A real estate agent is a professional with a real estate license that helps you buy, sell, or lease a property, condominium, parcel of land or commercial real estate.

It is in your best interest to hire a real estate agent. An agent can provide you with researched, current, and reputable data regarding a neighbourhood’s demographics, crime rates, schools, and other essential factors. Real estate agents can make recommendations on potential repairs and suggest quality professionals. We at the Hawkins/Ryerse Group research comparable listings in your area & complete a comparative market analysis to determine the best list price for the sale of your property. Incidentally, if you’re interested in a free report about your neighbourhood’s recent real estate activities, sign up for a free real estate market report on this page.

We’re here to help you to purchase, sell or rent an array of property types, i.e., residential property, land, commercial real estate, condominiums etc. Real estate agents get you the access needed to tour properties. We also assist clients in understanding the purchase/sale process, and, even more importantly, we help in the negotiation process!

The Seller typically pays the commission fees.

Look for a qualified, experienced, knowledgeable Realtor by doing your research and or by word of mouth. Ask friends, family, and coworkers who they recommend. You can also contact reputable real estate offices in your area and ask which of their agents have experience selling in your neighbourhood. It’s not a bad idea to check their reviews online as well – agents without reviews may not necessarily be a bad choice, but agents with high review ratings and lots of them are more likely a good choice!

No. To work as a real estate agent in Ontario, you must hold a real estate license and insurance.

Look for a qualified, experienced, knowledgeable Realtor by doing your research and or by word of mouth. Ask friends, family, and coworkers who they recommend. You can also contact reputable real estate offices in your area and ask which of their agents have experience selling in your neighbourhood.

Have a conversation with your agent should you feel things are not working out. The simplest way is to wait until the contract expires, pull the property off the market and relist it with a new realtor.

No. Over the last few years, there has been a substantial increase in people changing careers and entering the real estate profession. We don’t expect this industry to change how properties are bought and sold for a long time. You wouldn’t get a mortgage without an advisor and it’s not likely people will be buying and selling homes without a real estate agent for a long time.

Yes, a buyer can work with multiple agents as long as they don’t have a written agreement with an agent. In most areas, this is called a buyer representation agreement. This agreement states a buyer agrees to work with a specific agent and buy a home through that agent.

Real estate agents can aid in providing a Comparative Market Analysis for your home. We use comparable listings to give you an idea of what your home may be worth under current market conditions. However, they are not certified appraisers.

The appraisal process is the act or process of developing an opinion of the value of a house.

The closing process finalizes the sale of your home and makes everything official. Before signing closing documents, your lawyer will look over the purchase contract and identify who owes which payments and prepare closing documents. To conduct the closing, ensure taxes, title searches, real estate commissions and pay other closing costs. Record the buyer’s title and ensure that you receive the money due to you. Sellers commonly pay the following at closing:
 
– Mortgage balance and prepayment penalties, if applicable,
– Other claims against your property, such as current or post-due unpaid property taxes
– Unpaid special assessments on your property
– Real Estate commissions
– A title insurance policy
– Home warranty, if applicable
– Survey, if applicable

A mortgage is a loan often used to buy property. The property is the security for the loan. A mortgage allows the lender to take possession of the property if you don’t repay the loan on time.

Suppose you walk away from an agreement to purchase. In that case, you will not only lose your deposit but may also be liable for any damages suffered by the other party, such as the lost opportunity to sell to someone else, expenses arising from a delayed move, or the Seller’s loss of deposit on another home intended for purchase.

It depends on what area you are looking in and what you are looking for.

If you are looking at a condominium where many floor plans are similar, you may want to consider which one has the best location and look at a few to determine which suits your needs best.

If you are looking for a property, consider your needs and wants and start there. For some people, the first home they see may be the one. For others, it may take viewing multiple homes before finding the right one.

The first step in buying a home is determining where you would like to live, how much you can afford and what your needs and wants are. It is a good idea to talk to your bank to understand what price point you can afford and then reach out to your local real estate agent. 

It really depends on your circumstances. For some, selling your current property first is a better option, for others it may be a situation whereby you put a conditional offer in on selling your home on a property you would like to purchase. We at The Hawkins/Ryerse Group can help you make an informed decision as current market conditions will also dictate the better choice. 

We highly recommend to all of our clients that a final walk-through be performed before the settlement of the home buying transaction. The final walk-through shows buyers what condition they can expect the property to be in when they move in. It is beneficial to complete a final walk-through. The worst case scenario is that you’ve lost a few hours or your life 🙂

The average time frame for selling a home is 15 to 25 weeks, although many variables involved can prolong (or shorten) the process, such as market conditions at the time.

Yes, a home inspection is most beneficial when purchasing a property. We at the Hawkins/Ryerse Group highly recommend doing a home inspection before purchasing, as it allows a buyer to hire a professional who will address any major and/or minor issues with a home before purchasing it. The findings in a home inspection will help you decide whether you are comfortable moving ahead with your purchase and ease your mind of any potential surprises you may not know about simply from a showing.

– Prep the Exterior
– Keep your lawn manicured and watered regularly
– Trim hedges, weed flower beds, prune trees
– Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint
– Clean and align gutters
– Inspect and clean the chimney
– Repair and replace loose or damaged shingles
– Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking
– Keep walls neatly cleared of ice and snow in winter
– Add colourful annuals near the front entrance in spring
– Re-seal an asphalt driveway
– Keep your garage door closed
– Apply a fresh coat of paint to your front door
 
Prep the Interior
Hire a professional cleaning service every few weeks while the house is on the market Clean every room and remove clutter. This will make your home appear larger and brighter. Remove items from kitchen counters and closets.
 
Remove all personal photos from the walls and patch holes where they were removed. Re-surfacing soiled or strongly coloured walls with a neutral shade, such as off-white or beige and apply the same colour scheme to carpets and flooring.
 
Checking and repairing cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
 
Repair holes or damage to plaster, wallpaper, paint and tiles.
 
Replace broken or cracked window panes, moulding or other woodwork.

Do your research! Check in with family/friends, word of mouth is usually best, visit your local real estate agency and talk in person, or do online research. The agents you’re contacting should be available by phone, email, text and in person! In our opinion, it’s a major red flag if communication during your selection process is not good.

Ask family and friends who they have used for a realtor in the past and if they had a good experience. Know the neighbourhood you are looking in. Know your needs. Connect with a realtor that specializes in the area you are looking in. Interview a few before deciding. Online research. Know how working with a Realtor protects you. 

Find an agent that specializes in the area you are interested in. Ask family/friends for referrals. Know your needs. Choose someone you feel you can trust.

Be honest and forthright. Offer thoughts that will help others when considering using a Realtor.

Real Estate commissions range anywhere from 3% – 6% + HST.

On average commission for a real estate agent ranges between 5% – 6% + HST.

Real estate commissions can be negotiated, but typically run about 5% to 6% + HST of a home’s sale price. The exact terms of an agent’s commission vary from sale to sale and can depend on the region and firm they work for.