Real estate in Hamilton, Ontario has grown in demand over the last few years. This perhaps comes as no surprise when you consider the prices of homes in the GTHA. Over $1 million on average for a house? Not a mansion, not a gorgeous estate by the waterfront and not a celebrity home with an indoor pool and hot tub — just a regular house in a regular neighbourhood.

So where does one go if they want a bustling lifestyle with fabulous restaurants and a thriving arts and entertainment scene? Many potential home buyers are turning to Hamilton, for all of these reasons and more.

Renewed interest in “The Hammer” is excellent news for anyone who already owns a home here. Listing now can allow you to cash in on your equity and explore new possibilities for the future. In this post, we’ll highlight a few up-to-date guidelines when it comes to selling Hamilton real estate.

An accurate, unbiased assessment is the foundation of your effective home-selling strategy. Start by booking your complimentary home evaluation with our experts.

Get Reacquainted With the Market

One of your first steps is to research Hamilton real estate trends so you have a clear picture of what is happening in our area right now. A successful plan depends on information, and lots of it! Fortunately, you can find plenty of facts and statistics over at the Hamilton Real Estate Board.

What are you looking for? An idea of what types of houses are selling, at what price and how long they are staying on the market will help to inform your strategy. Plus, they’ll allow you to form realistic expectations about the sale of your home.

• If your house is on the market for 45 days but everything similar is selling in less than 30, then you might have some rethinking to do.
• If it takes 45 days to sell your home, whereas others are on the market for 60, you know that you have actually achieved an outstanding result.

Your Home Sale on Your Terms

When to sell a house is often the first question clients ask. Is it smart to list now, regardless of what the market is doing?
Or should you do what many people do and hold off until housing prices hit their peak? Without a solid foundation of how real estate works in the big picture, many people default to the second option. However, this approach comes with a few pitfalls.

• How do you know when the market will hit that elusive peak? Even the most well-informed expert does not have a crystal ball.
• What if waiting for the market doesn’t align with your current goals? If your move is due to a job offer or other opportunity, you can’t just put your plans on hold.
• If the stars align and your timing happens to be perfect, what now? Do you re-enter as a buyer and pay peak prices, or wait for prices to drop — if they drop?

As you can see, the timing causes a bit of a dilemma for many home sellers. However, when you understand the finer nuances and ebbs and flows of the market, any time could potentially be a good time to buy or sell a house.

Searching for houses for sale in Hamilton? Start here by browsing a few of our featured listings.

Personalize Your Plan

At Woolcott Real Estate, we have always advised anyone selling Hamilton real estate (or any real estate, for that matter) to do so when it works for them. The reason for studying the market isn’t to determine when or if you should list your home. It’s to help you decide how to sell your home.

Accurate information gives you a better idea of where to market your property and how to set a price that triggers maximum excitement and interest from potential buyers. Now that you understand the importance of market research, where do you begin? A local Hamilton real estate agent should be your first stop.

Speaking of agents, how do you know who to choose? The posts below will give you some insight:

• Should You Use the Same Agent to Sell and Buy a House?
• Fact Vs Fiction About Working With A Real Estate Agent
• FSBO vs Real Estate Agent Assisted Sales: What’s Better?

Why Choose a Hamilton Realtor®

Many of the rules for selling a house in Hamilton never change. In real estate, you’ll often encounter the term “The 3 Ps”: Pricing. Presentation. Promotion.

A beautifully prepared home at the right price that is expertly promoted to the highest number of qualified buyers is the tried-and-true formula. Next, you can begin diving into the specifics:

• What upgrades will give you the best return for your investment of time and money?
• Is there anything you can safely skip without hurting your results?
• You understand that a strategic price is critical. But how much is too much before buyers disengage? And how much is too little where you won’t capitalize on the full value of your home?

These questions all need an answer if you truly want to maximize your results. And who better to answer them than a local Hamilton real estate agent who knows the market inside and out?

Update Your Strategies

The underlying principles of selling a home may not change, but dozens of details about your individual strategy will. For example, we often work with sellers who have had a Realtor® come to their house to provide a property evaluation.
The question of the day is: how old is that data? The Hamilton real estate market can fluctuate quickly.

A 30-day-old evaluation may no longer be accurate. Basing your strategy on outdated numbers is one of the most common mistakes we see.

Old negotiation tactics are another issue, especially when someone has not sold a house for several years or more. Pricing a house too high is a common theme because many people believe it opens the door to negotiation. More often than not, it only serves to alienate the buyer. A compelling and fair price point is paramount. We cannot stress that enough.

Prepare Your Hamilton Home for Success

Beautiful presentation is another critical component of selling. Hamilton home buyers often have discerning tastes. They don’t require a house that is over-renovated or landscaped to perfection.

However, they do want to see “good bones.” This means the house is structurally sound and all major repairs are complete. A leaky roof or basement could be the deal breaker.

Above all, a Hamilton house hunter wants a space that is clean and organized. Helping buyers envision life in your home is what the power of staging is all about.

Promote to the Right Buyers

Strategic pricing and preparation are two pieces of the puzzle when it comes to selling Hamilton real estate in a changing market. The final piece is marketing. The goal is to create extensive exposure for your listing.

Once again, research and up-to-date information are essential. In the past, we could get away with casting a broad net to reach as many people as possible. Now, more than ever, it’s more important to be targeted. For a successful and streamlined sale, you need to focus on the most likely buyers, those who can and will make an offer at the highest price this market allows.

In addition, a network of other real estate agents and brokerages helps, which is yet another reason to partner with a well-established Realtor®. If you keep a pulse on the market, focus on the big picture and follow a proven plan, it won’t be long until the “Sold” sign” goes up!

Do you have questions about selling your home in today’s market? Our top agents in Hamilton & Burlington can help you get the results you need. Reach out today with any questions you have, or call 905-332-9223 to connect with our office.