Tips for Sellers by Neil Kirstine and Marlene Voisin


Agency: Have your agent take time to explain exactly whom he/she is representing and what happens if they represent both the Buyer and Seller. Be sure the Agent discusses privacy issues, and protects you in issues with regards of your motivation to sell. Remember a Buyer may negotiate harder if they know you are under pressure whether it is financially or you have a deadline in which you have to move by. It is now the law that Agency is not only discussed but also placed in front of you for your signature, acknowledging that you understand who represents whom.



Pricing: Pricing your Grey Bruce property at a fair market value and according to the present market conditions is the most important thing you can do. Buyers today are educated and will look at comparable properties in the Grey Bruce and Owen Sound area that are also for sale. Over pricing your property usually encourages lower bids, resulting in no sale. Over priced properties stay on the market longer and beg the question from the Buyer, “What is wrong with this property since it’s been on the market so long?” On a hot market sharply priced properties often result in a quick sale generating the possibility of multiple Offers, and a price of more than asking.



The First 15 Seconds: The majority of Buyers have already made up their minds in the first 15 seconds of viewing or entering your home. The curb appeal of your home is very important. Is it uncluttered? Is the grass cut and hedges trimmed? Is it freshly painted? Are the windows and roof shingles in good state of repair? Inside the front door, is your home clean? Does it smell fresh, is it tidy, are lights on and has it been staged to show case your home? Ask Neil Kirstine, Sales Representative or Marlene Voisin, Broker of Record for their Free Report on selling your home for all it is worth.

Vacate home when showing: Allow the Real Estate Agent to do his/her job. Vacate the home when it’s being shown to prospective Buyers. You being there only makes the Buyer uncomfortable and hurries them through your home.



Personal Items: Remove personal family photos and fridge clutter. These are not important to the Buyer and may only appear to clutter your home vs. adding personality.



Pets and Pet Smells: If you really want to devalue your home, the pressure of pet smells, barking dogs or animals jumping up on Buyers is the best way to do it. Keep your home smelling fresh, empty litter boxes and remove large animals if at all possible at the time of a showing.



Available for showings: If your home is not readily available for all showings it is virtually off the market and you may miss a potential Buyer. Discuss how much notice you need with your Agent and encourage your family to have the home ready to show on a daily bases.



Multiple Offers: If you are selling in a hot market, and have a desired area, as well as a desired property; you may want to postpone reviewing Offers. For example, if you list on a Monday let your Agent know you will not preview Offers till Friday at 11:00 am. This allows the MLS to do its work and competing Agents time to place your property in front of their Buyers. By doing this the Agent can create excitement on your property, which may result in multiple Offers, meeting your full price or even above. Remember if you are selling, it’s what’s best for you, not the Buyer or the Agent. 



Protect Yourself: Nobody wants to subject himself or herself to the legal system. It is not whether you are right or wrong it’s the process that is time consuming and expensive. Full disclosure on what you know about your property and being factual is proven the best way to protect yourself.



Open Houses: Sometimes they work, most times not. A good way to look at an open house is like another ad promoting your property. Make sure your Agent creates a guest registry sheet for people to sign to identify themselves when entering the open house. Common sense says, you may want to know who was through your home. Have your Agent leave or e-mail you a copy of the open house registry.



Qualifying the Client: High traffic through your property is not necessarily a good sign. Insist that potential Buyers viewing your property are pre-approved at the bank and can afford to buy your home. Allowing just anyone through your home is a waste of your time as well as the Agents.



Signage and Photos: Buyers are continuously asking for more information. Multiple photos and professional virtual tours are fast becoming the norm with producing Agents. Buyers will often skip over homes that do not provide enough information or a gallery of photos. Ask your Agent how many sites your home will appear on and if they provide you with a report showing the monthly “hits” your home is receiving. It’s a fact that over 75% of Buyers are now starting their search on line.



Listing Guarantees: One of Sellers biggest fears is signing a lengthy listing with an Agent, only to find out that the communication is poor and what was said at the listing presentation has been replaced with empty promises. Insist on a written Action Plan of how the Agent plans to communicate with you and how he/she is going to promote your property. Next, insist on a listing guarantee or easy exit strategy from the listing in writing, stating that if you are not happy with the service or they have not kept their promises, you can literally fire them and move onto another company. This is your investment and you should be in control of it. 



Negotiating Commission: Most commissions are a percentage of the selling price or a flat fee. Commissions are established up front on the listing agreement but often are negotiable at the time of the Offer. Find out up front, how flexible your Agent is when it comes to commissions.



Critique of your Home: Leave details on your table of lot lines, septic and well locations, schools, etc. A short letter pertaining to what you enjoyed about the home as well as the neighbourhood is a very worthwhile selling tool. Make a list of all the information you would ask if you where a Buyer and provide it.



Last but Not Least: Give Neil Kirstine, Sales Representative and Marlene Voisin, Broker of Record a try. They’re a proven team with over 40 years of experience. Neil and Marlene have great marketing skills and are tremendous communicators. They will not only treat you like family, they will provide you with an enjoyable stress free transaction.