When deciding how to manage the real estate aspect of your downsize or of an estate, you can consider three options:

1. For Sale by Owner

2. Traditional Real Estate Agent

3. Integrated Real Estate & Transition Specialist

Imagine you've found the house you want, and it's perfect for you and your family. You examine the house, talk to the owners, think it over, and decide how much you will offer.

Surely, at this late stage there will be no surprises right? 

This is a question I get from time to time - typically when an estate or downsize seller has a familiarity or a relationship with one or more real estate agents already. The fact that a client has been considering agent 1 or 2 for awhile is not a surprise. With what some say is over 48,000 agents in the GTA alone, most people know at least one.

And with the vast majority of real estate advertising being spent on agent promotion - rather than property promotion, it is not uncommon to get the impression that only a select few in your community can get the job done right. Fair thought.

Often, the hardest part of selling your home is getting the house into “sell ready” condition. This can be a stressful, time consuming and, frankly, an overwhelming experience for both you and your family.

Many people don’t know where to begin, which often leads to homes going on the market in a less-than-perfect state. 

One of the more difficult decisions for many people is what to do with the family home when elderly parents are unable to maintain it. The alternatives include selling the house so the parents can move to a condominium or retirement community or upgrading it to allow live-in care.

These decisions should not be rushed. For many, the family home remains their major asset and as a result of the principal residence exemption, it can be sold without paying any income taxes. 

Tendering is the process of purchasing Real Estate through a confidential written offer. Should you wish to purchase a property by tender, prepare your best offer in consultation with your solicitor and/or agent and present it on the tender date. These tenders are then opened with the vendor and real estate agent present.

Auctions have not traditionally been the way people have sold or bought real estate. The online marketplace is growing, and the advantages offered by an online auction are becoming more and more apparent. Let's look at the benefits for both buyers, and sellers of real estate. 

As an industry professional, keeping up to date with multiple service professionals, spread out over a variety of fields can be tiresome. Integrated Real Estate and Transition Service specialists combine a variety of services into one contact, making it easier to stay up to date and aware of what's what and who's who. Here is how these integrated services are better for your client.

Presented by Gordon's Estate Services, courtesy of Science of Us

Typically, when one thinks of moving, the connotations are usually negative. When research has been done on relocation, it has traditionally highlighted the negative aspects of this life shift. The loss of friends, the loss of routine, and many other downsides are emphasized, and the entire process of moving is painted with a negative brush.

When we are selling your property, we ensure everything is ready. All the information a potential buyer could want to know is available online. So at any time an offer can roll in, right? Well, it's actually better to let potential buyers know that you will only be entertaining offers at a specific date and time.