{"id":24788,"date":"2008-03-13T19:08:41","date_gmt":"2008-03-14T02:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jamesgarbutt.com\/wp\/resources\/seller-to-do-list\/"},"modified":"2022-09-20T08:13:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T15:13:37","slug":"seller-resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/resources\/seller-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Selling your home ** CHECK FOR CONTENT TO USE IN SELLER SECTION"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steps-to-Selling-a-Home-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steps-to-Selling-a-Home-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21725\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Selling your home is a huge decision. You\u2019ve not only made a huge financial investment in your home, but an emotional one as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019ve decided the time is right for selling your home, you\u2019ve got to try to take emotions out of the process. You need to look at your home as a product that is going to market where it will compete against all the other homes on the market. Selling your home is really about attracting the right buyers and negotiating the best outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting prepared for selling your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The process of selling your home should start even before you put it on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your home needs to show well. It needs to appear that it\u2019s been well-kept, and clutter-free. Nobody wants to buy a used car that\u2019s been battered and run into the ground; the same goes for your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your home needs repairs or improvements, do them before putting it on the market. Get to those projects like painting, repairing the front step, refinishing cabinets or refreshing the grout in the bathroom. A little investment in time and energy before selling your home can mean more money in your pocket when buyers start making offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/how-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-furniture\/\">How to Get Rid of Unwanted Furniture and Junk<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/get-buyers-to-fall-in-love-with-your-home\/\">How to Get Buyers to Fall in Love With Your Home<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/creating-curb-appeal\/\">How to Give Your Home Curb Appeal<\/a><br><a style=\"float: right;\" href=\"#top\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hiring a Realtor for selling your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your first step toward actually selling your home is to find a Realtor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/10-great-questions-to-ask-a-realtor-when-selling-your-home\/\">10 Great Questions to Ask a Realtor When Selling Your Home<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Realtor is a qualified and experienced professional who will market your home to potential buyers and act as your representative during negotiations. They\u2019ll be able to assess your home and provide you with a comparative analysis of the worth and sale price of similar homes in the area. This will help set a price for selling your home that is likely to attract buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/how-realtors-price-a-home\/\">How Realtors Set a Price for Your Home<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Realtor will handle all the negotiations, with your guidance of course, to ensure you get the best price and terms possible. They&#8217;ll then help guide you through the detailed process of closing the sale, ensuring all the T\u2019s are crossed and I\u2019s are dotted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/10-reasons-to-hire-a-realtor\/\">Top 10 Reasons to Hire&nbsp;a Realtor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The paperwork when selling your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve hired your Realtor, you may be presented with several documents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The <b>Multiple Listing Contract<\/b> formalizes the relationship between you and your Realtor and authorizes them to market your property and represent you in the sale of your home.<\/li><li>The <b>Property Disclosure Statement<\/b>\u00a0(for non-strata properties) is a document that itemizes all relevant information about the property. \u00a0To avoid liability, it is essential to disclose any issues such as whether there\u2019s asbestos insulation, an unauthorized rental suite, moisture problems in the basement or if there\u2019s an underground oil storage tank.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your home is a condo or townhouse, your <b>Strata Property Disclosure Statement\u00a0<\/b>(for strata properties)<b>\u00a0<\/b>includes parking and storage allocations, special assessments and any information about pet or age restrictions and problems with the building\u2019s envelope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the Property Disclosure Statement isn\u2019t a legally-binding warranty of your home\u2019s condition, you can be liable for damages if you misrepresent the condition of your property or conceal problems. &nbsp;This document will not form part of the contract unless agreed by both the buyer and seller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The <b>Working With a Realtor Acknowledgement<\/b> is a form that outlines the relationship between\u00a0you and your Realtor.<\/li><li><b>FINTRAC<\/b> is a government agency that keeps an eye out for money laundering or financing of terrorist activity whenever there is a large financial transaction. Since selling your home is a significant financial transaction, your Realtor will require a copy of your photo ID as well as your occupation. The information will be kept on file in case the sale triggers a review by FINTRAC.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Checking in with your lender<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you still have a mortgage on your home, you should check in with your lender to get the details on any financial penalty you may incur for closing the mortgage early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ratehub.ca\/penalty-calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Mortgage Penalty Calculator<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, your lender may allow you to transfer your mortgage to your new property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Showing off&nbsp;your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/decorate.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/decorate.jpg\" alt=\"Some simple decorating will make your home more appealing when you're selling your home.