Buying or selling a house is a monumental decision that can impact your life for years to come. Done right, this transition can be a positive experience no matter what your starting point.

• If you’re buying your first home, you’re full of excitement and wonder as you explore the endless possibilities.
• When selling to move up to a bigger place, you can look forward to an elevated lifestyle as you say goodbye to your existing home. 

Whatever your reason for moving, expert advice will help make your transition as seamless and stress-free as possible. An experienced GTA Realtor® can guide you can guide you when buying or selling a home in Pickering and work for your best interests every step of the way. The question is, how do you find the right agent for you?

Think Quality Over Quantity

Currently, there are over 73,000 brokerages and real estate agents registered with the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, all serving the GTA. Each of these is licensed and authorized to help you with your transaction. 

Nevertheless, you don’t just want someone who “can” do the job. You want an experienced expert who is also dedicated to providing you with the best possible outcome. Fortunately, there are many tips and tricks to help you narrow it down, even if you’re not a real estate expert yourself. 

Do you want to know more about living in the Durham region? Here is some related reading you may enjoy:

• What Is the Fastest-Growing Area of the GTA?
• Exploring Seaton: Pickering’s Hidden Gem in the GTA
• Why Should You Upgrade Your Family Home in Pickering?

Tips for Interviewing Your Agent 

When you begin searching for your real estate agent, it’s best to focus on experience, outstanding expertise, and a superb track record through all market conditions. Though you’ll likely ask dozens of questions before selecting a Realtor®, you want to focus primarily on three things. 

1. Experience. A real estate agent should be able to thrive in all markets, good and bad. That’s why you should avoid anyone who has only worked in markets that favoured the buyer or seller, but can help you get the best results no matter what. Ask how many years the agent has been in business and how many transactions they typically handle each year. 
2. Communication Skills. If an agent can make you feel at ease, chances are they can also help the seller or buyer on the other side of the transaction feel comfortable as well. In addition, they’ll have a positive relationship with other agents, which is critical for negotiating and networking during a tight market.  
3. Commitment. Before signing on with any agent, try to get a feel for how committed they are to helping you achieve your goals. Knowledge, the ability to negotiate, and marketing expertise are all essential. However, none of these skills matter more than a dedication to high-quality service.

Thanks to modern technology, you can interview your agent from the comfort of your own home by using Zoom or other video software. However, nothing beats meeting in person where you can get a feel for the agent’s communication style and how well you vibe together. If you are ever in the Pickering area, you can stop by our office on Brock Street, just South of the Seaton Community for a quick chat. We would love to meet you!

How the Right Agent Helps You Buy 

If there is one thing the GTA is known for in recent years, it’s a high demand for housing and a supply system that is struggling to keep up. In short, there are not enough houses for everyone who wants one.  

A skilled real estate agent can open up your options by having a solid relationship with the GTA’s top builders as well as a pulse on the market for upcoming or unadvertised listings. In a tight market, you might not find your ideal home on Realtor.ca. 

Instead, you may need to rely on your real estate team having a vast network of connections. Finding the right listing is only the beginning. Once you have your eye on a property, your real estate agent will help you assess the market to create an offer the seller will love but at the best price and terms possible for you.

How Your Choice Affects You When Selling 

Even when the market is on your side, selling your home isn’t as simple as you might believe. You can only be sure of maximizing your results when you work with an agent who is well-versed in all aspects of the sale: 

• Understanding the current market and any local nuances that can affect your transaction. For example, some neighbourhoods in the GTA can appeal more to families, while others attract the attention of young professionals or downsizers. A successful sale requires knowing your potential buyer as well as understanding the market. 
• Knowing what upgrades to make and what to avoid. Every seller knows the importance of making your home beautiful before it hits the market. However, not all upgrades have the same effect on potential buyers, and design trends come and go. An up-to-date and savvy real estate agent will help you earn the highest amount for your home while saving you time and money on unnecessary repairs and upgrades. 
• Advanced negotiation skills. Negotiating for top dollar looks nothing like what you may see on TV or in the movies. It’s far more about analysis, problem-solving and creative thinking than just knowing what to say or when. 
• Effective marketing and negotiation techniques. The more people who are interested in your home, the more likely you are to receive multiple offers. Generating maximum exposure and desire is essential to receiving the full value from your sale.

A Guide to the New TRESA Guidelines

What are your rights as a real estate client, and should you ever represent yourself when selling or buying a home? Most people looking to buy will align themselves with an agent. Since the seller pays all commissions, working without this representation doesn’t make sense.

Sellers can be tempted to work without an agent. By listing a house FSBO (For Sale by Owner), the homeowner will save some of the commissions. However, those “savings” can be quite costly in the end. The new guidelines from TRESA (Trust in Real Estate Act) clearly outline the risks of self-representation compared with the benefits of working with an agent.

The Risks of Self-Representation

When buying or selling without an agent, you are automatically considered a self-represented party. The Realtor® on the other side of the transaction has a fiduciary duty to represent the best interests of their client. 

• When buying, the agent works to get them the lowest price and most favourable terms. 
• When selling, the agent strives to get the highest amount possible from the buyer. 

The agent can assist you as a self-represented party, but only as a service to benefit their own client. They cannot provide you with any advice on the transaction.

The agent must inform the client of any information you share with them. This includes your motivation for the transaction, your minimum and maximum price, and any terms you prefer.

Before deciding to proceed without a trusted Realtor® by your side, consider this: You are not buying or selling a home every day, but the agent is helping clients every day. They know the market inside and out and have every tool in the book to get the absolute best value possible. Unless you are a real estate expert yourself, you will almost always earn more when selling a home or pay less when buying with an experienced professional to represent you.

You might start out as a self-represented party before realizing you’re in over your head. If that’s the case, you always have the right to change your mind.

Do you have questions about buying a new home in the GTA? You’ll find plenty of answers in the posts below:

• Should You Buy or Sell First?
• Can You Make a Home Offer Appealing Without Paying More Money?
• What Creative Solutions Are Available for First-Time Buyers?

Your Rights as a Client

In real estate, if you work with an agent, you are a “client,” which means you are entitled to the highest level of service and protection. Your Realtor® has a fiduciary duty towards you, which means both they and their brokerage are legally compelled to represent your best interests at all times. 

• By law, you have the right to undivided loyalty from your agent. 
• They must also disclose anything about the transaction or the client relationship that could affect your decision to buy or sell. 
• Any information you provide is confidential, and they must avoid any conflicts of interest unless they disclose them in writing (such as if they intend to represent both the buyer and the seller.)

You can learn more about your rights and responsibilities as the client of a real estate agent or brokerage here. This new legislation by the Real Estate Council of Ontario ensures you receive the highest level of professionalism and service from your GTA Realtor®. 

Do you have questions about buying, selling, or investing in GTA real estate? We are here to guide you every step of the way. Reach out to info@teamrajpal.com or call 647-875-8000 for more information.

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