Zoocasa
Sold Prices
Map
Market Insights
  • Blog Home
  • For Buyers
  • For Sellers
  • Real Estate News
  • Mortgage News in Canada
  • Free Guides (PDF)
  • Real Estate Infographics
Zoocasa
  • Blog Home
  • For Buyers
  • For Sellers
  • Real Estate News
  • Mortgage News in Canada
  • Free Guides (PDF)
  • Real Estate Infographics
Home Selling Your Home

Agent Tips for Selling Your Home in the Spring

Daibhead O’Ceallacháin by Daibhead O’Ceallacháin
April 20, 2017
in Selling Your Home, Toronto Real Estate
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Selling Your Home in the Spring
Share4
Tweet
Share2
6 Shares

The Toronto Real Estate Board’s latest report didn’t contain much in the way of surprises.

Residential sales were up 17.7% compared to March 2016, with the average selling price increasing by 33.2% in the same period. It is a familiar narrative for anyone that has been paying close attention to the Toronto property market over the past year.

For those planning to buy a home, the latest statistics from TREB won’t make for happy reading. For those on the selling side, however, the ball is firmly in their court – but that’s not to say they can take anything for granted. Spring is traditionally the busiest time of year for homes sales, and although supply has really become a real concern in the GTA, 2017 will be no different.

The Spring Market Still Requires Strategy

But while there’s a host of potential buyers flooding the Toronto real estate market, anyone planning on selling their home still needs to ensure they have all their ducks in a row.

“You can’t just assume your house will sell,” says Zoocasa Broker of Record Chantel Crisp. “You still have to price it right. There are two pricing strategies that are common right now. The traditional strategy is where the home sells for 98% of asking price.”

The current market in the GTA is anything but traditional, though, and pricing a home for sale reflects that. Current consensus says the more people that view a property, the higher the final sale price will be. It is a balancing act, and something that usually requires the input of professionals with expertise in such matters.

“If homes are not priced correctly, you won’t necessarily get multiple offers,” she says.  “You need to decide with your agent on what marketing strategy you will use. If you want to get more money, then you need to be staging and marketing your home accordingly and not just be expecting to sell for top dollar.”

“Declutter and De-personalize”

Aside from setting a realistic price, a seller also needs to make sure the property is in pristine condition. There are a lot of variables to consider when selling your home, and appearance certainly matters a great deal.

“When you are getting a home ready for sale, it takes a lot of decluttering and depersonalizing,” says Crisp. “It’s psychological – when buyers walk in the front door they want to be able to picture themselves living in the house. If it has family pictures and a lot of other stuff, they can’t focus on the bones of the home. It is best to have it staged as neutral as possible.” 

Related Read: The Price Difference Home Staging Can Make

Be Realistic About Your Investment

Toronto’s housing market has received a lot of focus over the past month, with policymakers at provincial, federal and municipal levels weighing in on affordability. Various economists and representatives of the Big Five have offered their two cents as well, specifically, the need to cool the market. This atmosphere makes the job of agents like Crisp that much harder, especially when it comes to dealing with clients making their first step onto the property ladder.

“We have a lot more conversations with buyers on how long they plan to buy for,” she says.  “If it is a first-time buyer that is not currently invested in the real estate market, they will be a little nervous about jumping in with all the hoopla in the media that the sky is about to fall.”

Such forecasts are overblown in Crisp’s view, and while some price adjustment may be in the cards down the line, she doesn’t foresee a major collapse in the market any time soon.

“From what we can see there is nothing to suggest there is a bubble about to burst,” she says. “If you are only looking to buy for one or two years, that is something to be concerned about. But if you are buying for five, 10, 20 years, you can ride out any bubble if it does actually happen.”

Previous Post

Knockout Listing Alert: 15951 Bayview Avenue

Next Post

Over Half of Canadians Support a Foreign Buyer Tax: Zoocasa Housing Trends Report

Daibhead O’Ceallacháin

Daibhead O’Ceallacháin

Daibhead O’Ceallacháin is a freelance writer from Ireland that moved to Toronto in 2010. Writing for his local newspaper, he covered real estate during Ireland’s “Celtic Tiger” era and the subsequent housing crash and financial crisis. Today he writes about real estate, finance and politics in Canada, the U.S., Ireland and England.

Related Posts

Just for Fun

8 Best Malls in the GTA to Beat the Heat This Summer 

July 24, 2025
toronto skyline from ontario place
Toronto Real Estate

6 Ways Toronto Real Estate Transformed Over the Past 10 Years

July 14, 2025
Toronto Real Estate

Longer Days, Slower Sales as June Market Offers Buyer Advantage: TRREB

July 7, 2025

Blog Search

No Result
View All Result

Newsletter Sign-up

Join a community of 130,000+ subscribers. Don't miss important real estate news, market data, and buying and selling tips.

Recent Articles

Tour 10 of the Craziest Houses for Sale in the U.S. Right Now

July 26, 2025
A woman sitting on a bed, looking relaxed, with a fan blowing gently beside her.

How to Keep Your Bed Cool in the Summer and Sleep Through the Heat

July 25, 2025

8 Best Malls in the GTA to Beat the Heat This Summer 

July 24, 2025
mountains, cherry blossom and vancouver skyline

6 Moments That Made Vancouver’s Market the Real Estate Rollercoaster Ride of a Decade 

July 23, 2025

Featured Listings

A black house perched on a rocky hill, surrounded by a clear blue sky and distant mountains.

Discover Canada’s Most Unique Homes: 14 Can’t-Miss Properties

July 17, 2025

6 Best Cities for Affordable Luxury Homes in Canada Under $1M

July 10, 2025

5 Canadian Cottage Regions That Make the Perfect U.S. Buyer Getaway 

June 15, 2025

From Skyline Views to Private Escapes: 5 Luxe Calgary Homes for Sale

June 10, 2025
first-time home buyer programs and rebates

Social Media

250 The Esplanade Suite 408 Toronto, ON M5A 4J5

Stay Connected

  • Blog Home
  • For Buyers
  • For Sellers
  • Real Estate News
  • Mortgage News in Canada
  • Free Guides (PDF)
  • Real Estate Infographics
No Result
View All Result

Zoocasa © 2007–2022. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA.