Frequently Asked Questions
Here are your home buying, selling and real estate answers.
I'm ready to buy/sell my house. What should I do first?
When you know it’s time to make a housing sale and purchasing decision, scheduling a consultation is the first step. Engaging an industry expert early on gives you an advantage when entering the real estate market. We’ll give you an honest assessment of your timeline, housing goals, market conditions and the guidance you need to bring value to your investment. A discovery meeting is a comprehensive service we’re happy to offer – you don’t have to go it alone. Save time and stress by getting the support you deserve right from the start.
Where do you work?
We’re a boutique real estate brokerage based in Uptown, New Westminster, BC. We work with home sellers and buyers in Metro Vancouver and the surrounding area: New Westminster, Burnaby, Vancouver, Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam.
What sort of clients do you typically work with?
Our clients want to sell and buy a home honestly and work together in a professional partnership without the high-pressure tactics the sales industry is known for. When your family has outgrown your condo, townhome or house, we’ll help you find your forever home. We know how little spare time Lower Mainland families have, and we know you want to save what time you do have. Still, you also want to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of finding your dream home. Buying and Selling your home is more than a financial transaction; it’s emotional too, and that’s why we’ll collaborate every step of the way. We’ll get answers to the questions you didn’t even know you should be asking. We’re here to guide you through this journey with extensive real estate market knowledge. We’re your firm advocate during negotiations and your trusted advisor throughout the process.
What should I look for when interviewing agents?
Housing gets stressful no matter how prepared you are. When interviewing agents, try picturing handing them the keys to your home – is this a person you feel comfortable giving the key to your front door? All the sales stats in the world will only matter if professionalism and integrity back them up. Look for an agent you feel you can communicate well with, who represents your values, and above all, someone you genuinely like because you’ll work closely together; having a good working relationship from the start will make it much easier to navigate the layers of financial and emotional decisions involved when buying or selling your home.
When is the best time to sell my house?
Families tend to choose a home sale coinciding with maternity leave or kids entering school. This way, you’ll be settled in your new space, routine, and school catchment in time for the school year. With a home sale in the spring, you’ll have enough time to close on and move into your new home by summer, and you’ll be well ready for the first day of school in September. Historically, the seasons so heavily influence our local housing market, we see the market at the busiest in the spring(families moving), slowing down for the summer(summer vacation), picking back up in the fall (kids being back in school) and then slowing down for the lowest part of the market in the winter(the holiday season).
How long does it take to get my home on the market?
How’s tomorrow for you?! We’re a small, agile company, and with a dedicated photographer on staff, this allows us to act fast. Realistically though, most families find it more comfortable to plan about four weeks in advance. It gives you more reasonable time for decluttering, staging, and photo and video production without feeling too rushed. To estimate your best timeline begin with your goal date of moving into your new home and work backwards to find the ideal listing date.
At what stage should I get help with my home search?
If you feel ready to view homes in person, it’s time to team up with a real estate professional. REALTORS® in Metro Vancouver follow strict client loyalty rules; the homeseller’s agent may feel uncomfortable if you call them directly for a showing because showing a property privately to a buyer who doesn’t already have an agent can be seen as overstepping. It’s much easier and less awkward to be upfront by working with an agent before viewing homes.
How do I know when I have found the right home?
Most buyers describe it as just knowing this is the ONE. While making a pros/cons or wants/needs list can be helpful, the life you live in the space you call home is much more than a checklist or transaction. After helping hundreds of homebuyers become homeowners our best advice is: “You’ll know when you know!”
How do I make an offer to purchase a home?
When you’ve found “the one” home you want to buy, it’s time to make an offer, and when you work with us, we’ll be crafting your bid. We’ll use a legally recognized document called the real estate contract of purchase and sale, we’ll be submitting your offer to the seller, and they’ll accept, reject or counter that offer; during this time, we’ll work through all the terms and conditions together. We can go back and forth in negotiations several times, or it could be one-and-done.
Should I sell my home before I buy another one?
In a balanced housing market, typically, you’d want to sell first and leveraging your completion period (the time between getting a firm sale and the date you move out), you’d look for your next house; you’ll benefit from knowing exactly the budget you have to work with and the timeline of your move. However, if you have the financial resources to carry two homes, buying first and selling later is a more comfortable experience; you’ll have the luxury of selecting your dream home without the pressure of a pending sale. There are advantages and risks to both scenarios.
How do I buy my next home when all my money is tied up in my current home?
In Metro Vancouver, it’s traditional for a buyer and seller to agree to a completion and possession period(also known as a closing period); This is the time between putting up the sold sticker and the date you agreed in the contract to exchange payment and move out. So let’s say your home sold with a two-month completion; you’ll use these two months to go and look around for your next home and line that all up with the sale of your current home by leveraging the closing period. To make things smoother, buyers typically offer sellers a couple/few days’ grace between when the money changes hands at the lawyer/notary office and when they get the keys. We’ll make sure to negotiate this into your contract. This way you’ll use that time to move from your old place to your new one.
How does moving day work?
Suppose you’re lining up your home purchase and sale(without a bridge loan). In that case, you’d typically close up the paperwork at the lawyer/notary’s office, the next day, get your keys to your new home and move in, and the day after that, give the keys to the buyers of your home. It’s like dominos when everything falls into place right after each other. Moving in and out over two days can feel rushed-if you need more time and have the means, consider a bridge loan.
Deciding to buy or sell your home is not a one size fits all approach. No matter your situation, let’s have an honest conversation.