerage agreement that you sign will clearly outline the payment of commissions. As the purchaser it is your responsibility to discuss these different arrangements with you real estate agent.

In the vast majority of cases the selling agent also gets paid by the vendor through the listing broker. Commission is normally discussed and agreed upon when the vendor lists the property and it covers the purchaser’s and vendor’s agents. When this is the arrangement (as it is in the majority of situations) than as the purchaser it does not cost you anything to use a real estate agent.

Dual agency is another possible arrangement you may find yourself in as a buyer or seller. This is when an agent brings both sides of the deal together. One of his/her clients wants to buy the property of another one of his/her clients.

As the buyer what you should do to avoid any conflict of interest is keep the highest price that you will pay confidential from your real estate agent. As your agent has a legal obligation to disclose to the vendor any know price information. This works both ways though, as the vendor you would have to keep your lowest price confidential as your agent would have the responsibility to disclose that information to the purchaser.

In a dual agency situation most of the vendor’s information will remain confidential. The agent does not need to disclose the vendor’s motivation to sell, number of offers, value of other offers, or negotiation strategy. On the purchaser’s end some of the information will remain confidential. The agent does not need to disclose the buyer’s your urgency to buy, details about other offers they have made and their negotiation strategy.

The single greatest impact of a dual agency situation is that you as the purchaser or vendor should not disclose your final price to your agent. It may sound like a sticky situation but in the end it is pretty straight forward and should not impair your ability to buy the property that you want.

Have you been in this business a long time?

Of course the longer they have been in the business the more experience they have but that does not mean that you should completely ignore the rookies.  Newly licensed agents who have competent mentors and good training can do a great job as well.  In fact, they tend to have more time on their hands and can concentrate on you.

On average what is your list to sales price ratio?

This is perhaps one of the best indicators of the agent’s ability.  A good buying agent should have the ability to negotiate a selling price lower than that on the list.  If you are looking for a listing agent, his record should indicate that he is able to sell houses at a price very close to that listed.

Based on my specific needs, what is your best marketing strategy?

If you are looking to buy a house you need to find out how he is going to look for your new home, how many homes he will see prior to finding one that you can look at, and if you will have other buyers competing for the same property.  Additionally, find out how he plans on handling more than one offer and if he will present the offer to the selling agent personally.

If you will be selling, then you want to know how the agent is planning on selling your house, if he has a direct mail campaign and how often the agent advertises. In addition, find out where the advertising is done and ask to see a flyer if that is part of the marketing strategy.  Online marketing is perhaps one of the most powerful marketing strategies therefore be sure to ask how the agent markets on the Internet.

May I please have references?

Ask for references and check them out.  Let the Toronto real estate agent know that you will be contacting them with further questions.  Be sure to ask about the relationship between the agent and the references given to you.

What three things make you different from the competition?

Everyone knows what their strengths are and any agent worth his salt will not be hesitant about answering this question.  Most people are looking for assertive, communicative, analytical, friendly, honest, easily reachable agents who are also excellent negotiators.

What are your charges?

Keep in mind that all fees related to a real estate deal are negotiable.  Usually the percentage commission is between 1 and 4 percent separately for the seller and the buyer.  As an example you may have a listing agent charge 3% for the buyer’s agent and for himself, making a total of 6%.

There are two main marketing avenues that people choose from when selling their home: hiring an agent or placing the property up for sale themselves. There are advantages of each as we will see later in this article. The choice you make will depend primarily upon your needs, goals and motivation.

Before you make your decision, you should weigh the pros and cons carefully. We have compiled a list of the advantages and disadvantages associated with each option in order to help you do just that.

The Pros and Cons of Hiring an Agent to Sell Toronto Real Estate

There are many advantages that can be yours if you choose to hire an agent to sell your property for you. First and foremost, an agent will be able to expose your property to more potential buyers than you could on your own. Agencies even work together and share listings. So, the simple fact that you are listed with an agency in Toronto means that all agents will be able to show your home to their clients.

Agents also do most of the work for you. You will not have to take the time to show your home or negotiate with buyers. In fact, you will probably never have to speak to the buyer directly. An agent also acts as your advocate and fights for what is in your best interest at all times. Agents know all of the laws as well and can avoid many pitfalls made by novices.

