Real estate has long been a good investment, especially in major metropolitan areas like Greater Toronto. As Canada’s economic and cultural epicentre, the demand for rental properties in the GTA continues to climb year after year. For investors, this means a whole world of opportunity.

If you’re buying an income-generating property, you have a number of options to choose from. However, it’s important to consider which type of investment will suit you best before you venture into the market.

In this blog, we’ll compare the advantages and disadvantages of condos versus houses as an investment.

Not sure if you’re ready to invest in real estate? Discover the advantages of buying an income property in Canada.

Should I Buy a Condo or a House?

Just like buying a property that you would call home, finding the right place to invest starts by considering your personal circumstances and goals.

For example, have you owned an investment property before? What is your experience with property management? Do you have other mortgages that you’re currently paying off? How hands on do you want to be with your property? These are all helpful questions to mull over before you start shopping for properties.

Here’s a pro tip: If you’re looking for personalized advice on which types of properties may best match your portfolio, get in touch with a real estate agent – ideally one who specializes in assisting investors. More on this later.

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Want more advice on investing in real estate? Check out these other helpful posts from our blog. 

• 5 Common Myths About Real Estate Investment
• An Investor’s Guide to Pre-Construction Condos
• Why Vaughan is Better Than Toronto For Real Estate Investing

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Are Condos a Good Investment?

Let’s start with condos, which offer a lot of perks for investors. Condos are generally a smart investment opportunity for a few reasons.

Upfront Affordability

First, condos are typically more affordable than houses. This means a smaller down payment and lower monthly mortgage costs.

Low Hassle Management

Condos are also fairly easy to manage as a landlord. Since they are smaller in size, you typically only have one to three tenants living in a single condo unit. This makes tenant sourcing, vetting, and communication easier.

Forget About Maintenance 

On top of that, condos require very little in the way of maintenance, especially compared to houses. You won’t need to worry about cleaning common areas, shovelling walkways and driveways, taking out garbage bins, landscaping, and other similar tasks. While you may need to assist with in-unit maintenance or repairs from time to time, these responsibilities will be few and far between.

Is Buying a House a Good Investment?

Just like condos, detached houses can make a great investment property. However, these upsides come with special considerations.

Upsize Your Income

Operating a rental property in a house typically comes with a much larger income potential compared to condos. This boils down to simple economics. Houses are larger, meaning they can fit more tenants and, in turn, bring in more income. Plus, certain house-unique features like yard space, garages, or patios can make the property more desirable in the eyes of renters.

Take Control of Your Investment

Owning a house also means you’re able to modify the property however you want (as long as you do so legally). For example, you could convert a traditional house into an efficient multi-unit property to attract and host even more tenants.

Long Term Gains

Another very compelling advantage of investing in a house is the resale potential. While your short term focus is to find tenants and earn income, it’s important to consider the long term implications of your investment as well.

In terms of market value, houses tend to appreciate very well – especially compared to the average condo appreciation rate. This means that in addition to earning passive income, you’ll also be building a strong reserve of equity as the years go by. On top of this, houses are typically “easier” to sell than condos, which can make a major difference depending on market conditions at the time of your sale.

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Buying a house soon? Check out these related posts next! 

• How To Buy A Home
• Do You Need to Include Conditions in Your Buying Offer?
• What Are the Costs of Buying a Home in Greater Toronto?

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Condo Fees vs House Expenses

Are condos cheaper than houses when it comes to upfront costs? On average, yes. But it’s important to think about recurring expenses too. When you buy a condo, you won’t just be paying off your mortgage every month. You’ll also be on the hook for condo fees, which are typically several hundred dollars a month.

Although the income generated from renting out your condo will help offset these costs, it’s essential to consider the impact they will have on your bottom line.

Find the Right Investment Property For You

No matter what you’re looking to accomplish as an investor, you won’t want to navigate the market alone. That’s where we come in, the Lino Arci Team. As Vaughan’s top real estate team (and investors ourselves), we’re well-versed in the nuances of investment properties and can help you identify the right opportunities for you.

Ready to begin your investment journey? We can help you build wealth through real estate. Call our team at 416-571-2724 or email info@arciteam.com to get started.

One of the hardest things about selling your home is deciding what you should (or need to) get rid of. Not only can it be a time-consuming process, but it can also be emotional – especially if you’re a sentimental person.

That being said, properly purging your house is an essential part of selling. Maintaining a clean, clutter-free home plays a big role in attracting buyers and ultimately, getting the best return possible.

Not sure how to declutter your home or where to start? You’ve come to the right place. As real estate agents who often work closely with older homeowners transitioning to a new chapter, we’re uniquely familiar with the emotions and logistics that come with selling your house as a downsizer.

In this blog, we’re sharing our best tips on how to purge your home before selling it. Let’s get started.

Moving on to a new chapter? Read our Ultimate Guide to Downsizing Your Home.

Think Big Picture

Purging is an important part of selling your home, but it’s not the only part. Before you start thinking about decluttering, it’s a good idea to step back and look at the big picture.

At the end of the day, purging your home is about more than just making the space more comfortable. It’s a major aspect of preparing your house for the market and maximizing its appeal. So, as you approach decluttering, you should also consider the other key details in your upcoming home, such as choosing the right Realtor.

Hiring an agent before you start purging has its perks. Not only can they help you decide which items will and won’t add value to your home, but the right professional can (literally) take care of the heavy lifting when it comes to physically removing certain things.

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Searching for more advice on downsizing your home? Read these blogs next!

• Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent as a Senior
• Downsizing After Retirement: Why it Works
• Can Downsizing Really Make My Life Easier?

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Start Early (If You Can)

Another one of our best decluttering tips is to start early. No matter how soon (or not-so-soon) you’re hoping to have your house on the market, it’s best to give yourself as much time as possible.

You can’t purge the family home in a single day – at least not properly. Instead, you’ll want to take your time and make sure you’re making informed decisions about what you keep and what you get rid of.

Of course, not everyone has the benefit of an extended timeline. If you need to have your house on the market in just a few weeks or months, that’s okay. With the right planning and professional support, it’s possible to declutter in a hurry and still accomplish a great sale.

Follow a Plan

Organization is a key part of purging your home. Without the right plan, you could find yourself feeling lost or overwhelmed throughout the process. The more organized you are, the easier your decluttering journey will be.

For instance, rather than trying to tackle your entire home at once, start your purge room-by-room. If you plan to list your home soon, focus on the main areas first, such as the kitchen, master bedroom, and living room. Don’t forget – you’ll also need to declutter the exterior aspects of your home, including the front and back yard, garage, and garden shed. Buyers will be closely analyzing these areas too.

As you go through each room, place every item (yes, every item) into one of three categories: to keep, to throw away, or to donate. Consider adding labels to particularly large or heavy pieces of furniture and hiring professional junk removers to pick them up instead of hauling them to the curb yourself.

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Searching for more catch-all selling advice? Read these other blog posts!

• How Much Can I Sell My House For?
• Do You Need to Stage Before You Sell?
• How to Negotiate House Price

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Think Clinically

Believe it or not, one of the hardest things about purging your home isn’t the logistics; it’s the emotions. Even if you’re not the most sentimental person, saying goodbye to certain belongings can feel difficult – especially when they’ve been a staple of your home for many years.

That being said, it’s important to think clinically (as best as you can) while decluttering your home. Remember that a proper purge is paramount to selling your home for top dollar. So if you’re serious about getting a great result from your sale, you’ll want to act logically and objectively when deciding which things you want to keep.

Partner With Local Experts

Purging your home before selling it? We’re here to help! As real estate agents who specialize in supporting downsizers, we understand the unique challenges (and rewards) that come with entering the next phase of your life. We take a hands-on approach to make your downsizing journey as smooth, successful, and risk-free as possible.

Ready to downsize? Our team is proud to offer industry-leading support for our clients. Call 416-571-2724 to get in touch or email us at info@arciteam.com.

As a homeowner, there will come a time when it makes sense to transition from your spacious family home to something smaller and more manageable. Whether you’re a new empty nester, approaching retirement, or are simply ready for a change, downsizing can help you make the most of where you’re at in life. 

