FAQs

Frequently asked questions about buying and selling real estate.

Frequently Asked Question About Buying and Selling

  • Why would I bother to use a Realtor when I have access to realtor.ca?

    Because, if you don’t, you will be seriously disappointed. In this fast-paced real estate market, Buyers who choose to use only realtor.ca or local newspaper ads are missing out on properties every single day! You need a dedicated and commited Realtor to work for you so that you are aware, every minute of the day, of new properties on the market. Flowers Team Real Estate will ensure that you are notified within hours of a property being listed. By using  Flowers Team Real Estate, you will be among the first to view a property of interest – we guarantee it!

  • How is it that some people seem to know about a property before I even see it on mls.ca?

    First a property is listed with the Real Estate Board (the system that Sales Representatives use to find properties for their clients). Then, the Sales Representatives will likely erect a sign. It can be as long as a week before that property shows up on realtor.ca. By then, it could be sold. To make matters worse, the sale of the property may not be reported to realtor.ca for as much as another week to a month. If you are depending on realtor.ca, lawn signs or newspaper ads to find a new home, you are most definitely going to be disappointed time and again.

  • What property information should I be looking for?

    Let Flowers Team Real Estate guide you through information such as comparable property values, taxes, utility costs, zoning, restrictions, public transportation, location of schools, shopping centers, recreation facilities and all amenities that you may need. We make it our business to know these communities!

  • Why should I have an agent representing my interests?

    Flowers Team Real Estate will help guide you to determine fair market value. We will show you comparable properties and provide you with the research that will help you make informed decisions. We will make sure you are aware of features and outside factors that may affect future marketability of your potential new home. It is important to Flowers Team Real Estate that you are happy with your decision – that your wants and needs are satisfied but, we also keep you informed about the potential for this long term investment... in short, we make sure you buy right!

  • What about all of the paperwork and legal-eze. Do I really need a Realtor to help me with this?

    The only alternative to using a Realtor for preparing and reviewing offers is to employ legal counsel. Realtors have been highly trained in this aspect of the process and will ensure that your offers are prepared in a way that protects you. When you consider that you are not paying for this service, the Seller is – why pay a lawyer? Flowers Team Real Estate will take you through the entire process – we will prepare offers, negotiate, assist you with budgeting, help you find the best possible mortgage and steer you in the right direction for your home insurance and movers. We are a full service Team and we will not only do it all for you, we will do it the best!

  • How can I make sure I don't miss the perfect property for me?

    You need a responsive and aggresive sales representative working for you! Someone who is constantly watching the market and advising you of any properties that meet your criteria.  Flowers Team Real Estate will not let you miss any properties that meet your criteria – guaranteed!

  • Will I get a better price on a property if I go directly to the Listing Sales Representative?

    Not necessarily. The Listing Sales Representative’s primary responsibility is to get the very best price possible for the Seller – not the Buyer.

  • How can I find out what properties are selling for in a particular area?

    When you engage a Member of Flowers Team Real Estate to represent you as a Buyer, you ensure that you are receiving all of the comparable information you need to establish the right price for any property that interests you. You cannot obtain this information accurately and efficiently if you don’t use a Realtor.

  • Should I sell first or buy first?

    There are many advantages and disadvantages to both options. Each situation is different and we should have an in-depth conversation going over all the scenarios. Our job is to ensure that all your bases are covered and you are aware of all the risks. Flowers Team Real Estate specializes in coordinating both the sale and purchase to ensure a smooth process. We never want to see clients that end up homeless because they sold their home to quickly, or end up with 2 homes because they were not able to sell quickly enough. We guarantee you will be informed about all the possible outcomes and we will ensure to cover all your bases to get your goals achieved.

  • How can I make my home more saleable?

    There are many things you can do before the listing process to make your home more saleable. It is a proven fact that staging alone can provide a selling price of 5.6% higher than a house that is not staged.  We have included a preliminary report on home staging. This is a good start to getting your home ready.  As part of our marketing plan, we also provide a consultation with one of the best Professional Stagers in Halton. She will go through your entire home with you to ensure we position the house to get the maximum return.

  • Should I use a team or individual agent to sell my home? Is there a difference?

    Selecting an agent all comes down to personal opinion. However, there are some strong factors that you should consider when deciding on the right agent.  An individual agent may promote that they can give you personal service. However, through past experience, we have found when the market gets busy, that one man show will often drop the ball in some instance. In a transaction as large as the sale of your home, even one small mistake or oversight can cost you thousands of dollars. This is something we at Flowers Team Real Estate are not willing to gamble with. Our team of specialists have a proven system to getting our houses sold smoothly without encountering any bumps along the way, thus providing the highest possible Net money in your pocket.

  • When should I choose my agent in the selling process?

    We suggest making first contact with us as soon as you know that you will be needing to sell.  The more time we have with knowledge about your property, the easier it will be to sell. Important factors that we need to consider when getting ready to sell are; timing of the market, pricing strategy, which strategy to implement depending on current market activity. There are different strategies that we can examine including taking part in our “Secret Homes Program”. Not all strategies match every situation, however the more time we have to plan, the easier the process will be.

  • Does who I choose to list my house have an effect on the sale price of my home?

    Absolutely! The person you chose to represent you will have the greatest effect on the sale price of your home. Some questions to consider when choosing an agent: Do they have the local expertise required to negotiate effectively? Has the agent had the experience marketing houses and negotiating offers in today’s market? Do they have the team support to ensure all aspects of the transaction are taken care of smoothly? Has their marketing plan worked for others in your neighbourhood? What is the reputation of the agent?

  • Does choosing a local agent matter?

    There are many aspects that make up a great agent. One of the most important things is knowledge of the local market. This knowledge is imperative to the sale of the house. Often a buyer will try to negotiate the sale price down by using information that is not pertinent to the property. For example, a buyer will try to use sale prices of past houses that are in the same neighbourhood but a totally different model, or a similar house in an inferior location. Without intimate knowledge of the local market, a seller’s agent would not be able to effectively negotiate the highest sale price. Furthermore, information of the types of buyer’s who buy in Milton, the local amenities and school districts are all important when negotiating for sellers.

  • What is the difference between Cost & Net? How does it affect me?

    Cost refers to the actual charge that an agent charges in real estate fees.  NET refers to the amount of money you are left with at the end of a transaction after paying your real estate fees.  We at Flowers Team Real Estate focus on NET Money, keeping the most amount of money in your pocket at the end of the day after paying real estate fees. There are different commission structures that agents choose. At first, it seems that the best option is to choose the agent with the lowest commission. However, we have seen time and time again that this is the #1 costly mistake that seller’s make. All agents are not equal and choosing the wrong one has often cost sellers tens of thousands of dollars.  We suggest that you select someone who has a proven track record of selling houses for top dollar and can do the same for you. Flowers Team Real Estate is one of the top in Milton and we have proven time and time again that we not only sell houses for more money than our competition, but we are also able to NET you the maximum amount in your pocket at the end of the day. It actually can cost you money to select a discount agent who will charge you less commission if they can’t achieve the highest price for your home. That just doesn’t make sense, why would you want to NET less money?

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