Regardless of where you’re moving next, selling your home marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. If you’re looking to sell your home soon, It’s important to recognize the involved costs before you enter the market.

From value-boosting upgrades to taxes, fees and agent commissions, we’ve put together a quick overview of some common costs you may encounter when selling your property. 

Of course, no two properties are the same, and costs will range based on each seller’s unique circumstances. For a more detailed analysis, ask your real estate agent. They can assess your home’s existing value and provide you with a more accurate estimate of additional costs. 

Looking for an experienced agent who can guarantee the successful sale of your home? We can help. Explore our approach to selling here. 

Pre-Market Upgrades

In some cases, your home may need to undergo upgrades or renovations before it can be sold. 

This could include anything from foundational repairs to replacing kitchen appliances. Of course, upgrade costs will vary based on the unique condition of your home. However, most agents recommend spending no more than 1-2% of your property’s total value on preparatory home improvements. 

If you think your home will require upgrades before you’re ready to sell, ask your real estate agent. They can determine which items are essential 

Staging

In today’s market staging is a critical part of the selling process. Great staging helps you attract more potential buyers. Plus, staged homes typically sell faster and for more money than unstaged homes. 

How much you’ll need to spend on staging will vary based on local design trends and your home’s existing furnishings. That being said, many sellers opt to stage based on the ‘3X’ rule. Meaning however much you choose to invest in staging, you can expect to add 3 times that number to the sale value of your home. For example, if you invest $10,000 in the staging process, you can see a listing value increase of $30,000. 

Want to learn more about preparing your home for the market? Check out these blog posts. 

• Staging Your Home During the Holiday Season
• What to Ask When Hiring a Local Real Estate Agent
• Do You Need to Stage Before You Sell?

Real Estate Agent Commissions

One of the biggest costs you’ll incur as a seller is agent fees. In Canadian real estate transactions, the seller is responsible for paying agent fees, which are then split between the agents of the buyer and seller. Your costs will be unique to your listing agreement, however, agent fees typically cost between 3% and 7% of a home’s final sale price. 

In Ontario, you’ll also be required to pay HST on your agent commissions. Keep this in mind when budgeting for your home sale. 

Legal Fees

In addition to a real estate agent, selling your home will also require working with a lawyer. 

For most sellers, a budget of $1,500 is an adequate amount for covering the legal fees of their home sale. However, legal costs can be more expensive if a property or agreement requires any special considerations. 

Status Certificates

If you’re selling a condo unit, you’ll be required to order a status certificate to demonstrate the physical condition of the building. Although exact costs will depend on the property management company, status certificates typically cost between $100 and $200. 

Land Transfer Taxes 

In Ontario, as the seller, you are not responsible for paying the land transfer tax following the sale of your home. However, if you choose to buy again after you sell, you will be required to cover this cost for your new property. 

Thinking about selling your home? Explore these helpful posts from our blog. 

• What do Home Buyers Look For?
• The Dos and Don’ts of Selling Your Home
• A Seller’s Guide to Multiple Offers

How We Sell

While selling your home comes with some risks and variables, we strive to make the process as relaxed as possible for our clients. If you choose to work with our team, we guarantee to sell your home. If for any reason it doesn’t sell, we will buy it from you! Our Your Home Sold Guaranteed approach means the sale of your home will be successful regardless of external market conditions. 

Ready to begin your selling journey? Get in touch with us today to get started. 

No two homes are identical, and the same thing goes for real estate agents. When you begin your home selling journey, knowing how to find the best possible agent can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help. As experts in the local market, we know the selling process inside and out and understand the anxieties sellers face when searching for an agent. 

If you’re interviewing a real estate agent to list your home in Vaughan, here are 7 questions you should ask. 

Getting ready to move? Explore our approach to selling here. 

1. Do You Specialize in the Area?

Despite being part of a large metropolitan area, market trends can vary based on township and even neighbourhood. A great agent will often specialize in one specific market. Not only will a specialized agent have a detailed understanding of past and present trends in the area, but they’ll also know which buyer audiences your home is best suited for. 

2. How Many Homes Have You Sold in Vaughan?

While a real estate agent may have years of experience, it’s important that their unique expertise can effectively cater to you. When interviewing a potential agent, ask specifically how many homes in your area they’ve sold. This can verify whether or not they are as experienced in the Vaughan market as they may claim. 