However, downsizing is also a very complex process, involving a variety of emotions and logistics. 

As real estate agents who specialize in helping downsizers, we’ve got plenty of advice to make the process easier and more successful. That’s why we’ve put together this ultimate guide to downsizing your home! Keep reading for more insights. 

Jump to Section

• Why Downsize Your Home?
• The First Step of Downsizing
• Helping Your Parents Downsize 
• Selling Your Current Home
• Buying Your Next Home
• A Full Service Downsizing Experience 

Why Downsize Your Home?

A New Chapter

Downsizing is so much more than moving to a smaller home. It’s a total lifestyle transformation with the potential to make your life better at every possible angle. As you start a new chapter, you get the chance to reassess your priorities, needs, and wants, and consider how your next home can suit them.

Less Work, Fewer Responsibilities

You know that owning a house is a major responsibility. From keeping the place tidy to yard work, shovelling snow, and other maintenance duties, it’s safe to say being a homeowner is hard work. Downsizing helps you cut back on these responsibilities. 

A smaller home ultimately means less time spent cleaning up and taking care of the property – giving you more time to enjoy whatever matters most to you. Plus, as a downsizer, you also have the option to live in a maintenance-free community like a condo or townhome, where most duties are taken care of. 

Unlock Financial Freedoms

Downsizing also comes with financial benefits, including generally lower monthly housing expenses. This is primarily because smaller residences usually have a lower purchase price, resulting in reduced mortgage payments. Additionally, smaller homes typically incur lower costs for utilities, insurance, and maintenance.

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Searching for more advice on downsizing your home? Read these blogs next!

• Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent as a Senior
• Downsizing After Retirement: Why it Works
• Can Downsizing Really Make My Life Easier?

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The First Step of Downsizing

At its core, downsizing is about moving to a home that can help you live your best life. However, the process itself involves two separate (but equally important) real estate transactions. With that in mind, the first step in your downsizing journey should be finding a Realtor. 

That said, it’s important to be selective about who you hire. There are tens of thousands of real estate agents in the Greater Toronto Area, but when it comes to having a strong record of supporting retirees, seniors, and downsizers, that number gets a lot smaller. 

Beyond just the real estate aspects, downsizers have unique needs. After all, moving on from your long-lived family home can be an emotional and logistically-heavy journey. The right real estate agent will have an in-depth understanding of these needs and can guide you through the buying and selling process with patience and compassion. 

Tips on Finding a Realtor 

No two real estate agents are the same, and finding the right one to work with based on your needs is an important part of buying or selling a home – especially as a downsizer. So what should you look for when hiring an agent?

Lots of Experience 

In a real estate landscape where trends can change dramatically overnight, working with an experienced agent is essential. You’ll want to work with a professional who has multiple years or even decades of experience buying and selling homes. 

Local Knowledge

Beyond experience, you’ll also want to partner with a Realtor who knows your local community inside and out. In the Greater Toronto Area, real estate trends can change on a neighbourhood basis – and sometimes it gets even more granular than that! 

At the end of the day, you’ll want to work with someone who has sold homes in your area before and knows what local buyers are looking for. 

The same idea applies to the buying process. If there’s a specific community (or communities) that you’d like to live in next, it’s a good idea to choose an agent who knows the neighbourhood and its homes well. 

Service Beyond the Transaction

As a downsizer, the process of preparing your home for sale, listing it, finding a new place, and finally getting ready to move can be overwhelming, and in some cases, it may tempt you to delay downsizing altogether. That’s where working with a full-service team (like us) can make all the difference. 

At Lino Arci Team, we aim to take the stress out of downsizing by offering a wide range of support and services outside of the transaction. Covering all the bases of downsizing, such as decluttering, cleaning, packing, or staging, we’ll take on all the heavy lifting for you. From start to finish, whatever you need from our team to make the experience easier, we’d be happy to help. 

Helping Your Parents Downsize 

As real estate agents, we often work with adult children who are helping their parents with the downsizing process. 

If you’re looking to take the lead on your parents’ home sale, you will need formal permission to do so. Even if your parents have explicitly asked for your help, if you’ve left the property in their Will, you’ll still need the proper approvals before you can actually make a sale. 