\" class=\"wp-image-20529\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Adding a painting to a bare wall can help make your home look more appealing to prospective buyers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the paperwork is out of the way, the fun begins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your Realtor will arrange for photographs to be taken of your home. They\u2019ll also advise you of things you can do to get your home ready for its close-up. Great photographs are important, as they\u2019re usually the first point of contact with potential buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/7-tips-help-home-look-great-photos\/\">7 Tips to Make Your Home Look Great in Photos<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your Realtor writes a description that highlights all your home\u2019s great features and then adds it, and the photos, to the Multiple Listing Service. That&#8217;s a national database of properties for sale that can be accessed by all Realtors and potential buyers.<br>At some point, your Realtor will likely want to show off your home to prospective buyers with an Open House or private showings. Don\u2019t worry, you won\u2019t have to be there. But you should make sure your place is looking its best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/getting-ready-for-an-open-house\/\">Getting Ready for an Open House<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your Realtor will take it from there, ensuring visitors don\u2019t track mud into your home and leave with a positive impression as well as the information they need to know if they\u2019re interested in buying.<a style=\"float: right;\" href=\"#top\"><br><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting offers when selling&nbsp;your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sellersoffers.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sellersoffers.jpg\" alt=\"When selling your home, you want to see good offers\" class=\"wp-image-20456\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Good marketing and presentation when selling your home will lead to good offers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If all goes well, your Realtor will be presenting you with offers from buyers who want to purchase your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An offer is a contract. If you accept an offer, its terms are legally binding. Most elements of an offer are negotiable and it may take your Realtor several rounds of negotiation before you and the buyer reach a final agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An offer to purchase includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><b>The purchase price<\/b><\/li><li><b>A deposit<\/b>. Typically it\u2019s five percent of the sale price but is negotiable. In most cases, the deposit cheque is made out to the brokerage of the buyer\u2019s Realtor. It is held in trust and becomes due after final subject removal. The deposit funds go toward the purchase price once the sale completes.<\/li><li><b>Subjects<\/b>. An offer can be clean and straightforward with no conditions. This is called a \u201csubject-free\u201d or firm offer. If it\u2019s accepted, the deposit is submitted and your home is sold.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>More typically, offers are written with conditions, or subjects, that must be satisfied before the sale can proceed. These can include subjects like your home passing an inspection, completing certain repairs and providing property-related documents for review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The buyer could also have subjects that need to be fulfilled, such as securing financing or selling their own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you agree to the conditions, the offer is accepted. You then have seven to 10 days (or whatever is negotiated) to fulfill the conditions. The buyer will want to do an inspection to ensure the conditions have been fulfilled and their due diligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the subjects have been fulfilled, the buyer will give you written notice that they&#8217;re being removed and your house is sold!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If, for any reason, the subjects aren\u2019t removed, your home is still on the market, and you\u2019re able to entertain other offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><b>Terms<\/b>. These are the deal\u2019s nuts and bolts like the price, dates, deposit, and items that are included as part of the sale.<\/li><li><b>Adjustments<\/b>. These are the pro-rated expenses associated with a property that will be assumed by the buyer, like property taxes, strata fees, and utilities.<\/li><li><b>Closing Date<\/b>. This is when your home legally transfers to the buyer.<\/li><li><b>Possession date<\/b>. This is when your Realtor comes by to get your keys. Usually, it\u2019s 30-90 days after the initial sales agreement and a day or two after the closing date.<\/li><li><b>Expiry Date<\/b>. This is when an offer to purchase expires.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">After subjects are removed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once subjects have been removed, the financial and legal&nbsp;process of completing the sale and transferring ownership begins.<br>You\u2019ll want to get a lawyer or notary. Their job is to review and enforce all contracts, including the Agreement to Purchase and Title Transfer. This will give you peace of mind and ensure the sale goes through smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Remember that a lawyer\/notary:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Should be a licensed full-time lawyer\/notary.<\/li><li>Should be local and understand real estate laws, regulations and restrictions.<\/li><li>Should have realistic and acceptable fees (Approx. $600 &#8211; 900 Sell, $800 &#8211; 1200 Buy)<\/li><li>Can explain things in plain language.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some recommended lawyers we&#8217;ve worked with over the years<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lawyers\/Notaries:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>[table \u201c430\u201d not found \/]<br \/>\n<br>[table \u201c431\u201d not found \/]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moving out of your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once subjects have been removed, legal documents signed and funds transferred, the sale of your home is considered complete. It\u2019s time to start packing for your move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/how-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-furniture\/\">Tips on How To Get Rid of Unwanted Furniture<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set Up Utilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re on the move, there\u2019s a lot to think about; first and foremost, make sure that your new home has the essentials: Power and Heat. &nbsp;Moving is challenging enough without electricity to keep the fridge and your beer cold and the oven to keep your pizza hot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies like BC Hydro, New Westminster Electric, and Fortis BC have made it easy to transfer or set up service at your new home. &nbsp;Click the links below to take a look at the steps involved&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bchydro.com\/accounts-billing\/moving-electrical-connections.