Time is almost always of the essence when it comes to selling a house. It starts with your lifestyle. You have a vision – and the faster your home sells, the sooner you can get to work making it a reality. However, the benefits of a faster sale don’t end with your personal reasons. 

The real estate market itself is built to reward speed, where houses that move quickly often earn more than those that sit too long with a “For Sale” sign out front. In this post, we’ll explore some of the reasons for this and what you can do to ensure you get stellar results when listing your own home on the market. 

Early Excitement Wins

Your best chances of earning top dollar depend on capitalizing on early interest and excitement about your listing. Think of the long lineups of eager shoppers waiting for the stores to open on Boxing Day or Black Friday. These early crowds are the best indication that the day will be a successful one. The last thing any shopkeeper wants to see is an empty parking lot. 

Although you won’t likely have to face enthusiastic crowds rushing into your house on listing day, the same principle applies. The more buzz you get from the beginning, the better. 

Are you facing challenges when selling your home? The posts below can give you some insight:

• Can You Successfully Sell a House With a Stigma?
• How to Sell Your Home After a Divorce
• Can You Sell a House When You Have Tenants?

Personal Benefits of a Fast Sale

Since earning the highest possible amount is essential for most homeowners, it makes sense to want to sell quickly. However, a fast sale is even more beneficial to your personal goals and peace of mind. 

• If you have already placed a deposit on your next home, coordinating your move will be far more streamlined and less stressful than with a long, drawn-out process.
• You no longer need to worry about keeping your home pristine and show-worthy after you’ve accepted an offer. The disruption of open houses and in-person visits is over, which can feel as though a heavy weight is off your shoulders.
• A fast sale leaves you empowered for future opportunities. You may even be able to make a cash offer once you find another house you love. This can be a competitive advantage if you’re moving on to purchase in a busy market where homes get snapped up quickly. 

What Happens to Homes That Languish

Generally speaking, you’ll want the phone to start ringing and people to start scheduling showings within a few days or a couple of weeks at most. You should then begin receiving offers shortly after buyers start walking through your home.

If this doesn’t happen, there can be several consequences:

• Potential buyers might believe your home is overpriced and pass your listing by in favour of similar homes in your area. 
• Buyers may feel emboldened to try to negotiate for a lower price when they are not up against competing offers.
• In the worst-case scenario, your home may even develop a stigma where buyers believe you are hiding something. 
• You may have to reduce your price in the end and potentially earn less the longer your home stays on the market.

How Long Is Too Long?

How fast can you expect your home to sell? It primarily depends on the market. If you’re listing during a fast-paced seller’s market, you might find yourself accepting an offer in a day or two. If conditions are slow, it will take longer. The key is to stay near or within the market average.

For example, if the latest statistics show the average house stays on the market for 30 days and yours sells in 20, you’re right on the money! Still, there’s no need to panic if you sell your home on day 31. On the other hand, a course correction may be necessary if it takes much longer than the average days on market.

Troubleshooting Your Home Sale

Prevention is the best remedy for a house taking too long to sell. Occasionally, there may be factors beyond your control, such as the market changing after your listing goes live or a major economic disruption. That said, it usually comes down to a flaw in the selling or marketing strategy. 

Ensure Your Price is On Point

A house that doesn’t sell almost always comes down to the price. You can avoid this error by working with a local real estate team to perform an up-to-date CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) to help you determine a price point that generates excitement for your listing. 

If you need to maximize your sale in any market, the following tips can help:

• The Power of Staging When Selling Your Home
• Minor Upgrades, Maximum Results
• A Back to Basics Guide to Maximizing Your Sale

Extensive Advertising

If you’re sure your price is aligned with the current market, the next thing to look at is your promotion strategy. A highly desirable house with the perfect price point still might not sell quickly if not enough people know it’s available. A comprehensive marketing campaign will help bring your listing to the attention of the most qualified buyers. 

Since most people begin house hunting online, your real estate agent will ensure you’re easy to find on the MLS ® and Realtor.ca. 

