Selecting and working with a Realtor

 

Buying or selling a home in today’s market requires a lot of work and a lot of knowledge about sales and real estate. It’s one of the largest purchases or biggest business transactions many of us will ever make. It doesn’t pay to depend on blind luck.

Whether you are a buyer or a seller, there are distinct advantages to using a Realtor.  A Realtor, is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of a local real estate board, as well as the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).

This individual has the experience and qualifications needed to successfully conduct a purchase or sale. In Ontario, you can expect strict adherence to provincial law and a  code of ethics. This ensures you receive the highest level of service, honesty and integrity.

If you are a buyer

In today’s busy, complex world, purchasing a home can be a lot more time-consuming and complicated than other business transactions. First-time buyers, especially, quickly discover that there’s a lot more to buying real estate, than deciding what vacation to take or what car or suit to buy.

Using a Realtor from the start can provide you with the sound , effective advice and professional services you need to get the best deal possible.  Once a Realtor has a clear understanding of what you want and what you can afford, their knowledge can save you a lot of time looking at homes that aren’t right for you.

A Realtor can pre-screen properties so that you should only have to visit a handful of homes to make an informed and wise selection.

Much of the early search with a Realtor can be done through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and preliminary discussions. As you visit and react to each home you see, the realtor will have an increasingly better idea of what you want and don’t want.

A Realtor will also be able to advise you on the various options available for financing a home and tell you when to bring in other experts such as a lender, home inspector, lawyer and insurance agent.