When is Power of Attorney Needed to Sell a House?

Life doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes, a homeowner is simply not able to make major decisions for themselves (like downsizing) due to health-related challenges or similar circumstances. When this happens, someone close to them will need to step in and assist.

Power of attorney (POA) is a legally binding designation that grants someone (the attorney) the ability to make certain decisions on behalf of another person (the grantor). 

The POA princess is a common scenario in senior home sales, where an elderly homeowner may unexpectedly need to sell their property. Once you have it, POA empowers you to manage more or less every aspect of the sale – from hiring a real estate agent to negotiations, paperwork, closing procedures and everything in between.

When is Probate Needed to Sell a House?

Probate, on the other hand, applies when a homeowner has passed away. In simple terms, probate is the legal process of naming someone as an executor or estate trustee, and it’s required in 99% of home sales where the homeowner has passed. 

If you are selling your parents’ home after they’ve both passed away, you (or someone in your family), will need to follow the probate process. 

Selling Your Current Home

For seniors, the process of preparing your home for sale, listing it, and finally getting ready to move can be overwhelming, and in some cases, it may tempt you to delay selling altogether. However, a full-service real estate agent who has a dedicated process for supporting seniors (like the Lino Arci Team) can alleviate all the stresses and hassles of selling.

When Should I Sell?

Getting your current home market-ready takes time. So the more time you have to declutter, deep clean, make repairs, and stage your home, the better.

How Much is My House Worth?

Even though you paid a specific price for your home when you bought it, that doesn’t mean that it has an official or objective market value. Instead, what your home is worth (at least in a monetary sense) is determined by a wide range of elements, from buyer behaviours to economic factors and everything in between. 

How to Sell Your Home For the Most Money 

Buyers are far more likely to pay the full asking price if your home looks great and is move-in ready. Start with a deep clean and decluttering process. After that, take the time to fix minor repairs, such as leaky faucets, squeaky doors, or anything else buyers may notice. Consider making strategic upgrades that could increase your home’s value, such as updating the kitchen or bathrooms. 

You’ll also want to choose your asking price wisely. Using the correct pricing strategy helps you sell your home faster and for the best price. However, pricing incorrectly (either too high or too low) can negatively impact your bottom line. Your real estate agent will help with your pricing strategy. 

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Searching for more catch-all selling advice? Read these other blog posts!

• How Much Can I Sell My House For?
• Do You Need to Stage Before You Sell?
• How to Negotiate House Price

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Buying Your Next Home

As you move into an exciting new chapter in your life, it’s essential to choose a home that not only meets your current needs but also supports your lifestyle and well-being in the years to come. 

House hunting can be a fun process, but there’s more that goes into it than many downsizers realize. Here’s what you need to know as you approach the market as a buyer. 

Know Your Needs

Selling your current home will be a significant process, but it’s important to put thought into your upcoming house hunt. As a downsizer, you have a lot of options for housing, so taking the time to make a detailed list of what you need from your future home and community can make your house hunting journey easier and more efficient.

Get Familiar With Senior-Oriented Housing

One primary advantage of downsizing in Vaughan and the wider Greater Toronto Area is the exceptional selection of diverse housing choices available.

If you’re seeking care-oriented or retirement-centred living, you’ll find a wide range of great properties that provide ideal social atmospheres, on-site amenities, and other perks. Alternatively, there are plenty of traditional properties that work great for downsizers too, including condos, townhomes, and even smaller detached houses. 

A Full Service Downsizing Experience 

Regardless of which chapter of life you’re in, selling your home and then finding a new one is no small task. So when it comes to downsizing, choosing the right team of real estate agents can make all the difference. That’s where we come in! 

As real estate agents who specialize in supporting downsizers, we understand the unique challenges (and rewards) that come with entering the next phase of your life. We take a hands-on approach to make your downsizing journey as smooth, successful, and risk-free as possible.

Ready to downsize? Our team is proud to offer industry-leading support for our clients. Call 416-571-2724 to get in touch or email us at info@arciteam.com.

It’s no secret that a lot of home buyers (especially younger people) need to get creative when saving up for a house.

