Mike Knecht-4th Draft-Pre-Listing Package-2016.compressed
1. KNECHT
MIKE
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Home Seller’s Guide
2. Published by
Terrequity Corporation, Toronto, Ontario
Production Team
Mike Knecht, Sales Representative, Terrequity Realty; Andrew Zsolt, CEO, Terrequity Realty;
Gabriela Farmer, Cover and Content Designer, Terrequity Realty
Printed in Canada 2016
3. Thank you for taking a moment to review our Home Seller’s Guide. I understand that
you are thinking of selling your home. Regardless of the reasons why you are selling,
we know our clients usually have one goal:
To achieve the best possible price, in the shortest amount of time,
with the most favorable terms.
We created this Home Seller’s Guide to help educate you on how best to achieve this
goal. This guide breaks down the home selling process into 6 easy steps:
Step 1 – Choosing The Best Real Estate Agent For The Job
Step 2 – Pricing Your Property Right
Step 3 – Preparing Your Home For Sale
Step 4 – Our Marketing Plan And Guarantee
Step 5 – Showing Your Home
Step 6 – Negotiating A Successful Offer
If you have any questions or you would like clarification about any of these steps,
please do not hesitate to give me a call at any time.
Sincerely,
Mike Knecht
Mike Knecht
Sales Representative
Royal LePage Terrequity Realty, Brokerage
10 Yonge St, Ground Flr, Toronto, ON M5E 1R4
Direct: 416-522-6492 (cell)
GOALS OF A HOME SELLER
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4. CHOOSING THE BEST
REAL ESTATE AGENT FOR THE JOB
STEP 1STEP 1
CHOOSING THE BEST
REAL ESTATE AGENT FOR THE JOB
5. There are several important reasons for choosing a real estate professional when
it comes time to selling one of your most valuable assets.
Most sellers use a real estate agent. You certainly don’t have to, but there are
good reasons why most people still do:
1. Pricing is a real art. The biggest factor in determining how quickly your
home sells is the price, and deciding that price is trickier than it seems. It
takes experience and a solid knowledge of the market. Even 1% more for
your home can mean thousands to your bottom line.
2. Negotiating is difficult. It is not only difficult to negotiate, but it can feel
uncomfortable especially if it is your own property. If you want someone to
negotiate fearlessly on your behalf, you need an agent.
3. Marketing is more than MLS. To get the most for your home, you need
to maximize the exposure of your property to as many interested buyers as
possible. According to REALTOR.com, 82% of real estate sales are the result
of agent contacts.
4. Showings and paperwork are a pain. There’s more to the legal side of a
home sale than you might think, and showing your own home is not only
awkward, it can really complicate your schedule.
An agent takes away the burden of all these things, and works to get your home
sold for the best price in the fastest time. After all—you’ve got a life to live.
CHOOSING THE BEST AGENT
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6. After graduating from University of Western
Ontario with a Bachelors of Commercial and
Administrative Studies, Mike immediately began
his career in real estate at the age of 24 in Toronto,
Ontario.
To his clients, Mike is a proactive, trusted real estate
advisor. He is a committed partner, before, during
and after every transaction. To his peers, Mike is
highly regarded as an integrity-powered
professional and a formidable negotiator.
Mike prides himself on educating his clients about
the real estate market, negotiating the best
possible price and terms for their sale or purchase
of a home, and creating a positive and memorable
real estate experience for each and every client.
Nonetheless, Mike’s greatest passion and joy comes
from his family. The Knechts have resided in
Toronto for over 24 years and are actively involved
in their community.
MEET
MIKE KNECHT
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Biography of a
Professional Agent
HONESTY
INTEGRITY
EXPERTISE
7. Education/Certification:
• Graduated University of Western Ontario
1984
• Licensed Agent in Ontario since 1989
• Service Excellence Award Winner 2011
• Royal LePage Terrequity won the Consumer
Choice Award for GTA Central in 2016
Professional Track Record:
• Local Toronto and GTA Market Specialist
• Over 700 families served to date
• 100% 5 out of 5 stars customer satisfaction
ratings
• List to Sale ratio average of 101% for his sellers
Languages Spoken:
• English
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PROFESSIONAL
QUALIFICATIONS
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MEET MIKE’S TEAM
Peter Lee
Handyman
Anne Cinncinnato
Home Stager
Stephanie Geraets
Mortgage Specialist
Royal Bank of Canada
Larry Lychowyd
Real Estate Lawyer
Mike Knecht
Team Leader
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RECENT AWARDS
AND ACHIEVEMENTS
2014
2013
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2015
Royal LePage President’s Gold Award
Terrequity’s Silver Performance Award
Royal LePage President’s Gold Award
Terrequity’s Silver Performance Award
Terrequity’s Silver Performance Award
2012
Service Excellence Award
Terrequity’s Double Platinum Performance Award
Coldwell Banker Diamond Society Award
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A FEW WORDS
FROM OUR SELLERS
Buying a House was Never Easier!
“Mike helped our eldest daughter and son-in-law find the perfect home for their growing family,
and he did so in a very short time. He handled every aspect of the purchase in a calm, friendly
and professional manner, and was always approachable and available to answer any questions.
Buying a house was never easier!