Beautiful staging and professional photography capture their attention and nudge them one step closer to an in-person visit. However, a thorough advertising strategy does not rely on online alone. Instead, complement these efforts with high-quality print materials. Everywhere your buyer looks, there your home should be. This exposure is a key component of selling your home quickly and at the best price and terms possible. 

To learn more, read, Our Full-Service Real Estate Team’s Guide to Marketing Your Home.

Be Flexible

Are you flexible with your schedule so that potential buyers can visit your home during times that work for them? Many sellers do everything right but sabotage their sale simply by not being available. Fortunately, you don’t need to be present during each and every showing. Since the potential buyer likely feels more comfortable with just the agent, it’s usually better for you not to be home. 

Arranging to be anywhere else during showings may seem inconvenient, but it could be the missing ingredient to finding the right buyer eager to make an offer on your home. With a signed agreement in hand, you can begin planning your next steps with a clean slate.

Do you have questions about buying or selling a home in today’s uncertain market? Reach out for professional guidance right here or call to connect (905) 332-9223 with our experts today.

Few life changes are as daunting and monumental as selling your house. It’s the place you’ve called home for so long, and moving on can feel bittersweet. And the emotional impact is only a small part of the equation. 

As you think of the endless list of things to do to get your home ready for the market, you may want to pull down the curtains and hide under a blanket. Is there a way to make this process easier and less stressful? 

You already know that going all out and renovating your home can help you maximize your bottom-line results. But what if you can’t, don’t have time or just don’t want the hassle? Fortunately, a major overhaul isn’t always necessary for everyone. If you prefer a more stress-free selling experience, you may forgo the total transformation and instead focus on the little things.

Reconsider Your Priorities

Everyone in the industry talks about the importance of preparing and making minor repairs to your home before listing it on the market. Presentation is everything, and that’s why many homeowners spare no effort to earn the highest amount possible.  

However, each renovation and update also has a cost, both financially and in terms of time and stress. Only you can decide if that investment is worth it in your situation. These days, some sellers are prioritizing their peace of mind over their bottom line and forgoing the massive projects that used to be a given.

Deciding whether that path is right for you may come down to your finances. If you absolutely cannot afford to leave anything on the table, then certain upgrades may not be optional.

On the other hand, if you’ve built up enough equity to comfortably take your next step even if you earn a little less, selling as-is can be a much more positive experience. Even so, there are still many small steps you can take to help you get the best results even if you decide against renovations.

Are you facing any special challenges when selling your home? The resources below might help:

• Can You Successfully Sell a House With a Stigma?
• How to Sell Your Home After a Divorce
• Can You Sell a House When You Have Tenants?

Is the Market on Your Side?

Your decision to upgrade your home could also depend on the current real estate trends in your area. In a high-demand market where houses get snapped up quickly, selling as-is won’t often be a problem.

When the market is slow, you’ll need to be more strategic in your approach. Buyers have options and are taking their time before submitting their offers. In this case, you will need to try a little harder to make your home appealing. 

The good news is that a total, top-to-bottom renovation is still unlikely necessary. You will be surprised at what you can accomplish with meticulous cleaning and a coat of fresh paint! Plus, many buyers like to make their own decisions about upgrades, so you can safely take those stressful projects off your to-do list. A local real estate agent familiar with the current trends can help you get the most out of your sale for the least amount of effort.

Consider Delegating the Task

You may not have the time to upgrade your home for the market, but that doesn’t mean someone else can’t do it for you. Many real estate teams come with a long list of contacts and reputable tradespeople who can handle everything, even the decluttering. 

• If you can’t or don’t want to paint, a professional will take care of it.
• If you don’t have the expertise to design and implement a new kitchen or bathroom, a contractor could do it for you.
• If you want help to earn the most from your sale, a licensed expert is just a phone call away. 

Hiring professionals will require an upfront investment, but these will likely pay off once your sale closes. All the same, not everyone wants to live in a construction zone while all of these improvements take place, and renovations take time. 

Another consideration is the condition your house is already in. If it’s relatively new or you’ve maintained it well, it probably doesn’t much attention before hitting the market. After weighing your options, you can make an informed decision about whether it’s worth it to list your home as-is.