One technique in particular that’s gaining momentum is House Hacking. This unique strategy helps home buyers offset a portion of their mortgage costs, allowing them to buy sooner or even expand their buying budget.

So, what is house hacking, and how can it help you buy a home? As real estate agents who have helped countless first-time buyers get into the market, we’re here to break it down.

What is House Hacking in Real Estate?

Let’s start by explaining what house hacking actually is. Although it’s an informal term, most homeowners and real estate insiders agree about

House hacking is when you buy a house and commit to renting out a portion of it while you live there. This allows you to generate a strong flow of passive income, which can then be used towards mortgage payments or other expenses.

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Need more advice on buying a house in Ontario? Read these blog posts next!

• How to Buy Your First Home in Ontario
• Do You Need to Include Conditions in Your Buying Offer?
• Moving to Toronto: How to Find a Relocation Specialist

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How Does House Hacking Work

One advantage of house hacking as a homeowner is that you can be flexible in how you do it. Here are a few examples of house hacking in action:

1. Renting out a spare bedroom in your 3-bedroom house to a university student.
2. Renting out a dedicated basement suite on the lower level to a long-term tenant.
3. Renting out a space in your house on a short term accommodation platform such as Airbnb or Vrbo.

Why is House Hacking a Good Idea?

We get it, the prospect of renting out a room or your basement may not be the most exciting, especially if you really want your house to be your space. That being said, the reason why so many home buyers are embracing house hacking is because the financial upside is simply so good!

Owning a home isn’t cheap. House hacking allows you to seriously cut back on your costs. In fact, with the right planning, house hacking can help you pay off your mortgage faster. Either way, it will add a nice cushion to your income.

How Much Could I Earn?

Let’s talk numbers. If you were to rent out a room in your house or set up a basement suite, how much could you make? It depends.

The Greater Toronto Area has a famously high demand for rental properties – and as a result, high rental averages. However, prices can vary based on the area, time of year, and other market conditions.

A dedicated secondary suite, like a basement apartment, could easily bring in more than $1,200 a month (probably closer to $1,500) depending on the size, number of bedrooms, location and overall appeal of the unit. For a single room in your home, you could potentially earn around $1,000 +/- a few hundred dollars.

If you’re hoping to maximize rental income down to the last dollar, you’ll want to work with a real estate agent who understands investors and the rental market. As you search for the perfect home, they can specifically source properties with house hacking potential. For example, buying a house with a built-in, ready-to-go basement apartment means you can start earning income right away.

Cons of Renting Out a Basement or Spare Room

House hacking is a great solution for home buyers who want to boost their budget. However, it’s not without its drawbacks.

One of the main disadvantages of house hacking is that you’re sharing your home and property with a tenant. Of course, you will still have your own private rooms in the house, but having another person around (especially someone you only have a landlord/tenant relationship with), isn’t for everyone.

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Planning on buying a house? Check out these blogs next!

• How to Negotiate House Price
• How to Choose a Realtor

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Is House Hacking Legal?

House hacking is perfectly legal – when it’s done legally.

On paper, renting out any part of your house to a long term tenant makes you a landlord. With this comes red tape.

In Ontario, there is a long list of rules about rental units, their size, layout, etc. On top of that, you’ll also face a handful of regulations surrounding tenant rights that could impact your experience. You’ll want to read up on all the relevant agreements and laws before bringing a tenant in.

Finally, the money you earn from house hacking is taxable income. You’ll need to claim it properly; otherwise, you could be audited or face penalties.

Find Your Dream Home With Lino Arci

Searching for the perfect place to call home? Whether you’re looking to maximize your financial power as a home buyer, settle in the perfect neighbourhood, or have other buying goals, we can help!

Ready to buy a house? We can help! Call us at 416-571-2724 or email info@arciteam.com to get started.

When it comes to buying or selling a house, the final price isn’t set in stone. At the end of the day, both sides want to get the best deal possible. This takes some negotiating. As veteran real estate agents, we know a thing or two about negotiations. In this blog, we’re passing our expertise onto you. Here’s everything to know about how to negotiate a house price.

