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Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I hire you to represent me as a property buyer or seller?

I am very passionate about providing my clients with exceptional service from start to finish. I am dedicated to doing everything in my power to ensure my clients achieve their specific real estate objectives. Due to my commitment to my clients along with providing first class service, I have been successful at helping many clients with their selling, buying and leasing objectives. I would love the opportunity to help you achieve your specific real estate objectives. Contact me any time with your real estate questions, I’m always here and happy to help whether you are looking to make a move now or in the future.

 

 

Why should I use Chestnut Park Real Estate?

Chestnut Park has successfully represented our clients for over twenty-five years. As one of the leading luxury real estate brokerages in Toronto and the only exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate here in Toronto, Chestnut Park is able to effectively promote your property both locally and internationally. With access to qualified buyers and investors from all over the world, Chestnut Park is in a position to find the right buyer for your property and for top dollar. If you are looking to buy internationally, through Chestnut Park’s exclusive affiliation with Christie’s International Real Estate, we can assist you by putting you in contact with the right affiliated brokerage and agent in your desired area as well as with the purchase of your dream property almost anywhere in the world.

What is a “Buyer’s Market”?

A buyer’s market occurs when there are more available properties than there are property buyers. This puts the buyer in a good position as it provides them with more options and a better negotiating position when it comes to making an offer.

What is a “Seller’s Market”?

A seller’s market occurs when there are more interested buyers than there are available properties. A real estate seller’s market puts the seller in a better negotiating position. This type of market typically results in more multiple offer situations, higher prices and homes selling quicker.

What is a “Balanced Market”?

balanced market is the result of an equal number of buyers and sellers. This typically results in less bidding wars and a less stressful buying process.

What is the value of my property?

The market determines the value of your property. Your property is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it. When considering an ideal list price, it is important to consider the following important points:

Location

Size

Condition

Current market conditions (Buyer’s Market, Seller’s Market or

Balanced Market)

Community or Building Amenities

Current interest rates

Local competition

As you may be aware, location is usually the most important factor to take into consideration. This is important to keep in mind both when buying and selling a property. One of the best ways to determine the approximate value of your property is to complete a comparative market analysis (CMA) in order to compare your property to other similar properties that have recently sold in your area. It is important to compare your property to properties that are as similar to your property as possible in order to estimate the most accurate value. Contact Braden White today to book a an appointment to receive your CMA.

How will you market my property?

I will diligently market your property through the use of a vast number of unique and effective marketing techniques. Some of these marketing techniques include print media, social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and other online marketing, signage, high-quality videography, through Chestnut Park’s exclusive affiliation to Christie’s International Real Estate and on the Toronto MLS system and more. Visit my marketing methods page HERE to learn more.

How should I prepare my home for showings?

It is critical that your property be in the best possible shape for showings in order to demand top dollar. Both the interior and exterior parts of your property are important. Curb appeal can heavily determine whether or not a potential buyer decides to view your property in the first place. It is also important to declutter the interior of your home and to pay attention to details. With previous experience in the design and build industry and with an eye for detail, Braden White can assist you with getting your property in the best condition for showings.

What will help my home sell fast?

Your property can have all of the bells and whistles and may even be located in a great location but if it isn’t priced right, you will find yourself sitting around waiting for an offer that may or may not come in. It is important to determine an appropriate price for your property through the use of market analysis and comparative sales. In addition to this, pricing your property accurately can help place you in a strong negotiating position. Through professional market analysis, Braden can assist you with determining the right price for your property.

What is the purpose of a listing agreement?

By signing a listing agreement, you are authorizing Braden to act on your behalf as your real estate sales representative and to effectively market your property and negotiate on your behalf. It is important to have a signed listing agreement with any real estate sales representative that you may hire in order to be sure that all obligations and expectations are clearly set out and agreed to by both parties.

What are my costs as a buyer?

