There are two distinct schools of thought on the issue of selling home. One school holds that real estate agents are absolutely necessary to a successful home selling process. The other maintains that real estate agents are a waste of money and that private citizens can sell their homes in Richmond Hill just as well as any realtor. Who is right? That's for you to decide when the time comes to sell your Halifax home. If you're thinking of doing it alone, here's an overview of what you'll have to do.
List
When you're selling your home yourself, you won't have access to the Toronto real estate listings you see in the supplements or on TV because those are administered by the major real estate companies like Coldwell Banker or Century 21. You can do it on your own, however. There are many websites that will allow you to list your home for free or for a small fee. They include self-help companies like Property Guys as well as pure listing services like PropertySold, Trulia, or even Craigslist.
Advertise
After your home is officially on the market you must advertise. Listing with a service is only step one in this process. While Etobicoke real estate agents and their counterparts in Halifax have access to ad networks on TV, in print, and on the street, you'll have to do it yourself. Consider placing classified ads in the Chronicle Herald, or on the local cable access networks (Eastlink is one). You should also invest in signage for your home and directional signs from the nearest major road.
Show
Showing a home and holding open houses are a lot of work. When you hire a Mississauga real estate agent he or she does this work for you. You'll have to keep your home clean and staged and be available to answer calls from potential buyers or show them around the house at any time. You'll have to know what your home's best features are and how much to ask for the property. You'll also have to hold your own open houses complete with food, signs, and advertising.
Negotiate
Once you receive an offer, you'll have to decide for yourself whether it's fair and how much you want to counter for. Your real estate agent in Thornhill would normally be responsible for that. Negotiating can be tricky because you don't want to be too hard nosed or too much of a carpet.
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