Getting ready to sell your home? Explore these helpful blog posts. 

• What do Home Buyers Look For?
• The Dos and Don’ts of Selling Your Home
• A Seller’s Guide to Multiple Offers

3. How Will You Determine My Home’s Value?

Some sellers may be surprised to learn that not every real estate agent will value your home the same. Choosing the best asking price is a massively important part of your home sale, and you’ll want to work with an agent who knows what they’re talking about. 

While any real estate agent can offer a suggested listing price, it’s important that they can justify how they arrived at that number, as their reasoning will have a direct impact on the negotiation stage of your home sale. 

4. What’s Your Approach to Marketing?

Regardless of how competitive a market may be, marketing is a crucial step in the sale of your home. It’s important that your agent can showcase your home wherever buyers are looking. In 2022, most buyers will first find your home online, therefore your agent should have a strong digital marketing strategy. Along with standard MLS platforms, ask about their approach to social media, paid promotion and traditional advertising methods. 

5. How Should I Prepare My Home For the Market?

A great agent knows what it takes to get the best offer for your home. More often than not this involves some preparation. For instance, if your home is older, you may need to make certain upgrades or renovations before it’s ready to list. As this will involve upfront costs, ask about which repairs they feel are necessary and what kind of ROI you can expect. 

Staging is also a critical part of the selling process. Not only can staging help your home sell faster, but it can also help you bring in higher offers. Ask any potential agent you may work with about their approach to staging. Some agencies even have in-house staging teams which can speed up the process. 

Want to learn more about the importance of staging? Check out our blog post on the topic here. 

6. What if I’m Unhappy With the Service I Receive?

While real estate agents are happy to make promises during the interview stage, keeping them is a whole different story. While listing agreements are generally beneficial for sellers, it is possible to get stuck with an agent who turns out to be less than you hoped for. 

A great real estate agent will offer you an exit strategy should you feel they aren’t living up to their promises. At Lino Arci Team, we offer all of our clients an Easy Exit Guarantee, meaning you can cancel your listing agreement with us for any reason up until you begin receiving offers. 

Selling your home for the first time? Check out these helpful resources on our blog. 

• Tips For Selling a Home in Winter
• The Top 5 Common Mistakes Home Sellers Make
• How to Sell Your Home in a Hurry

7. Do You Offer Other Guarantees For Sellers?

While moving can be an exciting process, selling your home can come with some stressful uncertainties. If you’re interviewing a potential agent, ask about any protective guarantees they may offer sellers. At Lino Arci Team, we’ve implemented a unique approach to ensure our sellers enjoy a truly risk-free experience. 

Beginning with our ‘Your Home Sold Guaranteed’, if your home doesn’t sell, we will buy it from you. Next, we can help protect you from market fluctuations and undercut offers with our ‘100% of Asking Price Guarantee’, which ensures you are paid fairly for your home. 

Want to learn more about Your Home Sold Guaranteed? Explore our blog post on the topic here. 

There’s no doubt that Ontario’s housing market is red hot. In recent years, a shortage of available housing along with growing demand has led to record-breaking costs for homes in the province. If you’re looking to sell your home soon, you may have wondered if current market conditions could allow you to take shortcuts during the selling process.

Although it may seem tempting, sellers who want to get the most out of their home sale should never cut corners – especially when it comes to staging. 

Despite the competitive nature of a seller’s market, staging your home before you sell is always a good idea. Not only can it help you land a great price for your home, but it can also make the process smoother all around. 

Here are a few reasons why you should stage your home before selling. 

Getting ready to move? Working with the right agent can make a big difference! Explore our approach to selling here. 

It’s Easier Than You Think

Before we dive into the benefits of staging your home, let’s clarify a few things. First, staging does not often mean undertaking large home improvement or renovation projects. The process of staging generally consists of tidying and optimizing things around your home to make it look its best. This typically means cleaning and decluttering, removing old or damaged furniture, adding or removing decor and the occasional fresh coat of paint. 

If this seems overwhelming, don’t worry. Most real estate agents can help you navigate this process, either through an in-house stager or their industry connections. 

First Impressions Matter 

As a seller, you’ve got competition too. While no two homes are identical, staging can help elevate your property over others in the eyes of buyers. In 2022, most house hunters begin their home search online. As a result, 90% of potential buyers will first discover your home on the web. How your home appears to buyers in photos and videos is equally important as how it looks during an in-person showing. 

