For Sale by Owner Homes in Nova Scotia

REALTORS® can reduce your risk of liability. 

Did you know that as a seller, you can be held liable for any issues with your property for up to seven years after you have sold it? 

 

REALTORS® undergo ongoing education to learn how to reduce the sellers' risk of liability in the listing and sale process.  Poor choices of wording on listing descriptions or a lack of understanding in filling out the Property Condition Disclosure Statement can mean a lengthy and expensive lawsuit for a seller. 

 

There are so many things REALTORS® look into behind the scenes as part of their requirements that you may never see or understand.  As a private seller, not having an understanding of the information or documentation you and the buyer needs to complete the transaction can cause a delay in closing or even a failure to close. 

 

No property or transaction is the same, and REALTORS® are experienced in determining what they need to look for in order to close the transaction successfully and reduce your risk of liability down the road.


REALTORS® protect you and your family's safety.

REALTORS® arrange and host property visits and open houses for you, so you will never have to be alone with a stranger in your home or meet any potential buyers.  Because the REALTOR® is there on your behalf, the visitors will not see any anyone that lives in the home.  REALTORS® knows what questions they should not answer to protect your safety. 

 

BRING MORE POTENTIAL BUYERS TO YOUR HOME

 

REALTORS® are the only people who can list your home through the MLS® system. 

When you work with a REALTOR®, your home gets listed on the MLS® (Multiple Listing Service®) system and potential buyers across the world can find your property on REALTOR.ca (formerly mls.ca). 

 

  • REALTORS® take advantage of the full MLS® system which allows them to do more targeted searches and find new listing before they are even viewable to the public.  It also allows them to automatically send properties that fit within their clients' needs directly to the client's email.  This targeted method means that as a seller, you don't have to wait for buyers to happen to come across your listing, you could have many REALTORS® working proactively to let buyers know your house is on the market. 

REALTORS® are proactive in bringing qualified buyers to your home.

When a REALTOR® lists your home, he or she immediately begins making phone calls to qualified clients looking for a home, as well as the many REALTORS® with whom he or she has established relationships.  This increases exposure greatly, as other REALTORS® are working to sell your home to their own clients who have already been pre-qualified for financing.

 

REALTORS® don't rely on a colourful sign on the lawn to sell your home. 

Not all buyers drive around neighbourhoods looking for For Sale signs.  In fact, according to Ispos Reid in 2007, 82% of home buyers start their home search online.  Buyers want convenience - they want one easy search tool to find all of the properties in their desired area and price range and then make an appointment to view the home.  The search tool they are using is REALTOR.ca.  It is a national site and the search tool used by people in and outside of Canada looking to buy a home in any province.

 


PRICE AND SHOW YOUR HOME EFFECTIVELY

 

REALTORS® are not emotionally attached to your home… and that's a good thing. 

It can be hard watching potential buyers look through your home and point out the flaws.   REALTORS® are skilled in taking negative comments and turning them into suggestions or ideas for the buyer to increase interest and the value of the property.  REALTORS® understand that not everyone has the same taste and can show your home as a neutral third party, highlighting only the most positive features and making recommendations for changes to address the buyers concerns.

 

REALTORS® can give you ideas to sell your home more quickly and for more money. 

REALTORS® understand what adds to or takes away from the value of your home and can make suggestions on what you can do to increase the value (and therefore the price) before you even list. 

 

REALTORS® want to get you the best price for your property in the least amount of time and with the least amount of negotiations.

 

REALTORS® know how to price your home strategically.

REALTORS® help determine your asking price based on very detailed information about similar properties in your area - information to which only REALTORS® have access.  A good REALTOR® will also take the time to talk with you to get an understanding of your urgency to sell and/or financial requirements, and help you price your home accordingly.

 

Without a REALTOR®, you must rely on standard templates for handling negotiations and offers without access to professional guidance to be creative in counter offers that appeal to the buyer and help you sell your home for more.

 

REALTORS® are comfortable negotiating. 

They do it all the time.  Private sellers unfamiliar with the negotiation process and the necessary paperwork can easily be overwhelmed and intimidated.  A REALTOR® takes care of the negotiation process for you, understanding your requirements and doing everything he or she can to get you the price you want for your home.


 

TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF SELLING YOUR HOME

REALTORS® are motivated to work hard to sell your home, so you don't have to be.

Selling a home to move is often noted as one of life's most stressful events.   A REALTOR®'s goal is to take the stress away from the selling process and let you focus on preparing for the move.  REALTORS® take care of designing the listing, taking the photos, finding the best marketing channels, booking appointments, organizing open houses and completing the paperwork.

 

REALTORS® can prepare you for the costs of selling your home.

This means no surprises to you in the process, and allows you to determine how much, if any, you can budge on your asking price.

 

REALTORS® are educated.

There are plenty of reasons why most sellers choose to work with REALTORS® to sell their home, and have for hundreds of years.  REALTORS® undergo extensive education, training and testing before they are licensed.  They are also required to attend mandatory education sessions every year in order to maintain their license and use the REALTOR® trademark.

 

 

There are plenty of reasons why buyers and sellers choose to work with REALTORS®.  What's yours?

 

REALTORS® do more than give you a sign for your lawn.  REALTORS® help.

 

INTERVIEW A REALTOR® TODAY

If you are considering working with a REALTOR® to sell your home, it is important to find a REALTOR® that you are confident in and know that you will have an effective working relationship.

 

Only real estate professionals who are members of the Canadian Real Estate Association (and in Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®) can call themselves REALTORS®.  This means they participate in ongoing education and training and subscribe to a high standard of professional service and to a strict code of ethics.

 

Here are a few questions you may wish to ask a REALTOR® to assist you in finding the right one for you:

 

How much of your business is repeat or referral clients?

It's a sign of success when REALTORS® have repeat clients or get a large part of their business from referrals.

 

On average, how long are your listings on the market before they are sold?

A reasonable time frame is 90 to 120 days.  Higher priced properties such as waterfront listings may take longer to sell.

 

On average, what is the difference between the asking and selling price of your listings?

A small number here may mean the REALTOR® is effective in setting listing prices.

 

How many listings have you had in the past six months, and what percentage of these have sold?

A higher number indicates success.

 

What can I do to sell my home for more money?

After viewing your home, a REALTOR® may provide you with helpful improvement tips that will result in a larger sales price and/or a speedier sales cycle.

 

What costs will be associated with selling my home?

A REALTOR® can tell you about his or her commission structure and provide insight into any additional fees or costs associated with selling.

 

How often will you contact me?  Within what hours can I contact you?

This question will allow you to set expectations on contact methods and frequency of updates. 

 

What timeframe would the listing agreement cover?

Three to six months is reasonable, but whatever the timeframe, ensure you are comfortable with the listing agreement.  Ask about company policy as it relates to cancelled agreements.

 

Can I call some of your past clients for a reference?

Get reference names and numbers and call them to learn about their particular experience with that REALTOR®.

 

To find REALTOR® in your area, visit www.nsar-mls.ca today.

 

If you are looking for a new home, visit www.nshomeguide.ca for the seven days of most recent MLS® listings, featured listings and scheduled open houses.