Define Your Needs  |  Make a list of the things you simply can’t live without, like the number of bedrooms/bathrooms, proximity to schools/work, etc.

Choose an Agent  |  They have a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests, to be completely transparent and accountable to you so it is important to establish good communication early on.

What does an Agent do?

• Educate you about the current market conditions
• Discuss and analyze your wants and needs against your budget
• Guide you to homes that fit your criteria
• Coordinate the work of other professionals you’ll need during the process
• Negotiate with the seller on your behalf
• Make sure all the required paperwork is fully completed, accurate and that deadlines are met
• Work with you to resolve any challenges that may arise

Financing  |  Determine the price range you can afford before you start shopping.

• Down payment  |  Percentage of the total cost of a home that you’ll need to pay up front. The more money you put down, the lower your monthly payments will be and the less interest you will pay overall.
• Pre-approval  |  This will help determine what you can spend on a home and you’ll be protected against rising interest rates as well.

House Hunting  |  A great agent may suggest options that you may not have thought of.

• Choosing the right neighbourhood  |  Your agent will be able to inform you of property values in the area and how they’ve changed over the years.
• House hunting  |  Don’t be shy about asking some tough questions. Take some pictures or video on your phone. Try not to focus on the bells and whistles. Keep a lookout for things like the condition of doors and windows, water leaks, squeaky floors, soggy areas around the yard, missing shingles, lighting, etc. You’ll be getting a home inspection later, but it doesn’t hurt to start with your own observations

Making an Offer  |  Your real estate agent is there to help you put together an Offer to Purchase and discuss all the details.

• Not all offers are the same  |  Offers include price, deposit, terms, conditions, specific items that are included or not with the home and the closing date. A “firm” offer means that you’re willing to buy the home exactly as it is. A “conditional” offer means that a home inspection or the sale of your existing home needs to happen before your offer is "firmed up."
• Negotiating may come into play  |  The seller has the option to accept your offer, reject it or make a counter offer based on things like price, closing date or other conditions. Your real estate agent has plenty of experience to help you with these circumstances. Make sure what you’re asking for is fair, be polite and flexible for best results.

Other Professional Services  |  Your real estate agent can make recommendations.

• A home inspector  |  A home inspector will check your property for any structural damage; perform a thorough examination of the heating and cooling system, plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation, basement and more; then prepare a complete written report detailing all their findings.
• A legal professional  |  A lawyer experienced in Canadian real estate law will make sure that you and your investment are protected by reviewing the agreement of purchase and sale, do a property title search, check that your home complies with current building and zoning codes, ensure utilities and property taxes are paid up, review the mortgage agreement and get all the paperwork and closing fees ready for closing day.

Moving Day  |  You can take the pain out of moving day by planning ahead.

• Checklist  |  Detail a plan for everything that needs to be done weeks before you move all the way up to moving day
• Packing  |  Clearly label boxes with the rooms they need to move to. A small floorplan for your movers will reduce confusion on moving day
• Moving companies  |  Get quotes, ask for references and ask people you trust who they have had positive experiences with.
• Utilities  |  If you own your current home, cancel your cable and utilities and transfer any rented appliances (like water heater or furnace) to the new home owners. Make sure to have the gas, electricity, cable and phone hooked up at your new home.
• Address Change  |  Your employer, Canada Post, doctors, friends, pharmacy, etc.
• Schools  |  If you have children, contact both their current school and their new school to transfer academic records and confirm enrollment.
• Moving Day Meals  |  Think take-out.

Welcome Home!