The good news is that as a buyer, you are not obligated to pay your real estate sales representative a fee. Rather, the seller is required to cover the associated costs of selling their property. However, some costs you may need to consider are land transfer tax, property inspection, deed or mortgage registration, legal fees and disbursements, closing adjustments, home and property insurance, moving expenses and connection charges for gas, electrical and water. In addition to these potential costs, you may need to budget for any repairs that may be needed upon obtaining possession of the property.

Why should I get pre-approved for a mortgage?

By getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you are putting yourself in a much better negotiating position for when you find the perfect property. In addition to this, you are able to determine what you can afford before falling in love with a property that may be out of your reach. Braden can assist you with putting you in contact with qualified and professional mortgage specialists.

What happens once I’m ready to make an offer?

As a your real estate agent, I will assist you with drafting, submitting and negotiating your offer once you have found the property of your choice. Most sellers prefer a “Firm Offer” with no conditions but it is common to submit a “Conditional Offer” that includes certain conditions to protect you as the buyer when not in a multiple offer situation. I can assist you with either of these offers and can effectively negotiate on your behalf. Once the offer has been drafted, it will be submitted as soon as practically possible and the seller will either accept, decline or counter your offer. Depending on the response of the seller, I will take the appropriate steps to ensure that you are represented in a professional manner and kept informed throughout the entire process.

What is land transfer tax in Toronto?

Properties sold within Toronto are not only subject to provincial tax but also municipal tax. To calculate municipal land transfer tax, click on the following link: https://www.torontorealestateboard.com/buying/ltt_calculator/ltt_calculator.htm

How much does it cost to use a real estate agent to sell my home?

The typical cost associated with selling your home through a realtor is 5% of the purchase price plus HST which is paid upon closing. The cost of using an unexperienced agent or no agent at all can amount to far more than the investment of using a full-time experienced agent who is knowledgeable about the current market trends and who knows how to properly prepare and market your property to sell for top dollar.

Why would someone hire a real estate agent when they could do it themselves?

Nothing says you can’t try selling your home on your own. Many people try to do it and some are successful; however, most are not. Selling a home requires knowledge of the local real estate market as well as knowledge in pricing, staging, marketing, advertising, negotiating and legal requirements. There is a lot involved prior, during and after the house is listed and sold. It is a time consuming endeavour and can often be a stressful one, especially when the right approach and knowledge isn’t applied. More often than not, individuals who attempt to sell their home on their own end up paying more in the end or are unable to sell due to the stigma that is attached to the “For Sale” sign sitting in the lawn for long periods of time without ever selling. For most people, their home is their largest investment. It is usually best to hire a professional to ensure that you sell your home for top dollar and in the least amount of time while ensuring that your rights are protected.

Do you provide videos for your listings?

Depending on the price point of the property, we often create professional videos that showcase your property to its fullest potential. In some cases, we will incorporate aerial shots with the use of a drone and the video will be professionally edited. Some agents like to create elaborate videos that are over produced and take the attention away from your property. Our objective is to showcase your property in a way that will allow the potential buyer to visualize themselves living in your home and to highlight the many features your home has to offer. It’s important to keep the attention of the potential buyer as they are watching the video to see the property, not to watch a music video or commercial.

How much do you charge to create the video?

The cost is FREE for you as we cover the cost in order to showcase your property and to sell it for top dollar in the least amount of time.

Should I sell or buy first?

Both options have their own pros and cons. It is best to contact me in order to set up a time to meet in order to discuss your specific situation and needs. Contact me for a FREE consultation. I would love to hear from you.

Do you provide your services outside of Toronto?

I work predominantly in Toronto but in some cases, I will take listings or  assist buyers in certain areas outside of the city which I am very familiar with. Some of these areas include Unionville, Markham, Angus Glen, Richmond Hill, Oak Ridges, Whitby and Pickering. I am also very familiar with Muskoka as I spent over 30 years at our family cottage on Lake Muskoka.  When I am unable to personally assist clients in these areas outside of Toronto, I am able to assist by putting my clients in contact with one of my trusted colleagues or referral agents who I trust to provide a similar level of service that I provide and expect for my clients.