Minor Details for the Win

So you’ve decided against ripping out the floors and overhauling the kitchen. However, you can still attend to the many small details that will help create an impactful first impression on anyone who walks through your home. 

• Clean and declutter each room as thoroughly as possible. This eliminates all distractions and helps a buyer visualize living in your home.
• Replace family photos with impersonal artwork and other tasteful decor items.
• Arrange your furniture to maximize the amount of natural light in your home. Replacing dark curtains with translucent sheers can also help!
• Consider staging your home to create the ultimate blank canvas that inspires your buyer’s imagination.

Staging has been shown to help houses sell faster and for more, which is why we provide this service for all clients. Learn more in The Power of Staging When Selling Your Home.

Want to know more about what happens behind the scenes when selling a home? The posts below will give you some ideas:

• What Offer Should You Accept?
• Should You Use the Same Agent to Sell and Buy a House?
• Our Full-Service Real Estate Team’s Guide to Marketing Your Home

Promotion Matters More

If you choose not to upgrade your home, you can offset any potential disadvantages by implementing a targeted and extensive marketing campaign. Your real estate agent will help by identifying your most likely buyer. For example, perhaps there is an investor looking to expand their portfolio or a handyperson who would be thrilled to mould your home into their vision.

Once you know who you are targeting, your agent will advertise online and offline through printed materials and professional photography to capture the interest of as many potential buyers as possible.

Renovations or no renovations, an effective strategy can still help you enjoy a seamless and successful sale to allow the next chapter of your life to unfold.

Do you want more guidance on whether to upgrade your home or sell as-is? Reach out today or call (905) 332-9223 and we are happy to answer your questions.

Watching your neighbours proudly putting up a “Sold” sign while your house sits on the market can be frustrating. You’re ready for a change in your life, and your plans hinge upon a successful sale. But while all the houses in your neighbourhood sell all around you, potential buyers keep passing you by. 

Is the universe unfair, or could something else be at play? In this post, we’ll examine a few of the minor details that can make all the difference in the world when selling your home.

What Impacts Housing Sales?

Many homeowners are shocked at how quickly the market can change and by how much. If you haven’t bought or sold a house for a long time, you may not pay that much attention to real estate. If you’ve moved recently, you know how exactly far and how fast the pendulum can swing.

The market was on fire from 2020 to early 2022. Buyers lined up for every listing, and houses often sold for over-asking within days after receiving multiple offers.

The Bank of Canada began raising interest rates in mid-2022. Housing sales stalled, and it didn’t take long before we went from a fiercely competitive seller’s market to balanced conditions before shifting all the way to a buyer’s market.

Ever since then, conditions have gone back and forth between favouring sellers to buyers and back again. Potential buyers would finally adjust to higher borrowing costs. Houses would begin to sell. Then the Bank of Canada would announce another rate hike that pushed buyers to the sidelines. 

Knowing all of these factors that happen behind the scenes is critical when formulating a strategy for selling your house. Most importantly, you’ll want to be able to pivot on a dime when things change, as they can quickly. 

Some selling scenarios are more challenging than others. The resources below can help:

• Can You Successfully Sell a House With a Stigma?
• How to Sell Your Home After a Divorce
• Can You Sell a House When You Have Tenants?

When Was Your Last Home Evaluation?

The good news for homeowners is that many real estate teams offer free home evaluations to estimate the value of a house before putting it on the market. The bad news is that these estimates are valid only for a short period of time. 

With the market moving so quickly, a house sold two months before your listing may have taken place in different conditions altogether. For example, let’s take another look at when the madness began back in 2022. 

The housing market was at its peak in late February. Low interest rates fueled buyer competition and prices soared. Barely two months later, that hectic seller’s market had balanced out. If you tried to list your home in May using a home evaluation you got in February, your house would have been overpriced for the market. This scenario happens time and time again, and it only highlights the importance of up-to-date, accurate information. 

Do you need an up-to-date home evaluation? Book yours today for free right here.

Are You Priced to Sell?