Staging not only makes your home capture the eyes of potential buyers in person, but it also ensures your home looks great where they will see it first. With great visuals, sellers who stage their homes typically receive more requests for showings than those who don’t. 

Looking for information about selling your home? Check out these blog posts. 

• A Seller’s Guide to Multiple Offers
• Tips For Selling Your Home During the Winter Months
• 5 Common Mistakes Home Sellers Make

Faster Sales

With a great first impression online, your home is likely to have more showings and interested buyers. When your home looks great, buyers will be eager to make an offer. In 2020, a study performed by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) analyzed 13,000 for-sale homes and how long it took for them to sell. They determined that staged homes spend 73% less time on the market in comparison to homes that weren’t. 

Higher Offers

Perhaps the most compelling reason to stage your home is how it can impact the final selling price. Plain and simple, staging your home before you sell can help you land a higher price for it. Every circumstance is unique, however, the RESA’s 2020 study also suggests that staged homes sell for 5% to 25% more on average than their unstaged counterparts. 

Great staging allows potential buyers to envision themselves in your home. In a seller’s market like the GTA, bidding wars on homes are common. When buyers develop an emotional connection to your property, they’re willing to pay more for it. Therefore, staging is a great way to boost potential bidding wars in your favour. 

Getting ready to list your home? Check out these helpful blog posts to ensure you’ve got your bases covered. 

• What do Home Buyers Look For?
• The Dos and Don’ts of Selling Your Home
• Staging Your Home During the Holiday Season

How We Stage 

At the Lino Arci Team, we believe staging is an important part of every sale. With decades of experience, we’ve seen almost every kind of home and know what it takes to make yours shine. Through our vast network of industry professionals, we’ll connect you with a dedicated stager who will help prepare your home for the market.

Our stager will evaluate your home and determine the best ways to stand out amongst others in the area. With a focus on highlighting its unique strengths, our approach will help your home make a great first impression, sell faster and for a great price.  

Anxious about selling in an ever-changing market? We can ensure your success. Learn about our Your Home Sold Guaranteed approach here. 

From the prestigious allure that comes with a private neighbourhood to enhanced security and the surrounding ambience of gorgeous, well-maintained properties, gated communities have a lot to offer. 

In the Greater Toronto Area, a growing number of buyers are shifting their attention to lifestyle-focused communities. Gated neighbourhoods are among these tailored living spaces gaining momentum. 

While there are plenty of advantages to living in a gated community, it’s not for everyone. If you’re interested in living in a gated community, here are a few things you should know before you begin your home buying journey. 

Looking for the best gated communities in the Greater Toronto Area? We ranked our favourites here. 

Local Considerations

You may not know that gated communities are actually far less common in Canada compared to our American neighbours. While this is primarily due to the raised security and safety concerns down south, our local government regulations also play a role too. 

Many municipalities in Ontario place certain restrictions on just how closed-off or secure gated communities can really be. In the York Region, government policy bans any security measures that could hinder emergency response vehicles when entering the community. Despite these restrictions, Canadian gated communities still offer an authentic experience for residents and their popularity is growing. 

Buying a home for the first time? Check out these other blog posts to get a sense of what you can expect from the process.

• 5 Reasons to Get Pre-Approved For a Mortgage Before Heading to the Market
• Essential Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
• 5 Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make

Greater Privacy and Less Traffic

One of the most appealing features of gated communities is the immense privacy they provide for residents. With restricted access to the roadways, your immediate neighbours are practically the only people you’ll see around the community. This restricted access can also mean no solicitors at your door, another great perk of a private community lifestyle. 

As an extension of this privacy, less public access to the community also means less traffic. If you’re a fan of peaceful, quiet streets and less foot traffic around your home, a gated community could be a great place to call home. 

Buying a home soon? Explore these helpful articles from our blog. 

• How to Buy a Home
• 5 Tips For Getting a Mortgage
• 4 Perks of Home Ownership

Community Spirit

In addition to privacy, living in a gated community usually comes with a great neighbourly atmosphere. While private communities aren’t for everyone, those who appreciate their benefits will get along well with other people who feel the same. 

It may seem counterintuitive, however, homeowners in gated communities are often just as welcoming to newcomers as in traditional neighbourhoods. In a private small-community environment, residents can feel more open to getting to know their neighbours. 