I have heard the term “CMA” a lot. What does that stand for?

CMA stands for “Comparative Market Analysis”. This is a document which I prepare for my clients who are looking to sell their home. This document is based on many different factors such as recently sold properties in your area, features those properties had, features your property has, size of the properties, age of the properties, etc. After completing thorough research, I will compare your property to the other properties in order to assist you with determining a realistic list price. This document is very beneficial to sellers when deciding to list their home.

Do you provide staging services and how much does it cost?

Yes, I provide staging services when needed. With my previous and extensive experience in the design and build industry as the previous owner of a design and build company, I am able to assist you by providing professional design advice that will help your property stand out from the competition.

When is the best time to sell my home?

It is typically best to list your home during a “seller’s market” which we are currently experiencing here in Toronto (2022). A seller’s market is when there are more qualified buyers than available homes for sale. Other factors can effect the sale of the home such as weather, school season, seasonal holidays and more. It’s best to set up a time to meet in order to discuss your needs and expectations. Contact me to set up a time for us to meet in order to discuss your specific situation.

Why do some people hold off offers until a specific date and should I do this?

This is a popular strategy that is based on pricing the property at a price point that will encourage multiple offers. The sellers in these cases are hoping that they will be able to create a bidding war in order to hopefully obtain a higher price for their property. This strategy works for some homes but can sometimes backfire when only one offer comes in. We can discuss this strategy further if you decide to list your property in order to determine if it is right for you.

Am I required to put a “For Sale” sign in my front lawn?

You are not required to have a FOR SALE sign in your front lawn, although, we highly recommend it. More often than not, the sign will attract some attention and people will contact us for more information regarding the property. Without the sign in the lawn, you miss out on many valuable opportunities to find the right buyer.

I’m not sure that I want to have public open houses, are they necessary?

Public open houses are great for exposure. They allow potential buyers to visit the property and visualize themselves in the space. It is also beneficial for you if two different potential buyers show interest in the property during the open house. This often creates a sense of urgency and in some cases can lead to a bidding war. Public open houses are also a great way to get feedback from open house guests in order to learn what people absolutely love or absolutely hate about the property. With this information, we are able to make any necessary adjustments in order to allow your property to show at its best.

What happens if my house doesn’t sell in a certain amount of time? Am I able to temporarily take it off the market and put it back on at a later date?

Yes, if your home doesn’t sell and you would like to take it off the market, we can always remove it and re-list it at a later date.

How much are homes selling for in my area?

I am more than happy to provide you with this information. Simply contact me to set up time to meet or provide me with your contact information and I can forward you this valuable information.

What is the average sale price in Toronto?

The average sale price in Toronto is constantly changing. Check my blog every month to view the most recent average sale prices. Feel free to sign up for my monthly newsletter to receive a monthly market update each month.

Is a seller obligated to give buyers a chance to improve their offers?

No, a seller is not required to give buyers the opportunity to improve their offers when in a multiple offer situation. Some people assume that they are entitled to a chance to improve their offer but there is no rule or law stating this.

When do I need to provide the deposit if my offer is accepted?

This all depends on what the contract states. If it says that you will provide a deposit “Upon Acceptance” of your offer, this means you are required to deliver the deposit either in person or electronically within 24 hours of your offer being accepted. If the offer says “Herewith” that means you should be providing the deposit at the same time that you submit the offer. If the offer says “as otherwise described in this Agreement” this means there should be wording somewhere else in the Agreement (likely the Schedule A) which will describe the deposit details.

Can a real estate agent disclose the price of other offers to buyers during multiple offers?

Real estate agents are strictly prohibited from sharing the offer prices of competing offers as well as any details within the offer that may be used as negotiation tools such as deposit amount, closing date, number and types of conditions etc.

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+1 (416) 294-3776 braden@chestnutpark.com