In real estate, we have a saying: “If it’s not the price, it’s the price.” Though this may be an exaggeration, pricing errors are the most common culprit when a house doesn’t sell. 

It can feel painful to miss a market peak where you must price well below what your house was worth only a few months ago. However, no buyer or seller can work with the way they wish the market was. We can only work with it the way it is. A solid strategy based on realistic expectations is a critical component of earning the highest amount that the market allows.

If your home has been listed for a while but is not generating enough interest, it may be time for a reassessment. Ideally, you want to ensure you have an optimal listing price right out of the gate before your listing goes live on the MLS®. A local real estate team can help you determine the value in the current market by assessing your home’s size, location and recent updates and comparing it with similar listings that have recently sold.

What Are the Trends in Your Neighbourhood?

Not that the real estate market has ever been predictable, but the last few years have been particularly chaotic for both buyers and sellers. The market can and does turn, but these shifts have been more noticeable and happening faster than we’ve seen for a long time.

With high inflation and the rising price of everything, many plans for a new home got put on an indefinite hold. And yet, the need for housing has never been stronger. We see evidence of that pent-up demand with consistent bursts of sales activity, especially in highly desirable areas.

Understanding what is happening is critical to your selling strategy. It’s not just the market as a whole you need to be aware of but the up-to-the minute trends right in your own neighbourhood. You will also want to look past the surface to see what is really attracting interest from potential buyers. 

For example, a home in your neighbourhood might be listed at $1.5 million. But what it actually sells for is a far more valuable metric when creating your strategy.

Knowing how to prepare and price your home for the market will help you stand out from competing sellers. The posts below will give you some ideas:

• What’s Your House Really Worth?
• A Back to Basics Guide to Maximizing Your Sale
• Worth It or Not? What Renovations Really Help When Selling Your Home

Is Your Realtor® Up to the Challenge?

The fast-paced changes and complexity of the market mean that the advice and guidance of an experienced real estate agent is more important than ever. No longer can you rely on a relative or a friend of a friend who just got their license. 

Instead, you’ll want to work with an expert who has thrived in challenging conditions before. With so many real estate agents out there, finding the right one to represent you will require a little research. Here are a few considerations before signing a listing agreement.

• How long has the real estate agent been in business?
• Are they up to date with the current market?
• How many listings do they have, and how many have they successfully sold in the last 12 months?
• Do they have a website that ranks highly?
• What is their plan to market your listing?
• Do they have many reviews from previous clients, and are they mostly positive?
• How quickly do they respond to your emails and phone messages?

Keep in mind that the best real estate team is the one with a high level of expertise combined with a fierce dedication to exemplary service. One without the other will not do! Calling the office with your questions is an excellent way to see how responsive they will be to your needs.

Is Your Home Show Ready?

In a market where sales are on the slower side, you must do all you can to ensure your listing stands out. Think of it this way. You are not selling a house; you’re selling a home. 

The idea is to make a potential buyer fall in love at first sight. When they see themselves laughing at the kitchen table with family over breakfast and entertaining their friends in the elegant-yet-cozy living room, the transaction is halfway there.

Your job is to prepare your home in a way that enables buyers to see this potential. You don’t typically have to go all out and renovate every room from top to bottom. Like many things in life, the simple details are what matters.

• Start by cleaning and decluttering your home so it is free of distractions. It sounds simple, but so many homeowners skip even this step!
• Patch up any nail holes and invest in some white or neutral-coloured paint. It’s a minor investment that makes your home appear brighter, well-maintained and more spacious.
• Capture the attention of potential buyers with stunning curb appeal. A meticulously well-kept yard and tasteful decor can help you create that all-important first impression.
• Consider professional staging, which has been proven to help sell homes faster and for more money. This might be the added edge you need in a challenging market!

Did you know that Woolcott Real Estate offers complimentary staging services for all clients? Learn more in The Power of Staging When Selling Your Home.

Are You Getting in Your Own Way?