Plus, there are typically great community amenities to enjoy with your neighbours, such as tennis courts, pools or even golf courses. Some communities also host clubs and social events for residents.  

Interested in traditional neighbourhoods too? Check out our Vaughan Neighbourhood Guides here. 

Safety and Security

One of the most significant factors in the rising popularity of gated communities is their additional measures of safety and security for residents. Each community will have its own approach to security, however, there are some common elements. First and foremost, gated communities have restricted access. As only residents and their guests can enter, criminal activity or other publically unpleasant behaviour is almost non-existent. 

For surveillance, an abundance of well-placed security cameras is the standard. Gated communities with more affluent properties will often have a 24/7 on-site security presence as well. For residents who spend a lot of time away from their home, this can mean additional peace of mind.

Of course, crime is not 100% preventable. However, with the enhanced security and surveillance of most modern gated communities, it is far less likely.  

Elevated Costs

As you may expect, the allure and advantages that come with a gated community also come with a significant price tag. Gated communities typically boost significantly higher property values compared to neighbouring communities. That being said, the pricier upfront costs of buying in a gated community could in turn mean a greater return on your investment when it comes time to sell. 

In addition to the elevated costs of buying within a gated neighbourhood, residents are also subject to a number of regular fees based on amenities. General maintenance and security upgrades are just some of the costs that are passed on to homeowners. Additional expenses may be built into your homeowner’s association (HOA) dues or separate costs. While these extra expenses aren’t often out of the realm of affordability for most high-end buyers, they are worth keeping in mind.

If you have concerns about the fees that come with living in a gated community, chat with a real estate agent. As experts in the local market, they can help your financial planning by identifying the additional costs and expenses for each unique community.

Ready to find the perfect home for your next chapter in life? Work with the #1 real estate team in Vaughan! Call 416-571-2724 or send an email to info@arciteam.com today.

Buying or selling your home means starting an exciting new chapter in your life. Unfortunately, the real estate market these days can be full of uncertainty, causing buyers or sellers to feel stressed in an otherwise exciting time. As an experienced team of real estate experts, we’ve heard many “what ifs” from our clients over the years. 

What happens if my property doesn’t sell? Will I be pressured to accept an offer below the asking price? What if I’m not happy with my agent? What if I’m unhappy with my new home after the sale has closed? These concerns are all too common with buyers and sellers. Thankfully, we have solutions. 

Entering the housing market certainly comes with risks and hazards, that’s why we’ve implemented a unique approach to ensure our clients are protected and supported every step of the way. Our team’s ‘Your Home Sold Guaranteed’ promise, along with our additional buying and selling guarantees means you’re in good hands – no matter what happens. 

Ready to find your dream home? Explore our current listings here. 

Challenges of a Fast-Paced Market 

Whether you’re buying or selling, the Greater Toronto Area’s housing market can feel like a whirlwind. You may have heard that real estate transactions across Ontario have strongly favoured sellers in recent years, with houses commonly selling far above the asking price. While that is certainly true in some areas, there are regions within the market that are less stable. Buyers are still competitive, however, based on your unique circumstances, selling your home in the GTA may not exactly be the cakewalk you may expect it to be. 

Your home is one of the biggest if not the biggest investment assets you’ll have throughout your lifetime. When you’re ready to sell, entering the housing market without the right tools could mean hitting roadblocks along the way and having to make compromises during the sales process. Settling for less than your home is worth can take a huge toll on your return on investment. 

As a buyer, finding your dream home in a competitive market can be more difficult than it appears on the surface. In many cases, buyers are forced to act fast when placing an offer on a home. As a result, some buyers can be rushed into the sales process without carefully considering their decision. The good news is that the Lino Arci team’s buying and selling guarantees, including our ‘Your Home Sold Guarantee’ can protect you from the risks and pitfalls of a rapid and ever-changing real estate market. 

Buying your first home? Explore these helpful articles. 

• How to Buy a Home
• Making Final Touches to Your New Living Space 
• 5 Tips For Getting a Mortgage

The Right Realtor Makes a Big Difference

When it’s time to enter the housing market as a buyer or seller, the first step is typically finding the best realtor for you. While there are many options out there, it’s important to note that not all real estate teams are created equal. Finding the perfect real estate agent for your unique circumstances may take some time, but it’s worth the effort. During the buying or selling process, an agent will be your number one resource for insights, support and information. So finding an expert who will advocate for your best interests is a crucial step in ensuring a positive outcome. 