Negotiations 101

Negotiations play a big role in 99% of real estate transactions. Even in fast-moving ultra-hot markets, there’s usually a little bit of back and forth between the buyer and seller before a deal gets done.

If you’re about to buy or sell a house, you should expect to engage in some degree of negotiation. If this sounds intimidating or anxiety-inducing, don’t worry. Whichever side of the transaction you’re on, your real estate agent is there to guide you and make sure your interests are protected.

What Can Be Negotiated on a Home Sale?

When most people think of real estate negotiations, they think of one thing – price. Of course, getting a great price on your home (whether you happen to be a buyer or a seller) is very important, however, there are a number of other critical details that can also be negotiated during this stage.

Before you approach the market, you’ll want to know how much can you negotiate on a house, and what is (and isn’t) on the table in terms of negotiating.

Price: As part of the listing process, sellers will set an asking price for their home. That said, buyers are able to test the seller’s flexibility and negotiate on a different number.

Conditions: In Ontario, most offers will include some kind of condition. One common example would be a home inspection contingency, which allows the buyer to get the house checked out by a professional inspector before the deal goes through.

Timeline: Another detail that’s up for negotiation is the timeline. The buyer and seller can go back and forth on the closing and possession dates.

What’s Included: Most for-sale homes come with certain inclusions (also known as fixtures). However, buyers can negotiate on certain extras they may be interested in.

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Need more advice on buying a house in Ontario? Read these blog posts next!

• How to Buy Your First Home in Ontario
• Do You Need to Include Conditions in Your Buying Offer?
• Moving to Toronto: How to Find a Relocation Specialist

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How to Negotiate House Price as a Buyer

How to negotiate buying a house starts by first looking at what the seller is asking for. Then, factoring in the variables that may influence their decision. Some key factors are things like market conditions, potential interest from other buyers, and emotional elements.

Even if the seller doesn’t accept right away, a well-crafted and informed offer will almost always inspire a counteroffer – opening the door to further negotiations. You and your agent can then work with the seller to (hopefully) find a number that works for everyone.

How Much Lower Can You Offer on a House?

Everyone wants to get the best deal possible when buying a house. While negotiations will play a big role in what you’re able to achieve, it’s important to remain realistic when placing an offer and engaging with sellers.

Technically speaking, there’s no minimum bid or offer number in real estate. However, if you’re putting an offer on a house to low-ball the seller, you could inadvertently offend or alienate them, closing the door for future negotiations.

If you want to get the best price possible on your home, your best bet is to work with an experienced and knowledgeable agent. They’ll have the experience, expertise, and negotiation skills to know what to offer on a house in way that prioritizes your interests while appealing to the seller.

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Selling your home? You’ll find plenty of related advice in these blogs.

• How Much Can I Sell My House For?
• How Long Does it Take to Sell a House?
• How to Choose a Realtor

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How to Negotiate House Price as a Seller

Negotiating the final sale price is equally important for home sellers. Once offers start rolling in, you’ll need to act quickly and make major decisions about what you’re willing to accept for your house.

This is another area where working with a top-tier agent is essential. Your Realtor can help you determine which offers are worth engaging in (or even accepting). When the time comes to negotiate, they’ll hold the line to ensure you’re able to sell for the highest number possible.

Great Results Start With Pricing

Setting yourself up for success as a home seller begins long before the negotiation process. From the first steps of pre-listing preparation right through to closing day, you’ll need a solid strategy if you want to get top dollar.

With that in mind, one of the most important details of your sale is pricing. Selecting a calculated, well-thought-out asking price maximizes your home’s reach, without risking lost returns.

If you set your asking price too high, your home could spend longer on the market than you expected. Then, when an interested buyer finally comes around, they’ll have a major upper hand in negotiating a lower price.

Your real estate agent will help you choose an asking price that makes sense based on your home, compared properties, and trends in the local market.

Buying or selling in the GTA? We can help! Call us at 416-571-2724 or email info@arciteam.com to get started.

Wondering what your home could sell for in today’s market? You’ve come to the right place. 

Let’s start with the good news: If you’ve owned your house for a long time, there’s a good chance it has appreciated in value quite nicely over the years. However, if you want to sell your home for the best price possible, you’ll need the right strategy. 