A successful sale isn’t the result of one key strategy. Instead, it’s what happens when all of the pieces come together: a compelling price point, beautiful staging, extensive promotion and expert negotiating. When the market begins to slow down, you must ensure that everything that can be done to find a buyer gets done. Here are a few do’s and don’ts that make it easier for buyers to find your listing and fall in love with your home.

• Don’t rely on smartphone photos to promote your listing. Since most potential buyers begin their search online, professional quality photos and videos are essential.
• Don’t be in the house when a potential buyer walks through. They may feel uncomfortable and avoid asking as many questions as they would if it was just them and the real estate agent.
• Do make your home available for showings as much as possible. Life gets busy, but it is imperative that potential buyers can see your home in-person.
• Do be flexible and willing to negotiate when realistic offers come in. Knowing what you’re willing to compromise on and where you won’t budge will help you when interacting with serious buyers.

Professional guidance and a comprehensive strategy can help you sell your home even in a tough market. Here are a few resources to light the way:

• Our Full-Service Real Estate Team’s Guide to Marketing Your Home
• FSBO vs Real Estate Agent Assisted Sales: What’s Better?
• Fact Vs Fiction About Working With A Real Estate Agent

Where Are the Buyers?

Once your strategy is in place and your home is ready to welcome prospective buyers, it is time to bring your listing to the world’s attention. An extensive marketing campaign to reach the most qualified and interested buyers is essential, particularly in a softening market.

Posting your listing on the MLS® and Realtor.com is only part of a thorough strategy. Your Realtor® will put together a comprehensive campaign that includes online and offline materials to reach potential buyers wherever they are searching. 

If your real estate team is established, they will also have a vast network of other agents and brokerages where a buyer may be found, ready and waiting. Selling a house successfully never happens by accident. It’s the result of careful planning, a little patience and a lot of expertise. With the right guidance and support, you can plan your next steps with confidence and excitement.

Whether you’re ready to list your home or just have questions about the process, our experts are happy to help you. Reach out today or call (905) 332-9223 for more information.

Streaming services are filled with television shows and movies about haunted houses and other supernatural occurrences. After all, who doesn’t love a good ghost story? We know of at least one group of people who could do without the tall tales. Anyone selling a house would prefer to keep the dramatic retellings to a minimum. 

However, rumours have a tendency to spread like wildfire. If your house has a history, chances are good your potential buyers have heard about it. Even if they haven’t stumbled across the stories online or through social media, you can still be assured of one thing: Their buying agents are certainly aware of the situation. 

Is there anything you can do to sell a house with a stigma while still enjoying the maximum results? As experienced real estate agents who have dealt with every situation imaginable, we have a few tips that will help.

Put Your Personal Beliefs Aside

Whether you believe in the supernatural or not is beside the point. If there’s a rumour afoot, what matters is that you can bet that some potential buyers believe it, at least to a certain degree. Some may be uncertain but still feel spooked. Others may believe with all of their heart and soul. Even a skeptical potential buyer may scoff at the idea of a house being haunted while being mindful about its resale value and other practical concerns. 

Crafting a successful selling plan means putting your personal thoughts aside and focusing on making your home appealing to those who are searching. In many cases, this means addressing the issue directly.

Selling in challenging situations is one of our specialties. Here are some other scenarios homeowners can face:

• How to Sell Your Home After a Divorce
• Can You Sell a House When You Have Tenants?
• Why Sellers Hesitate to List Their Homes for Sale

Define Stigma

What is a stigma, anyway? The dictionary defines it as “a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach on one’s reputation.” In real estate, it often means there’s something that can cause a buyer to hesitate even though there is no structural flaw with the house. 

Ghost stories and poltergeists may spring to mind. However, there are other types of stigmas that can affect your ability to sell a home. For example:

• Your property was once the site of a heinous crime.
• Someone has passed away in the house.
• A notorious criminal or other unsavoury character once owned the property.

Even something that seems innocuous to one person might be a source of fear or unease for someone else. Something as simple as the wrong numerals on the address doesn’t seem problematic for most people. Still, it could be a red flag depending on the buyer’s background.