As your realtor, our team can eliminate the risks that come with entering the housing market. Our unique approach along with our buy and sell guarantees means that you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the process of buying or selling with a stress-free mind. Of course, partnering with us also provides you with access to the local expertise and years of experience you can expect from a great real estate team. 

Have a unique question about real estate? Our team has an answer! Submit your questions about buying, selling and everything in between here. 

Your Home Sold Guaranteed

Even in hot markets like the Greater Toronto Area, one of the most common anxieties homeowners that are looking to sell face is whether or not their home will actually sell. What happens when a home stays on the market longer than expected? What happens if you need the capital from the sale of your current home in order to buy your next one? Our team has implemented a unique solution to ensure sellers avoid this Catch 22 – an industry term for being stuck with two homes at once. 

Introducing: Your Home Sold Guaranteed. 

To put it simply, we promise to sell your home. If your home doesn’t sell (regardless of the reason), our team will buy it from you! You may have heard of similar commitments from other real estate teams, however, these claims often come with hidden loopholes and caveats. Not us, when we say Your Home Sold Guaranteed, we mean it!

This promise allows sellers to enter the market with confidence, eliminating the “what if” fears that can come with the listing process. The Your Home Sold Guarantee is just one of the ways our team eliminates risks for our clients. Our team’s additional buying and selling promises offer other protections to help reduce the stress of our clients. 

Interested in relocating to the Vaughan area? Check out these articles on our blog. 

• Top 5 Schools in Vaughan
• Fun Winter Activities in Vaughan
• Best Organic Stores in Vaughan For Healthy Eating

100% of Asking Price Guarantee

Despite the area’s relatively hot real estate market, instances of homes selling below their asking price are more common than you may think. Based on the location of your home, selling prices are less consistent than local averages. While some agencies will advertise that they’ll work to sell your home for a great price, our team guarantees it. Homeowners should never have to compromise on a final offer. We believe sellers shouldn’t have to deal with the financial or psychological stresses that come with selling your home below the asking price. That’s why we guarantee your home will sell for 100% of the asking price – or we’ll pay the difference!

Want to learn more about our Your Home Sold Guaranteed promise? Explore our approach to selling here. 

Easy Exit Guarantee

For both buyers and sellers finding the right real estate agent is extremely important. Finding an agent who can advocate for your interests and offer strong localized knowledge about real estate takes time. All too often clients get stuck with an agent who turns out to be less than they’d hoped for. Listing agreements often benefit sellers, however, getting locked into a not-so-stellar agreement is a very real risk. 

Our team strives to make finding a great agent easier for homeowners, that’s why we introduced our Easy Exit Guarantee. If you choose to work with our team and are unsatisfied, you’ll have the freedom to move on. Sellers can cancel their listing agreement with us for any reason up until they receive an offer. You won’t face any financial penalties, we promise!

Curious about exploring a career in real estate? Try out these articles on our blog. 

• 9 Things to Know Before Making a Career Change to Real Estate 
• 6 Things to Look For When Choosing a Brokerage
• Find Out Why New Agents are Choosing the Lino Arci Team

Buy Back Guarantee

As a buyer, finding your dream home goes beyond just choosing a great space to live in. Your home will be one of the most important investments of your lifetime. With increasingly rising prices and interest rates on the horizon, purchasing is not something to rush into. Unfortunately, in certain market conditions, buyers can feel pressured or hurried during the buying process. This is especially true when there are multiple offers on a single property. 

As a result of these pressures, new homeowners can sometimes end up realizing their newly acquired property isn’t all they thought it was. Luckily, our team eliminates this risk for buyers with our Buy Back Guarantee – also known as our Love It or Leave It Guarantee. If you buy a home with us and are unhappy with it, we’ll buy it back up to one year after the date of purchase. Alternatively, our team will help you re-sell your home, free of charge. 

Selling your home for the first time? Check out these helpful resources on our blog. 

