Listing and showing your home

It is important that you provide accurate information about your home to ensure a smooth transaction. If information you provided is found to be inaccurate, it may disrupt a transaction and could lead to a legal dispute. While it is not legally required, your agent may ask you to complete an information statement about your property, sometimes referred to as a Seller Property Information Statement (SPIS).

Your agent will require the following information about your property:

• Basic details, such as address, lot size, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and age of home.
• Neighbourhood information, such as proximity to schools, parks, public transit, and grocery stores.
• Improvements or renovations or additions, such as new roof, finished basement, and energy-efficient appliances.
• Property disclosures, such as any known defects, liens, and encumbrances as well as information on utility costs and property taxes.

You are responsible for providing accurate information about your property to your agent and doing so helps avoid legal disputes after closing.

Here are some examples of how your agent can add value to the sale of your property: 

• Developing marketing strategies, such as drafting an appealing property description and creating virtual tours.
• Utilizing multiple media platforms, such as social media, online listings, print, and advertising.
• Advertising your home in the Multiple Listing Services (MLS), also known as Realtor.ca.
• Staging your home and managing open houses.
• Handling inquiries, screening buyers, and negotiating offers.

When you’re showing your home, the security of your property and belongings is paramount. Put away personal items like photos and valuables to keep them secure and also help buyers focus on the home, not who lives in it.

As well, your home should look its best to impress buyers. Here are some things you can do to prepare your home for showings:

• Cleaning and decluttering your space to make it appear more spacious and inviting.
• Doing some minor repairs like fixing leaks and walls.
• Maintaining the exterior of your home, such as cleaning your driveway and landscaping.
• Making sure your home is accessible by clearing paths and removing obstruction to doorways.
• Being flexible with viewing times for interested buyers.

Lockboxes provide a practical and convenient way for real estate agents to access a property for showings when the seller or their agent is not available. Your agent requires your consent to have a lockbox for your home, so it is important to ask about their brokerage’s lockbox security protocol. 

Here are some important items to confirm with your agent should you opt to have a lockbox:

• Ask if they confirm the identity and registration of every real estate agent requesting access to the lockbox.
• Confirm whether they are using a standard lockbox or an electronic one. Electronic lockboxes often have more security features, such as Bluetooth access that limits the risk of sharing codes. Electronic lockboxes also allow you to know exactly when a visitor entered and exited your property.
• Confirm if they only share the lockbox codes with authorized users.
• Ask how they ensure that interested buyers are accompanied at all times, either by their authorized agent or your agent.
• Ask if they keep a record of authorized users who have accessed the lockbox.

Did you know? Lockboxes are not a mandatory aspect of the selling process. While many sellers agree to have a lockbox installed on their property, this choice is completely up to you.