Don’t Try to Hide It

In the olden days before the Internet, a seller might have gotten away with hoping an interested buyer wouldn’t hear a story that sent them screaming for the hills. Now that everything is online for everyone to see, there is no such hope. While you don’t have to shout from the rooftops that your house has a ghost, you do need a plan for when questions inevitably come up.

By law, you don’t have to disclose stigmas in the same way you must make buyers aware of latent defects. The challenges arise when someone asks. You don’t have to answer the question, nor is your real estate agent permitted to answer without your permission. However, it is illegal to lie to a potential buyer.  

Deciding what to reveal can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you don’t want to give the buyer a reason to hesitate by providing more information than they need. On the other hand, refusing to answer could allow their imagination to run wild.  

Targeted Marketing Is More Important Than Ever

Generating maximum exposure is typically one of the keys to selling a house successfully. In the case of a stigma, it’s often more about finding the right person than launching a mass advertising campaign. If someone is easily spooked and finds the home’s history terrifying, they are not likely the best person to pursue. Instead, ask yourself, “Who would buy a house with a stigma?” The answer may be more simple than you realize.

• Those who don’t know or care about the stigma. They’re more interested in features like the condition and location of your home.
• Those who are aware of the stigma and are actually intrigued by it. Believe it or not, there are a few people who actively search for “haunted houses.” 

By understanding the market and the mindset of your most likely buyer, you are well on your way to a successful sale–stigma or no stigma!

Marketing and presentation will help you make the most of your sale. Learn more in the posts below:

• Our Full-Service Real Estate Team’s Guide to Marketing Your Home
• What Everyone Needs to Know About Selling Their First Home
• Fact Vs Fiction About Working With A Real Estate Agent

Work With an Experienced Real Estate Team

Selling a house can be a challenging endeavour at the best of times. It involves in-depth preparation, marketing research, analysis and an eye for design. Add a stigma to the mix, and finding a buyer can be even more difficult without sacrificing on the value of your home.

Working with a real estate team who is ready for anything is one of the best things you can do to maximize your results under any circumstances. A simple issue like a stigma is no match for an experienced professional with a vast network of potential buyers searching for a home like yours. 

Do you have any questions or concerns about selling a house in the current market? We are here to guide you through it no matter how challenging your situation. Reach out today or call (905) 332-9223 for more information. 

The Burlington real estate landscape is varied and diverse, consisting of some truly exceptional homes! From the quietly luxurious residences sprinkled throughout the Aldershot, Brant Hills or Elizabeth Gardens neighbourhoods to the opulent enclaves of Roseland or Shoreacres, discerning buyers have a world of options. 

Is the process of selling one of these upscale homes in Burlington really different than any other property? Though many of the steps are the same, going above and beyond can help your listing stand out, especially in the eyes of an affluent buyer. In this post, we’ll talk about the small details that can have a big impact on the value of your sale.

Inside the Mindset of an Affluent Buyer

Perhaps the biggest difference in selling a luxury home is in the mind of your buyer. Unlike first-time buyers, someone looking for an upscale property isn’t just looking to break into the market in any way they can. 

They are also not likely buying for their needs, but for their wants. 

This small distinction makes all the difference in the world. A high-end homebuyer is usually experienced, discerning and in no hurry whatsoever. They are more than happy to take their time until they find exactly what they are looking for, and rarely will they ever settle for anything less. Knowing your potential buyer’s state of mind will help you prepare, position and market your listing for the maximum chance of success.

Knowledge is essential, especially when selling a luxury property. The posts below will help you become an educated seller:

• What’s Your House Really Worth?
• A Back to Basics Guide to Maximizing Your Sale
• Worth It or Not? What Renovations Really Help When Selling Your Home

Luxury Real Estate Is Different

The standard real estate market can fluctuate and change almost on a daily basis. It’s more affected by supply and demand, changing interest rates and the state of the economy. The luxury market, on the other hand, is far more insulated from these outside factors. 

Typically, there are fewer homes for sale and fewer people looking to buy them. And since those buying them tend not to be in a hurry, the average transaction can take longer from start to finish. Patience is one of the most critical elements for the successful sale of a luxury home!