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">BC Hydro<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwestcity.ca\/services\/electrical-utility#applying-for-or-cancelling-service\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">New Westminster Electric<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fortisbc.com\/Pages\/Moving-New-accounts-stop-or-move-service.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Fortis BC Natural Gas<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to cancel your home insurance and close your utility accounts, notify your contacts of your new address and make arrangements to get your stuff to your new home. If you live in a strata condo or townhouse, you may also have to inform the building manager of your move so they can provide you exclusive use of an elevator as well as security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Change of Address Checklist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re on the move, there\u2019s a lot to think about; first and foremost, make sure that your mail follows you to your new address so that you don\u2019t miss a thing! Here&#8217;s a handy guide on who to alert when changing your address:&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Change-of-Address-Checklist.pdf\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Change of Address Checklist<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Additional Tools and Resources<\/b><br>Are you moving within BC? Quickly and easily update your address in seven steps using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.addresschange.gov.bc.ca\/views\/SelectPartners.view?WT.si_n=Resident&amp;WT.si_x=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Address Change BC<\/a>.<br>You can also change your address over the phone 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday:<br>Vancouver: 604 775-0011<br>Elsewhere in BC: 1 866 775-0011<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Hot Tip: Mail Forwarding<\/b><br>Have some time before you take possession? Consider Canada Post\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.canadapost.ca\/web\/en\/products\/details.page?article=forward_your_mail_wh&amp;ecid=display|ddn|ml|225\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">mail forwarding service<\/a>. It\u2019s an ideal way to make sure that you don\u2019t miss anything important!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Change of Address Cards<\/b><br>Change of address cards can be found free at your local post office. Simply add postage and send!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Possession date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The only thing left to do now is hand over the keys on the <strong>Possession Date<\/strong>. Your Realtor will make those arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations! You\u2019ve sold your home! <a style=\"float: right;\" href=\"#top\"><br><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Helpful blog posts for sellers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some articles that&nbsp;may be helpful when you&#8217;re selling your&nbsp;home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/10-great-questions-to-ask-a-realtor-when-selling-your-home\/\">10 Great Questions to Ask a Realtor When Selling Your Home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/how-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-furniture\/\">How to Get Rid of Unwanted Furniture and Junk<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/creating-curb-appeal\/\">Creating Curb Appeal&nbsp;That Sells<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/10-reasons-to-hire-a-realtor\/\">Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Realtor<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/how-realtors-price-a-home\/\">How Realtors Price a Home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/best-time-of-year-to-sell-a-home\/\">Best Time of Year to Sell a Home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/getting-ready-for-an-open-house\/\">Getting Ready for an Open House<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/get-buyers-to-fall-in-love-with-your-home\/\">Get Buyers to Fall in Love With Your Home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/7-tips-help-home-look-great-photos\/\">Top 7 Tips to Make Your Home Look Great in Photos<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Helpful&nbsp;trades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some&nbsp;trades that may come in handy to prepare for the sale of your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pest Control <\/strong><br>Orkin &#8211;&nbsp;Call 1.800.800.6754 or visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.orkincanada.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Orkin Canada<\/a><br><strong>Landscaping<\/strong><br>Gordon Landscapes &#8211; Contact Adam Gordon (778.989.6865 or <span style=\"display:inline;unicode-bidi:bidi-override;direction:rtl;\" class=\"\">moc.sepacsdnal<span style=\"display:none;\">obfsctd<\/span>&#64;nodroga<\/span>) or visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gordonlandscapes.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Gordon Landscapes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Selling your home is a huge decision. You\u2019ve not only made a huge financial investment in your home, but an emotional one as well. When you\u2019ve decided the time is right for selling your home, you\u2019ve got to try to take emotions out of the process. You need to look at your home as a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":2204,"menu_order":39,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"James Garbutt","author_link":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/author\/james\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24788"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24788"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55615,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24788\/revisions\/55615"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garbuttdumas.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}