Of course, there are drawbacks too. Agents are expensive and will require a commission of approximately 3 to 6% of the sale price. They will also require that you stay in constant communication with them, and they may ask to show the house without giving you much notice.

The Pros and Cons of Selling Your Own Home

If you want to sell your own piece of Toronto real estate, you will not receive as much exposure as you would if you went with an agent. You will also have to do all of the marketing, showing, negotiating and paperwork yourself. On the other hand, you will not have to pay commission and you can keep all of the proceeds from the sale for yourself.

There are other benefits of selling your home on your own as well. When you sell your own home, you have all of the control. You choose when you show your home and to whom. You can negotiate with buyers directly and offer deals according to their personal circumstances. Keep in mind, however, that you will be doing so without the expert advice of a professional in the real estate business. At the very least, you should hire a knowledgeable lawyer so that you avoid any legal hassles.

Ultimately, the decision is yours to make. Again, make an informed decision. Don’t sell your home without knowing all of the advantages and disadvantages associated with each method.

First, you need to know that most agents are on a commission and only a very small percentage is salaried.  If they do not close the deal, they do not get paid.  Clients need to be on time for appointments.  Common courtesy is a requirement when dealing with an agent.  Many people seem to think that the agent can just drop all that he is doing to go show them a house, but agents are like the rest of us in the 21st century; very busy.  Forgetting to show up for an appointment with your agent is considered taboo and you must always let him know if you are running late.

One of the things you need to do from the get go is to choose whether you want to work with listing agents directly or if you will need to hire a Toronto real estate agent of your own.  To hire an agent, you will be required to carry out an interview in order to find one with whom you are comfortable.  One of the worst things that you can do is to interview two agents from the same company; this is poor protocol.  If you are a buyer, you do not need to hire a listing agent as they work for the seller.  If the agent you engage is a listing agent and you want to buy a property, the agent will be working under dual agency, meaning they represent both the buyer and seller.  Should a listing agent show you property, he will be expecting to represent you in the sale.

Going to open houses has its own protocol as well.  You need to ask your agent what the protocol in Toronto and the GTA is so that you do not break it.  In some places it is proper to go alone but in others you must be escorted.  One of the things you should do when you get to the open house is to give the host agent your agent’s business card.  If the person is looking for buyers without representation you will not have to contend with his sales pitch.  Open house protocol also demands that your agent be the one to ask the host agent about the seller’s motivation and background, so refrain from asking these questions.

Your Toronto real estate agent is required to give you an agency disclosure if you are looking to buy a property.  This is just a disclosure and not an agreement.  However, be sure to read it carefully.  The agency type that is practiced the most is single agency.  It means that you have your own agent who represents you in all aspects and owes you fiduciary responsibility.  Following proper protocol will make the process of buying or selling a property easier and more pleasant.

To begin with, it saves you time.  You are not the one running around working out the details of the deal.  A good agent will be happy to show your house to potential buyers and take good care of it.  You have to make sure that the two of you are in agreement about the terms and conditions and then you can sit back and let the agent work his magic.

Secondly, you can take advantage of the experience and expertise of the agent as he comes with information about the current housing market that you are not privy to.  Be sure to engage a person who does this full time, meaning that he is surrounded by housing deals every day.  You also want a person that upgrades their skill from time to time by going to various briefing sessions as well as seminars.  He should have information and trends at his fingertips and should know the current price range of the neighborhood you are looking to move into.

The third reason why you should engage the services of a Toronto real estate agent is the network contacts that he has in this field.  This may make all the difference between selling your house quickly and waiting a year to sell.  He also has information that may be beneficial to you and know other professionals that may be able to assist in case of difficulty.  As such, you end up gaining the advantage of having access to his or her sphere of influence.

The fourth reason is that you will gain access to the multiple listing service via your agent who looks at it daily.  Even though for a small fee you can access it, you may not be able to correctly interpret the information you find.  This is the major source of properties in Canada.  It has been around for a long time and agents are the best people to ask how it works and the best way to take advantage of it.

Another great benefit of using a Toronto real estate agent is that you get free advice from him.  It comes at no additional cost and is invaluable in most cases.  Some of the advice they give may seem menial or offensive, but shouldn’t be taken as such. For example, he may say that your house is too cluttered.  This is because he knows that buyers need to see the house as it is without the clutter in order to visualize the home with their own belongings in it.