Begin With a Detailed Home Evaluation

Before listing your home on the market, you want to have an accurate idea of what it is worth. Its value will depend on several factors, including square footage, location, condition and comparable properties in the area. 

The right price is essential in any real estate transaction, but especially when selling a high-value property. This is one piece of the puzzle you do not want to leave to chance. A local real estate team with experience in the high-end market can perform a detailed CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) to ensure you hit the market at a price that will reflect the value of your home and generate maximum interest from qualified buyers. 

Meticulous Attention to Detail Pays Off

We’ve already established that high-end buyers often take their time. They also tend to be much more educated and savvy about the market than those searching for their first home. As a result, you will need to be meticulous when preparing your listing for the market. 

A quick tidy-up and a simple coat of fresh paint may not suffice for the scrutinizing buyer. To earn top dollar, you’ll need to ensure every aspect of your home makes an outstanding impression.

• It begins with curb appeal to catch your buyer’s eye before they even see inside your home. Beautiful landscaping, colourful gardens and high-end outdoor furniture and fixtures set the stage perfectly.
• Don’t just clean your house; scour it top to bottom to ensure every piece of clutter is out of sight and every room sparkles.
• Upgrade lighting fixtures and hardware to provide a polished effect throughout your home.
• Staging with high-end furnishings and accessories can captivate a buyer’s imagination and increase their desire to place an offer on your home.
• Invest in professional photography, videography and floorplans. Many buyers will find your listing online first. High-quality marketing materials will help to entice them to visit your home in person.

Targeted Marketing Is Even More Critical

Many people might love the idea of living in a sprawling home on an expansive rolling lot in the heart of the wealthiest neighbourhood. However, only a small number of individuals have the ability to make it happen. Unlike a standard listing, you do not want your marketing to reach anyone and everyone. Instead, you want your campaign to be highly targeted and strategic. Here is an overview of what your marketing plan might look like:

• Beautiful print marketing and feature sheets since many luxury buyers are in an older demographic. They like information pieces they can see and touch in addition to online information.
• Email and physical mail to qualified buyers with demonstrated interest and the means to buy an expensive property. Many will have purchased luxury real estate before.
• Newspaper and magazine advertisements with a significant readership of high-worth individuals.
• Networking through other real estate agents and brokerages to match luxury properties with interested buyers.

As you can see, the process of marketing an upscale home is much more involved than a regular listing. It’s not about reaching the most people. Often, it’s about reaching the most qualified. 

Do you want more insights on successfully selling a home in today’s challenging market? The resources below will help:

• Our Full-Service Real Estate Team’s Guide to Marketing Your Home
• The Power of Staging When Selling Your Home
• Minor Upgrades, Maximum Results

Selling Your Home, Respecting Your Privacy

Everyone loves looking at beautiful fancy houses, as evidenced by the popularity of magazines like Home and Garden and Elle Decor. Then there are the cars that slow down so the drivers can gaze at the jaw-dropping estates along Lakeshore Road. 

That’s why it’s critical to work with a real estate team that knows how to present, price and market high-end listings who will also respect your privacy. Otherwise, you may have people wandering through your home out of curiosity but with no intention or ability to buy.  Surrounding yourself with professionals is the best way to sell your luxury listing for top dollar while maintaining discretion and peace of mind throughout the process.

Do you have questions about selling an upscale home in Burlington? We are here to help you plan and strategize. Contact us today or call (905) 332-9223 for more information. 

Few things have more impact on your life than going through a divorce. For many people, this is one of the most traumatizing events you can ever experience. When it’s amicable, it’s difficult enough. 

When there’s bad blood, it can be a nightmare. In the midst of the mediations and the heartbreaks, there is one big obstacle looming in the back of everyone’s mind. What do you do with the family home? 

Often, the simplest solution is to sell it and split the proceeds so that everyone can go their separate ways. Unfortunately, selling a house isn’t always easy at the best of times, and selling during the middle of a divorce can be even more challenging. What can you do? In this post, we’ll go over a few guidelines that will help streamline the process so you can move forward with the least amount of stress possible.

