Frequently Asked Questions.
This page supplies the answers to frequently asked questions about how a Realtor works. In particular it explains Mark and Donna's approach to buying and selling real estate for their clients. As most Realtors are self-employed, they run their business as they see fit and you should check that you are comfortable with their service before making your choice.
Q. I want to find a home or sell my home. Where do I start?
A. You all ready have. If you are on this website you have access to most of the information you will need. When you are ready give Donna or Mark a call and they will meet to discuss your requirements and tailor the services they offer to your needs.
Q. How do I find a Realtor?
A. Word of mouth and referral and good methods. If someone you trust had a good experience, it would be worth interveiwing that Realtor to see if you get on. Remember you will be working with this individual closely for months so it is important you gell. Another recommendation may come from your bank or lawyer.
Q. How much does will a Realtor charge?
A. If you are buying nothing. We are paid from the listing commission. This is the best deal you will get. You get both Donna and I for free. Two people on your team looking out for you. This is why it is vital to have a buyers representative when making this large purchase. When selling there is no set fee to list your home. Bear in mind that a low commission will not guarantee you save money. Your Realtor will need to offer a reasonable share of the commission to the Buying agent in order to get them interested to show your home. Also as the Realtor pays the cost of the advertising, whether the home sells or not, if the fee is small they won't have the budget to give you home the best exposure to the market.
Q. Should I avoid a new agent?
A. Not necessarily. Every agent was new once. You need to check that you feel comfortable they can complete your transaction. If an agent is new and you are their only client they can concentrate on you.
Q. Will a busy agent give me better service?
A. Again you need to interview them and find out how they will work for you. You may find that you deal with their assistant as your day to day contact. You may find you receive formatted generalised emails. Some people are comfortable with this. It depends how much personal service you expect.
Q. How do you work with your clients?
A. When working with a buyer Donna and I source listings based on our discussions with the client to find their desires and make appointments to view these and any others that the client has found. We like to work together with our clients and during viewings build a picture of what they are looking for. This can differ from what the client first requested. This way we find the right home suitable for their needs. When working with a seller we set out exactly what we will do to advertise the property. We keep in contact by telephone to arrange viewings and provide feed-back, and we give regular updates by email of interest in the property. We will provide advise on the pricing of the property and general market conditions. Based on our clients instructions we negotiate the best deal, write the contracts, liaise with the bank, lawyer, inspectors etc. and work to keep the deal on time, finding solution to any problems as they occur.
Q. Can you only show your listings?
A. On our Listings page we advertise our current listings. However, we have access to every MLS© listing in Nova Scotia. Most houses have a lock-box fitted by the listing Realtor which enables us to make an appointment and take our clients through that property.
Q. Should I call the agent from a For Sale sign?
A. You should never call from a For Sale sign. As explained previously a buyers representative is free to you. The selling agent is obliged by law to get the best possible deal for their client, the owner. They want to get the highest price. Therefore they will not be working in your best interests. Always get the details from the For Sale sign and inform your agent you wish to view.
Q. We are at an open house and we love it, what should we tell the showing agent.
A. When visiting an open house a good Realtor will ask you if you are 'represented'. This is because Realtors can pick up new customers whether they like that particular property or not. As mentioned above the Realtor is working for the seller, so any signs of interest will be reported back to their client and may affect your negotiating position. The best policy is to tell the open house agent that you have a Realtor you are working with, ask as many questions as you want, then go and consult with your Realtor.
Q. I'm looking on Realtor.ca or MLS and I see some properties of interest. Should I contact the Listing agents?
A. Talking to a number of Realtors is never a good idea. Contacting the listing agent directly weakens your ability to negotiate. If they start sending you information they could assume an implied contract. Donna and I have clients within Canada and around the world that we service by sending them email links to properties of interest. As your buyers representative we are bound by confidentiality and obligated to work for your best interests. Working exclusively for you we have no conflict of interest.
Q. What if see a property miles from Halifax. Are you allowed to show it?
A. Donna and I are licensed by NSAR (The Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®) We have listed and bought property as far as Ecum Secum, Upper Burlington and Mailand. However if we feel our client would be better served by an agent with local knowledge of a particular area then we will refer our client to them. The needs of our clients come first. To this end we have sourced a number of agents who have the same ethical approach to their business, that we feel comfortable to recommend.
Q. Will the home owner be at home when we view the property?
A. The normal practise is for the home owner to leave during the viewing. It is important to respect the home when viewing and we will indicate whether to remove shoes, etc. Children are the responsibility of the parents. Generally viewings are better accomplished without children present, that way the adults can view the property in a relaxed fashion and have time to discuss it's merits. If the owner does remain we will tell our clients to hold any comments untill we can talk outside. There are two reasons for this. One, out of respect you do not want to criticise the persons home. Secondly, if it is the one you like, you don't want to jepodise your negotiating position by enthusing how this is the house you must have. Poker face at all times is called for.
Q. Who deals with the banker, the lawyer, the inspectors and others?
A. You do but we can help you source these professionals and give you the questions you should ask. During a deal we make sure your team of professionals get all the documents they need and tell you what needs to be done and when. You will find Donna and I move the process along without you getting stressed and are on hand if you need an explanation or a sounding board.
Q. Does listing with a big Brokerage help sell my house?
A. It depends. Working with Exit Realty Metro there are over sixty agents who will see your property and they have buyers. Also people are drawn to Exit when house hunting due to it's branding. It is the fastest growing real estate company in North America. As agents, our brokerage can provide a lot of support to get your home sold, in the shortest time for the most money.
Q. Do I need a house inspection?
A. You do not have to have one but we strongly recommend you do. It makes up a small percentage of the price but could uncover discrepancies that cause you to pull out of the deal or negotiate a reduction in the price.
Q. What about well and septic systems?
A. These are expensive facilities to replace if they fail. Therefore it is strongly recommended you have an inspection under taken. We work with probably the best service in Nova Scotia. Compared to the price of the property the cost of the inspection is a small percentage but would save a large amount of money if a problem goes undetected.
Q. Do I need inspections on a new build?
A. Problems have been found in new builds, so as inspections are a relatively small cost it is worth having them done.
Q. How do I find a mortgage, a lawyer, an insurer, inspectors?
A. You can allow us to suggest professionals we have worked with in the past. We generally give you at least three choices. We do not receive referal fees from these providers. At the end of the day you are free to choose your own, particularly if you have had a previous relationship with them.