In this blog, we’ll look at how you can find out your home’s potential value in today’s market. We’ll also share a few pointers on how you can maximize your returns when you’re ready to sell. 

Wondering what your house is worth, and what it could sell for in today’s market? Sign up for a free home evaluation. 

How Much is My House Worth?

Even though you paid a specific price for your home when you bought it, that doesn’t mean that it has an official or objective market value. Instead, what your home is worth (at least in a monetary sense) is determined by a wide range of elements, from buyer behaviours to economic factors and everything in between. 

Think of it this way: your home’s true market value is whatever buyers are willing to pay for it. 

That being said, your home’s potential value isn’t a total mystery either. With a proper home evaluation, you can find out what your home could sell for in today’s market. 

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Hoping to get the best results form your home sale? Read these blogs next!

• How Long Does it Take to Sell a House?
• Why You Need to Price Your Home Strategically
• Will I Be Able to Sell My Home For The Full Asking Price?

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How Does a Home Evaluation Work?

During a home evaluation, a real estate professional (usually an agent) analyzes and explores your property to learn more about it. 

First, they’ll look at your home’s age, condition, standout features, and number of other details to get an overall sense of its profile. After that, your agent will assess a wide range of data from your local market – including similar homes in your area that have recently sold. 

No matter what you may see or read on the internet, there’s no way to instantly find out the market value of your house. A reputable real estate agent will usually want to tour your home in person and do a deep dive into the recently sold homes in your area before offering you an idea of its value. 

Ready to craft the perfect plan for selling your home? Book an appointment with our team. 

How Much Can I Sell My House For?

It’s important to keep in mind that the results of your home evaluation will ultimately be an approximation. Nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to real estate.  

Even if you have a rough estimate of your home’s value, that number could look different from your final results. Of course, this goes both ways. Depending on how you approach the market, you could end up selling your home for far more than you ever imagined, or you may fall short.  

So, how much can you sell your house for? There’s really no limit. However, if you don’t want to get the best return possible, you’ll need to take the proper approach. 

This includes steps like:

• Picking the right real estate agent. 
• Cleaning, decluttering and upgrading your home before you list it. 
• Staging your home. 
• Setting the right asking price. 
• Knowing how to negotiate with buyers. 

Price Vs Value

Selling a house requires strategy, and one of the most important aspects of your home sale (especially if you want to get the most money possible) is pricing. Here’s the thing – your home may have an approximate market value, but that doesn’t mean that number should be the same as your asking price. Let us explain. 

As a seller, you’re looking to attract and entice as many qualified buyers as you can. To do that, you need to understand how buyers act. Most house hunters have a fairly rigid budget – especially in today’s market. Because of this, they don’t often entertain listings that land outside of their financial boundaries. So, if you choose to price your house on the high end right away, you could alienate a decent portion of the buying pool. 

On the other hand, if you set a well-balanced and attractive asking price, you’ll reach a wider audience. This can create competing interest among buyers and potentially inspire multiple offers (aka a bidding war). 

Our Asking Price Guarantee 

In fact, we’re so confident in our ability to sell your home for top dollar that we promise to get you 100% of your asking price. You heard that right! We’ll sell your house for the full asking price – and if we can’t, we’ll pay you the difference!

This is in addition to our standout home sale guarantee. If your home doesn’t sell (regardless of the reason), our team will buy it from you. No hidden loopholes, no caveats, just results. 

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On the hunt for more home selling tips? Check out these other blog posts!

• What to Look For in a Listing Agreement
• Are Home Sold Guarantees the Real Deal?
• The Top 5 Common Mistakes Home Sellers Make

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Sell Your Home With Lino Arci

Hoping to get the price possible for your home? The Lino Arci Team is your ticket to a great result. As Vaughan’s number one real estate team, we’re completely committed to helping you get the best results possible on your home sale. 

Thanks to our decades of experience, we’ve got home selling down to a science and are confident that our proven selling process will help you get top dollar.  

Selling your house? We’re here to help. Call us at 416-571-2724 or email info@arciteam.com to get started.