Legal and Practical Challenges

When a marriage disintegrates, the battle over the marital home can be stressful for both parties. It is highly recommended to work with an experienced attorney who can navigate the legalities while representing your best interests. This is true during an amicable split, and goes double for when things are less than cooperative. 

The problem with selling a family home is that both names are typically on the title. You can’t list it without the other spouse’s permission. The final decision only comes after many smaller agreements fall into place. For example, you must decide on a timeline, a price and what renovations you will do before putting your listing on the market. 

Reaching a resolution quickly is the best-case scenario. Otherwise, the courts may be involved, which can be an expensive and time-consuming process for both of you. 

Expert guidance has never been more essential when selling during a challenging market. The posts below will help you decide:

• Fact Vs Fiction About Working With A Real Estate Agent
• FSBO vs Real Estate Agent Assisted Sales: What’s Better?
• What’s in Your Listing Agreement?

Understanding Your Options

What happens if one spouse wants to leave the home and the other wants to stay? In this case, it will depend on your financial situation. If finances allow, you can sell your share of the property to your spouse or vice versa. 

If neither party can come to an agreement or has the ability to buy out the other spouse, the best course of action is likely to sell the home. The sooner the transaction closes, the sooner each of you can move on with your lives. This makes a seamless and successful sale a worthy goal to focus on.

Choose Your Expert Wisely

A divorce adds many complications, and you will want the help of a Realtor® to make your transaction as stress-free as possible. However, this raises another question. Do you both use the same real estate agent or should you each have your own? Generally, using one agent is more straightforward. If you can’t agree on who to work with, you have more decisions ahead.

Working with two different professionals from the same brokerage is the next best thing to having the same agent. It also helps to provide a united front to potential buyers who can view and consider your home without being distracted by any conflict or negativity.

You could retain separate brokerages where you’ll each have a designated agent working on your behalf. This arrangement is called a co-listing or co-brokerage agreement. If there is a lot of discord between you and your former spouse, this can be a way to sell your home while minimizing your contact with each other.

Preparing Your Home During a Divorce

During a standard transaction, we focus extensively on preparing the home for sale through deep cleaning, decluttering and making minor updates. Anything that makes the property more appealing to potential buyers can increase your final selling price. 

However, divorce changes everything. We are often working within a very short time constraint and need to sell quickly. There simply may not be enough time to perform as many upgrades as we would normally like. When the divorce is contentious, preparing the home can be even more challenging. 

Do you need more help to prepare and price your home effectively? The resources below will give you some ideas:

• What’s Your House Really Worth?
• A Back to Basics Guide to Maximizing Your Sale
• Our Full-Service Real Estate Team’s Guide to Marketing Your Home

Making the Most Out of Your Situation

In the event that you can not renovate and prepare your home, you will rely even more on a skilled real estate agent. The good news is that as important as presentation is, there are other tools to help you sell your home faster and at the highest amount under the circumstances:

• Setting an effective price point will allow you to capture maximum buyer interest, greatly increasing your chances of earning top dollar from your sale. Overpricing even a little can cause potential buyers to pass you by. Underpricing can mean you will earn less than you deserve. Your agent will help you determine the precise price range that will help maximize the value of your home.
• Promoting your listing to the highest number of qualified buyers is essential. When multiple parties are interested, you are more likely to receive better offers. Your real estate agent should have a built-in marketing system that exposes your home to a wide audience, both online and offline.
• Networking can often turn up a buyer quickly. An established Realtor® usually has a vast number of contacts, including other real estate professionals with their own lists of interested buyers. 

Full renovations may be out of the picture, but you can still make your home show well by keeping it tidy and maintained and by cleaning up around the exterior. If you work with a full-service team like Woolcott Real Estate, effective staging is one more tool that can help you maximize your results. With the sale of your home behind you, both of you can take the next step toward healing and move on to the next chapter of your lives. 

Do you have questions about selling your home in a challenging situation? Our compassionate experts are here to help. Reach out today or call (905) 332-9223 to begin the conversation.