In conclusion, it is possible to buy or sell a house on your own without the services of an agent.  But, utilizing an agent will save you time, energy and headache and make your overall experience much smoother.

Choosing one Toronto real estate agent from the many available can be a daunting task.  Many people will work with an agent because a friend or associate recommended them.  This is a great start, but you need to meet the agent and talk with him to decide if he is the best-suited agent for your specific situation.  Agents have different competencies; some are more competent with selling and are therefore more helpful to the seller while others are skilled in buying.  Moreover, some may be very familiar with various neighborhoods, property types and price ranges than others.  This is the main reason why some agents may be good for you while others may not.

Some of the places where you can find agents include affinity groups, websites and credit unions.  These are great places to start the process, but they should not be the end.  In order to get the agent that will meet your particular needs, it is important that you first make a list of the various agents you have met on websites, open houses, affinity programs or those that have been recommended to you.  Once you have done this, interview them so that you can find what you are looking for and find out what their qualifications are for the job.

You want to find out if the person you are dealing with is licensed to sell property in Toronto before you can start the transaction.  Then move on to asking specific questions about them.  Find out if the person works in real estate full time or if they just dabble with it on the side.  A full time Toronto real estate agent will have more time to work on your deal and will also have more experience.  Additionally, ask about any professional designations he or she may hold and if they are a member of the multiple listing service of the city of Toronto.

Asking after his track record is also a great practice.  Find out how many houses he has sold in the last 12 months and ask for references of those buyers so you can call them and ask about the services rendered.  If he seems edgy about this or hesitates, then you need to be wary of him.  You need to find out how familiar he is with the area where you are looking to buy your home as well as the price ranges for that neighborhood.

Ask about the Toronto real estate agent’s vacation plans and if he will be away in the timeframe you will be buying your home.  Also, find out if he has an associate, assistant or partner that assists him and what their qualifications are.  You will need to know the exact process the agent will use to find your home.  As you interview, be honest about what you require as well as your expectations of the agent.  Ask for specific examples of how he helped people in the same situation as you and be keen to check if the agent is responsive and communicative.  Having completed your interview, make the choice that will meet your needs and you should enjoy a smooth real estate transaction.

Are you looking to buy a new home in Toronto? Then, why not hire a licensed Toronto Real Estate Agent, because there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. It will cost you a very reasonable amount to have a Toronto Real Estate Agent represent you.

The Toronto Real Estate Agent will get most of his commission from the builder. The cost of the home is inclusive of the agent’s commission. The builder will not reduce the price or give you a discount if you tell him that you do not want a Real Estate Agent. The builders depend on Toronto Real Estate Agents for their sales and new customers and if they were to cut commissions and keep the Real Estate Agents away from the sale process, they will stop bringing new clients to them. This would heavily affect their business.

The sales agents in the model home do not know more than sales. A licensed Toronto Real Estate Agent, on the other hand, is a professional who can help you. There is no doubt that sales agents are warm and nice people but they are not qualified and licensed to buy/sell homes on the behalf of sellers/buyers. They are not qualified enough to explain the process like a Toronto Real Estate Agent. In Toronto, Real Estate Agents must have a valid license to be in the Realtor business. It is required that all licensees take a licensing examination before they can practice their profession.

You should also remember that the sales agent represents the builder, NOT YOU!! They shall work in the best interest of the builder and work towards getting a better price for the builder. The prices of new homes is structured in a way that it includes many hidden costs and fees that you don’t have to pay. The sales agent will not let you know this. This is because they are working for the builder and not you. Their commission directly depends on the sale price of the house. If you pay more for the house, he will rake in more as commission. He is not going to let go of that and help you save money. That’s the primary reason why you need a Toronto Real Estate Agent.

Without the help of a Toronto Real Estate Agent you will have to make innumerable calls and visit multiple homes, only to know at the time of inspection that they do not meet your basic criteria.

When you have a Toronto Real Estate Agent working for you he/she will explain the cost structure, pricing options and other intricacies involved. He/She will be able to negotiate with the builder on your behalf so that you get the best deal possible. A Toronto Real Estate Agent will be able to understand your needs and specifications and is more aware of homes that are for sale on the market.

With the help of a Toronto Real Estate Agent such as Al Daimee of http://www.TOPofTO.com

you can become better informed, giving you the confidence and trust you need when working with a Real Estate Agent.