It’s no secret that the real estate market has changed dramatically over the last few months. However, when you hear whispers that a crash is on its way, remember much of this worry is overstated. Local statistics suggest that the market is healthy. Current conditions simply can’t compare with the fever pitch we experienced from 2020 to early 2022. In light of all of these changes, one thing you can be sure of is that the right real estate professional is more critical than ever when selling a house in Toronto.
Expert guidance can help you sell your house faster, with less stress, and with more money in your bank account than you ever could on your own. The question is, how do you choose the right one for your situation? The Real Estate Council of Ontario states that there are more than 86,000 agents in Ontario alone, which can make your decision pretty daunting. Eliminating those that are wrong for you is an excellent start. Here are our top five warning signs that your real estate agent is not the right one.
Lack of Knowledge About the Neighbourhood
Technically, you can use any Ontario agent to sell your home from anywhere. If you wanted to, you could hire someone from Sarnia to help sell your house in Toronto. They could guide you through the process of getting your home ready and answer your general questions by email or video chat. However, it’s not the same as having someone there in person who is always available to you.
The more complicated the market gets, the more intimate knowledge of the neighbourhood is required to find the right buyer and get the full value from your home. A simple comment about a favourite park, hiking trail, high-quality school, or other amenities can often break the ice with even the most discerning buyer. This is something an outside agent can never do.
What else do you need to successfully sell your home? Here are some guidelines that will help:
- Making the Most of Your Toronto Home Sale this Fall
- Home Renovations that Build Lasting Value
- Buyers are Going Crazy for These Home Features
The Agent Only Works Part-Time
The housing boom triggered by the pandemic attracted many new agents to the real estate industry. Many people thought it would be easy money, and they could do it on the side while working their full-time job.
Anyone may be able to earn their license after a year or less of studying and passing the test. However, successful real estate agents dedicate years to developing and finetuning their skills. Obtaining top dollar from the sale of your house requires intense focus and persistence. Someone who is distracted by the stresses and demands of their “real” job is not likely up to the task.
Setting the right price is critical if you want to maximize your sale. How much is your home worth? Book a free home evaluation here.
The Agent Does Not Have a Network
Top real estate agents have advanced selling and negotiation skills and an abundance of marketing know-how. However, this expertise is only half of what makes an agent successful. The other half of the equation is having access to an extensive network of other professional connections. Top agents develop and nurture relationships with clients and other experts. They do this because they know their success depends primarily on their reputation. At any given moment, your agent can reach out to a number of professionals like mortgage specialists, tradespeople, lawyers, and more. Best of all, a well-connected agent often comes with a pre-existing database of potential buyers who may already be interested in your home.
A big part of selling your home is knowing the neighbourhood and who is most likely to be your buyer. Do any of these apply to you?
- Best Toronto Neighbourhoods for Active Retirees
- Best Neighbourhoods in Toronto for Young Families
- 4 West End Neighbourhoods Perfect for Young Professionals
Your Agent is Inaccessible and Unavailable
Selling a home can be stressful at the best of times. Now that conditions have changed, many homeowners are feeling even more anxious. Your real estate agent should be a professional, well-informed local expert who can guide you through a streamlined process.
However, they also need to be accessible to you and offer the highest level of client service to take the stress of the sale off your plate. Most Toronto agents are committed to going the extra mile.
Some agents, however, only want to work banker’s hours. Your calls often go straight to voicemail if you try to reach your agent after hours or on the weekend. When you need an answer fast, that doesn’t help you. A successful sale often requires an expert to be available at a moment’s notice, not just Monday to Friday from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. That’s why you should always note how fast an agent is when responding to your inquiry and how thoroughly they answer before you hire them. If they are slow to respond when you haven’t even signed the listing agreement yet, imagine how slow they will be when you become a client.
The Agent Has Little to No Experience
Every top-performing agent was a newbie at one point. And to be fair, new agents often bring a refreshing amount of enthusiasm and excitement to the industry. Their passion can lead them to go over and above to provide stellar client service.
However, a shifting market is not the best time to work with an inexperienced agent. Many real estate agents today have only worked in healthy, fast-moving seller’s markets. In these current conditions, many of these newbies don’t know what to do, nor do they have the connections to help them proceed.
To get the best possible results from your sale, you want expert guidance from someone who has worked and thrived in all types of conditions.
At Sidorova Inwood, we don’t just work in the West End, we live here. No one knows the area quite like we do! If you have questions about selling your home, we’d love to help. Reach out to us today by email or call 416-769-3437.