• Tips For Selling a Home in Winter
• The Top 5 Common Mistakes Home Sellers Make
• How to Sell Your Home in a Hurry

Whether you’re buying or selling, moving to a new home marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your life. While there are risks and variables, we believe that the real estate process should be fun and enjoyable for clients. Our promise of Your Home Sold Guaranteed means the sale of your home will be successful regardless of market conditions. We take this commitment a step further with our 100% of Asking Price and Easy Exit Guarantees, eliminating any additional pitfalls for sellers. Finally, as a buyer, you can shop with confidence knowing you’re protected by our Buy Back Guarantee. 

Our team is proud to offer industry-leading support for our clients. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, get in touch with our team today to learn how we can offer you a risk-free real estate journey.

The Lino Arci Team are proud affiliates of Your Home Guaranteed Sold Realty.

Your Home Guaranteed Sold Realty is a premium real estate company founded with one core vision – To Be The Best Place to Work, Buy, and Sell Real Estate offering cutting-edge lead generation technology, pro-business growth systems, exclusive listing marketing, and millionaire agent training.

Whether you are looking to make an investment or find your next home, the GTA is a great place to buy a pre-construction condo. With a number of exciting developments in construction and many more on the way, there’s never been a better time to consider a pre-construction property. 

One of the most common misconceptions about buying a pre-construction condo is that there’s no reason to work with a real estate agent. In reality, buying a pre-construction condo is a complex process. Having an expert real estate agent at your side will not only allow you to shop with confidence, but it can also mean better prices and access to developments you may not have even known about. 

We’ve outlined a few key ways in which working with an agent on your pre-construction condo can make all the difference below. 

Ready to find your next home? Explore pre-construction developments in Vaughan.

Relationships Matter

When it comes to working with developers, relationships make a big difference. A great local agent will not only have personal relationships with condo developers in their area but also know important knowledge about the developers’ style of business and previous developments. 

These relationships and insights are useful in every stage of the buying process. Depending on their access level, a great real estate agent can offer their clients access to development projects early, before other buyers on the market. This early access to new projects has benefits beyond unit availability. Depending on access level, buyers with agents can get lower prices, less fees, unit upgrades and other perks such as free parking or storage lockers.  

Thanks to our relationships with builders, Lino Arci agents get first access to new projects – right behind the friends and family of the developer. 

If you miss out on early access, a realtor’s relationship with your builder can be particularly helpful during the negotiation stage. If they’ve worked with the builder before, chances are they know which details the developer is willing to be flexible on. This could mean securing a great price, avoiding extra administrative fees or other perks similar to those that come with early access. 

Interested in relocating to the Vaughan area? Check out these articles on our blog. 

• Top 5 Schools in Vaughan
• Fun Winter Activities in Vaughan
• Best Organic Stores in Vaughan For Healthy Eating

They Know the Process Inside and Out

As you may now expect, purchasing a pre-construction condo is a more in-depth process than can appear on the surface. Choosing a great agent to guide you through the process can ensure there are no unpleasant surprises along the way. 

If you plan on living in your pre-construction condo, choosing a floor plan and unit can be really exciting. However, it’s important to remember that it will be years before you’re able to move in. At Lino Arci, we’ve worked with hundreds of buyers and can help ensure you choose a condo that’s right for you now and in the future. 

If you are a first-time investor in real estate, an agent can answer any questions you have about taxation and property management. They can also offer knowledge about factors that could impact your returns, such as hidden fees, expected delays or rental market trends. 

They’re Your Advocate 

Purchasing a pre-construction condo as a home or investment property can be an intimidating process. This can feel especially true when dealing with a developer’s sales team. Working with a real estate agent means having a knowledgeable advocate that has your best interests in mind. 

As experts, they’ll be familiar with sales tactics and can advise you when to be cautious during the buying process. It’s not uncommon for property details to change between your purchase and move-in date. An agent can help protect you from broken promises or disruptions that may occur before you move in.  

Buying your first condo? Explore these helpful articles. 

• 5 Reasons You’ll Love Condo Living 
• Making Final Touches to Your New Living Space 
• 5 Tips For Getting a Mortgage

They’re Local Experts

Real estate agents can also provide critical knowledge about the area you plan on purchasing in. Perhaps you’re banking on a unit with an amazing view. Your agent will be able to warn you about a new development next door that could take that view away. If you’re relocating from out of town, they’ll know all the details to help you find the best neighbourhood for you. 