As a home buyer, wisely choosing a real estate agent is key to securing your dream home. If you’re selling, they’ll be essential for a smooth and successful sale. In this blog, we’re sharing our top tips on how to choose a realtor based on your unique goals. 

Whether you’re buying a home or selling one, you’re approaching one of the biggest transactions that you’ll make in your lifetime. With that in mind, you’ll want to have clear guidelines for what to look for in a realtor.

How to Find a Real Estate Agent

There are tens of thousands of real estate agents in the Greater Toronto Area – that’s a lot of selection. So, when it comes time to find a real estate agent, you’ll need to start your search strategically.

A great place to begin your Realtor search is through referrals. If you know anyone who has bought or sold a house in the past few years, ask them about the agent they worked with. What did they like about them? What would they change? Hearing from an agent’s past client can give you really helpful insight into what it’s like to work with them.

If you don’t know anyone who can recommend a local agent, that’s okay. Either way, you’ll want to search online to get a better sense of your options.

If you find yourself without the benefit of a referral, the next step to find a good real estate agent is using a search engine to look for Realtors in your area. If you want to narrow down your options even further, you can include terms or phrases that are relevant to your goals, like “first time buyer”, “downsizer”, or “luxury”.

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Looking for more information on how to buy a home? Explore these related readings.

• Do You Need to Include Conditions in Your Buying Offer?
• How to Budget for Buying a Home in Vaughan
• What Goes Into Buying Your First Home?

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What to Look for in a Real Estate Agent:
Check Out Their Web Presence

A Realtor’s online presence can tell you a lot about them. For instance, by checking out the listings shared on their website or social media, you can get an idea of the areas they work in, and more importantly, how they present and market their for-sale homes.

On that note, it’s always a good idea to check out online reviews and testimonials. A great Realtor will have plenty of positive reviews from dozens, if not hundreds, of clients.

Want to hear from our clients about what it’s like to work with the Lino Arci Team? Read our testimonials and reviews.

How to Pick a Realtor: Know What to Ask

After you’ve found a few Realtors who may seem like a good fit, you’ll want to speak to them directly – sort of like an informal interview. This gives you a chance to ask important questions about the agent, their services, and how they may approach your purchase or sale.

Start by creating a list of questions that address your needs, expectations, and concerns. This preparation will provide clarity when you commence your search, helping you identify the ideal candidate.

How to Choose a Realtor When Selling

As real estate agents ourselves, we’ve got a few recommendations for the type of questions you should ask when talking to a Realtor about selling your home.

1. How long have you been a Realtor?
2. How big is your team?
3. What neighbourhoods and communities do you work in?
4. Have you sold houses in my neighbourhood before? How many?
5. What are your main selling strategies?
6. How do you prepare homes for the market? Do you stage your listings?
7. What do you think my house is worth?

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Preparing to sell your home? Explore these related blogs for advice on getting the best result possible.

• What to Look For in a Listing Agreement
• Are Home Sold Guarantees the Real Deal?
• The Top 5 Common Mistakes Home Sellers Make

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How to Choose a Realtor When Buying

If you’re in the market for a new place, here are a few questions to ask a Realtor before you decide to work with them.

1. How long have you been a Realtor?
2. How big is your team?
3. How many clients are you working with?
4. What neighbourhoods and communities do you work in?
5. What is your process for finding and vetting available homes?
6. How do you help buyers make offers and negotiate?

Making Your Decision

In the GTA, your options are almost endless when it comes to choosing a Realtor. However, by following the steps above, you should be able to narrow your search easily and effectively.

There’s no magic number for how many real estate professionals you should research (and interview) before deciding on who to hire, but ideally, you’ll talk to at least two or three agents first.

When it comes to choosing a real estate agent, you’ll want to follow your gut. If you’ve done your due diligence and found a Realtor who seems like a great fit, they’re probably the right option for you.

Looking For a Great Realtor in the GTA?

Whatever your real estate needs may look like, transitioning from one home to the next is no easy task – that’s where we come in. As Vaughan’s #1 real estate group, the Lino Arci Team provides a smooth, client-focused experience that helps you reach your goals in as little time as possible.

Buying or selling? We’re here to help. Call us at 416-571-2724 or email info@arciteam.com to get started.