Condos For Sale in Toronto - Services

Free home evaluation

Not sure what price tag to put on your unit? Real estate agents will often conduct a free home evaluation to gauge your condo’s place in the market and the price range that will garner the most attention from would-be buyers. Are there items that may need a little TLC prior to listing? Your real estate agent will look for areas that may make or break a sale if they are not done. They will also look at the actual complex and property management issues, and ask for a status certificate on the health of the condo corporation, as well as disclose what’s covered in the monthly maintenance fee.

Lighting the searchlight

Don’t go it alone! Your real estate specialist is just that – a specialist and they will hone your search to the demographic area, price and needs you tell them. Agents use a variety of tools to search for your next new home, from web sites and listings, to communicating with other agents to unearth a range of condos for you to visit.

Open Houses

How do other agents know about your home and its potential to their list of clients? Your real estate agent will invite them in for a private showing. They will extol the virtues of your property and walk the agents through each room, highlighting the positives and why your home should be on a list of must-see properties. Then the real fun starts – potential homeowners will visit – and your agent’s job is to answer their questions so you can concentrate on your own move.

Home staging

Putting your best face forward to potential new home buyers may include sprucing up the decor and setting the mood for a successful sale. Your real estate agent often has the contacts at his fingertips to put you in touch with your home’s makeover artist. Home staging is all the rage these days, whether it means a bit of the everyday clutter out, lighting a few candles or even renting updated furniture to create memorable rooms. The scent of freshly baked cookies or pies does well to create the mood to make the sale.

Mortgage tips

Any real estate agent will suggest getting pre-qualified for a mortgage so you’ll know what you can afford and what you may not even before you set foot inside. It will also give your agent a good starting point in narrowing down the search. Your agent will also be well-versed in mortgage rates and terms, variable versus locked in mortgages, short- or long-term mortgages and the ideal down payment.

Home inspections

Often, a buyer’s real estate agent will recommend a particular home inspection company to come in and investigate the unit and building for potential issues. This process is especially important as it highlights the home’s overall stability and any potential issues that may have been disclosed when the potential buyer first visits the home. Most home inspectors will provide clients with an in-depth report, and often a sale is dependant on the home passing the inspection. No green light – no purchase – or perhaps a lower listing price.

Negotiations

A listing price is rarely the final price tag and it is up to the buyer’s and seller’s real estate agents to negotiate the best possible price for their clients. The agents know the market and have researched the prices in the neighbourhood for similar homes. They take into account any issues that may have been uncovered in during the home inspection and often work to correct problems that may be a deal-breaker to the potential home buyer.

Recommending a real estate lawyer

As with home inspectors, your real estate specialist will have a list of lawyers who deal with closing a property. The lawyer you choose, whether you find them through your agent or not, will look at the history of the property and perform a search on the deed, ensuring no liens or other issues. They will also ensure the successful transfer of the property from the old owners to you. The lawyer will work with the real estate agent to disclose the condo’s status of certificate and the overall health of the management firm’s budget. Keep in mind that the condo’s initial price tag will increase because of this service – set aside a good portion of funds for closing costs, which include the lawyer’s fee.