Still paying off your mortgage, don't worry. There are several options depending on what type of mortgage you have, however, you’ll need to talk to your lender before you proceed to ensure what option best suits you. Here are a few options you may be presented with:

Discharge mortgage
This refers to using the proceeds from the sale of your home to discharge or pay off your current mortgage. In an open mortgage, you can pay it all off without any penalties. If you have a closed mortgage, be prepared to pay a penalty. 

Portable mortgage
A portable mortgage means you can take your mortgage money with you and buy a new home, without penalty.

Capital gains tax
If you had tenants living in part of your home, such as the basement, you’ll pay capital gains tax on a portion of your profits. You may also owe capital gains tax if you’re selling a vacation or investment property.

These are all things you'll want to ask and have a conversation with. If you need recommendations on a mortgage broker, I am happy to help. 

When you think about it, there are several other homes for sale competing with your home. I will help you price your home competitively to attract qualified buyers. The way I do this is by generating a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report, which will show you a range of prices being paid for homes in your area. You can complete my online form to get a feel for your home's market value further down this page.

Once we've established a list price for your home, the next step will be to sign a Listing Agreement, which gives permission to post your property on MLS (Multiple Listing Service). We'll then begin marketing your home through a variety of mediums — digital and traditional — and inform other REALTORS® (representing buyers) that your property is on the market. 

A few things you can do to help get your home ready for sale are: 

Declutter
Get rid of as much clutter as possible. Give it away, donate it to a local charity, sell it at a garage sale, put it in storage, or throw it out. Just get it out of the house. You want your home to look spacious and tidy.

Repair
Chipped paint, cracked tiles, squeaky hinges, leaky faucets. Fix everything you can. If you need a contractor, I will recommend local professionals to coordinate the repairs.

Clean + Stage
Clean and organize each room so it looks like a showcase. Depending on the property, you may want to consider staging your home. You never get a second chance to make a great first impression.

Congratulations, we got an offer. Next comes the hard part, negotiation. Negotiating a purchase price is one of the most intimidating aspects of the selling process because it’s an emotional one, as well. This is your home after all. As your realtor, I take on the heavy lifting, providing accurate knowledge to the current state of the real estate market, advising you on how to navigate forward through each offer. I act with your best interests at heart, watching for potential problems in offers, counter-offers or drafting complex paperwork.

Each situation is different, but here are three common steps to an offer: 

Accept the offer
You settled on the price you were hoping for, maybe even more. The closing date looks good and there are reasonable or no conditions. I will formally accept the offer, and you’ll start to move on to the closing process.

Reject the offer
If you receive an offer that’s not close enough to your asking price, or that has unreasonable conditions, you can reject the offer. I will communicate this to the buyer or buyer’s agent.

Provide a counter offer
The offer is close, but something’s not quite right. I can help with the delicate art of negotiation by “signing back” or sending a counteroffer. Some of the most common reasons for a sign back include: you want a higher offer price; you want to change the closing date; or there may be some undesirable conditions in the offer (these could include a requirement for the buyer to obtain financing, approval to assume mortgage, sales of purchaser’s home, or a property inspection, etc.).

Congratulations, the negotiations were a success! Before your house is truly sold, it’s time for the vital final steps, known as “closing” which includes paperwork.

Once both parties agree on the sale terms, a final sale agreement is drawn up, detailing the transaction’s specifics, including price, closing date, and any conditions that must be met before the sale is finalized. Before closing, the buyer may arrange for a home inspection to identify any issues with the property. Ensure the house is clean and all areas are accessible, and be prepared to negotiate repairs or offer concessions based on the inspection results. Review all documents with a lawyer and understand all charges before signing. The title will be officially transferred from the seller to the buyer, signifying the change in ownership. Sellers are responsible for certain closing costs, which can include fees, title insurance fees for the buyer, and any agreed-upon repairs or credits to the buyer.