Also known as “off-market” listings, these homes may be for sale but are not listed on the multiple listing services (MLS) or REALTOR.ca. Yes, you read that correctly, the MLS does not account for every property on the market.
Off-market property sales happen more frequently than many people realize. Sellers most commonly choose to list off-market for privacy reasons, or because they want to test their home on the market without any history showing up on MLS should they not sell for the amount they are hoping for. The last thing you want as a seller is for there to be a history of your home not successfully selling as this will give buyers the impression that you are either an unrealistic seller or that there is something wrong with your home which will negatively effect your ability to get top dollar. In this case you could find yourself fighting an uphill battle with not many options other than to accept an offer that is substantially less than you may have obtained had you taken a different listing approach in the first place.
Real estate agents who sell off-market listings must do the legwork and get the word out to find buyers on their own, typically through their network of clientele and other real estate agents as well as making use of other marketing methods that don’t leave behind a long-lasting history of your property being listed.
If you are considering listing your property off market, make sure you discuss with your agent the different marketing methods they will make use of in order to ensure your off-market listing receives maximum exposure. Some of these methods may include various forms of print marketing, open houses, signage and other methods that don’t leave a long lasting history online.
As previously mentioned, many off-market listings are listed in this manner for privacy reasons which is why it is a common listing method for high end homes in neighbourhoods such as the Bridle Path, Rosedale, Forest Hill, Hoggs Hollow etc.
If you are currently house hunting for a new home or plan on doing so in the near future, you may want to ask your agent if they are aware of any off-market listings that may meet your criteria. You could be missing out on your dream home by not doing so.
Are you planning on making a move now or in the near future and have questions about the selling and buying process or the market in general?
Send me a message, I’m happy to answer all of your questions for you.