In a rapidly evolving metropolitan centre like the GTA, they can also help you anticipate changes within your community that could impact your day-to-day life. This could include future public transit projects, new schools, roadways or other developments. They’ll also know details about similar construction projects nearby Whether it’s new buildings or future developments, these insights will be important during the buying phase. 

Interested in buying a pre-construction condo? As GTA experts, we are here to help. Reach out today to begin the exciting journey of condo ownership. Contact us.

Changing your career can be exciting, but also intimidating. Real estate may seem like a particularly daunting field, but with the right information, you can confidently transition. If you’re considering a career in real estate, read these 6 things to know if it’s the right industry for you.

Personality Traits That Propel You Forward

Like transferable hard and soft skills, there are certain personality traits that will help you make the most of your career in real estate.

1. Extrovertedness

Real estate is about making connections and building your network. If you’re outgoing, you’ll easily be able to find leads, nurture relationships, and win listings. Clients want to feel comfortable with you if they’re going to choose you to represent them, so if you’re shy, introverted, or standoff-ish, you might have a hard time finding clients. 

Since most agents grow their network by word of mouth, you want people to have great things to say about your personality. Being extroverted helps your reputation and encourages better quality, more frequent referrals.

2. Tenacity

In a fast-moving, unpredictable industry, you need to be steadfast and determined in order to keep up, get ahead, and flow with market changes. Tenacity will help you weather market fluctuations and changes in business so you don’t feel defeated or exhausted. 

Your clients will rely on you to be a calm, steady, reassuring force, so it’s important to be tenacious. They need someone who is confident in times of chaos and committed to their success no matter what. 

3. Progressiveness

Trends change, clients are varied, schedules are always moving, and innovation is always happening. If you don’t like the idea of working a predictable 9-5, real estate is definitely for you. Embracing change is paramount to finding success as an agent, especially in Toronto. 

We have one of the most robust and highly-active markets in the world. No two days, clients, or properties are the same, so you’ll thrive as a Realtor® if you’re a progressive person. 

Learn about how our team of Toronto real estate agents sell differently here.

The Skills To Sharpen For Success

You’re probably more prepared for your new career than you think. With the following skills, you’ll quickly excel as a Realtor®.

4. Organization

One of the most important skills of any successful agent, proper organization allows every aspect of your business to run smoothly. There are many moving parts involved in transacting real estate, from managing leads and filing important paperwork, to scheduling meetings, creating strategies, and much more. Your clients need you to alleviate confusion, mitigate stress, and make things easy. You can’t do that if you’re unorganized. 

5. Sales and customer service

You need to be able to convince buyers to visit open houses, consider your listing, and make offers. If you have previous sales and customer service experience, you have a great skill set to lean on. Using both sales and customer service skills, you can cater to both your clients and the clients on the other side of the deal to achieve mutually beneficial results.

6. Negotiation

You don’t only negotiate with agents when it’s time to close a deal. You negotiate with industry professionals who provide services to your network, potential clients when you’re trying to win their business, and plenty of other individuals throughout the transaction. Knowing how to lead conversations, compromise, and strategically maneuver through deals is a key skill every agent should perfect. Clients rely on you to protect their interests, so being able to expertly negotiate on their behalf will help you do more for your clients and therefore do more business.

Get to know the Lino Arci Team here. 

Making The Transition

Switching from one career to the next isn’t always easy. Here are some ways you can prepare for a smooth career change:

7. Give yourself time

Don’t rush into it! Real estate is an exciting field, but you want to get started on the right foot. Allow yourself a reasonable transition period so you can research the job, your market, and the industry so you’re properly prepared for the career change.

See why new agents are choosing to work with the Lino Arci Team here.

8. Give your current employer time

Don’t burn any bridges. While you may be eager to start your new career, you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes in the process. You never know, your current boss could become a future client or valuable contact. Networking is foundational for real estate success, and you want to keep as many relationships as possible.

9. Research your potential employer

Research the team or brokerage you’re thinking of joining to make sure it’s the right fit.  As a new agent, it’s in your best interest to join an established real estate team so you can access helpful tools, resources, and mentorship. All teams offer different benefits, so it’s important to align yourself with a group that makes sense for your career. You can read more about finding a quality brokerage to work with in our blog post here.

Success in real estate is about being able to expertly combine the necessary skills, personality traits, and industry expertise to create an unbeatable client experience. Growing your network and establishing yourself in the industry takes time, but with these nine points in mind, you’ll be off to a great start.