Mike was also able to find the ideal rental house for our other daughter, and again managed to
make the entire process a smooth and stress-free experience. We would recommend Mike
without reservation.”
- Terry R. | 2014-15
A Five-Star Rating!
“To say we had a positive experience working with Mike would be an understatement. Mike was
extremely personable and professional with every aspect of our home-buying experience. From
our initial viewing, to the final closing, and then some! We would give him no less than a five-star
rating. Mike is highly recommended.”
- Grant H. | 2015-16
Perfect for a First-Time Home Buyer!
“Mike helped me to purchase my first home, and I am very grateful that I had him as my agent as
a first-time buyer. From the first time we spoke, Mike was incredibly patient, attentive and very
knowledgeable about the neighbourhoods I was looking into. He helped by sending me
information and listings for areas I was interested in and was thorough when answering my
questions.
Mike was also very honest and didn’t just tell me what I wanted to hear, which was greatly
appreciated! He helped to connect me with great lawyers who helped to finalize the purchase of
my first home.
Overall, Mike made the home buying experience an easy and very smooth process, and I would
highly recommend him to anyone who is looking to purchase a property.”
- Linsday C. | 2015
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Mike Goes Above and Beyond!
“Mike went above and beyond for me when I was looking into purchasing a condo. He sent me
weekly listings of locations within my budget, and once I was interested in a property, he then
went all out to research the building, neighbourhood area and unit for me. He even went out of
his way to accompany me when meeting up with the real estate lawyer to ensure the process was
comfortable and smooth.
Mike ensured the process of property buying was completely stress-free for me, especially since
it was my first time. I will definitely work with Mike when buying future properties!”
- Ofelia S. | 2015-16
A Fantastic Experience!
“Mike sold our house fast and within our expectation of selling price. Mike is personable, reliable,
friendly, accessible, knowledgeable and very professional. He brought the Toronto buyers to the
country, so we didn’t have to only work within the agents and opportunities of the local country.
I would trust Mike with any of my future real estate needs. It was a fantastic experience!”
- Tiina M. | 2016
Honest, Trustworthy and Experienced!
“We chose to work with Mike over the last few years during three house transactions because
we find he is honest, trustworthy, professional and experienced. Mike’s greatest strengths are his
calm demeanor coupled with his excellent attention to detail. He is “bang on” in his property
evaluations and has an eye for spotting potential home issues that could come up in an
inspection. He used his broad experience to help guide us through all our decisions and we never
felt pressured or obligated in any scenario with him.
Mike is also well connected to other services that help in the house buying/selling process such
as financial, insurance and staging companies. We appreciate how Mike was always available for
us and provided ample data to make decision-making easy. We highly recommend Mike for any
home transactions.”
- Susan W. | 2014-16
A FEW WORDS
FROM OUR SELLERS
12.
13. CHOOSING THE RIGHT BROKERAGE
• Choosing the right Agent is one of the most important decisions a home owner can make,
but of equal importance is which Brokerage the Agent works for; Mike Knecht chooses
to work at Royal LePage Terrequity Realty.
• Royal LePage is the top real estate brand in the country, and provides a number of
benefits that no other real estate network can provide, including:
o An industry-leading brand that provides the public comfort that they are dealing
with true real estate professionals
o Some of the best marketing tools and systems to promote your property and
maximize its exposure to the marketplace
o Industry-leading websites and award winning smart phone apps which help give your
property the widest possible exposure
o A North American wide real estate network that can guarantee more exposure than
any other Canadian real estate brokerage
o Ongoing professional development which makes our Agents the best trained in the
industry
• “Helping you is what we do” Is something that Royal LePage Agents live and breathe at
every level. This philosophy is as true today as it was 100 years ago and helps drive us
forward in the decades to come.
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ROYAL LEPAGE CANADA
ROYAL LEPAGE is regarded as the premier brand in Canadian real estate
Proud 100-Year Canadian History:
• 100-year history: Canada’s oldest national real estate firm
• Founded by A.E. LePage in 1913 who continued to lead innovation in the Canadian
market
Royal LePage was created and built to serve the Canadian real estate market:
• 100% Canadian owned and operated
• Royal LePage is owned by Brookfield Asset Management
• Brookfield trades on TSX and has $75 billion under management
• Royal LePage has the #1 real estate market share in Ontario and 25% across Canada
• Over 16, 000 Agents in 600+ offices covering every province and territory of Canada
• Royal LePage is consistently the fastest growing Brand in Canada
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15. THE ROYAL LEPAGE STORY
1913
A.E. LePage established
his real estate company
‘A.E. LePage - The Bungalow
Specialist’ on July 2, 1913
1920
A.E. LePage, with an eye to
establishing codes of ethical
practice for the industry, was
instrumental in the founding
of the Toronto Real Estate
Board
1964
A.E. LePage offers a new
service to help companies
across Canada with employee
relocations
(The service now operates
under Brookfield Global
Relocation Services)
1970’s
A.E LePage rapidly expands
its residential business
throughmore than 140
acquisitions across Canada
1974The Survey of Canadian House Prices,
later known as the Royal LePage
House Price Survey, launched. The
Quarterly report is relied upon by financial,
government and academic organizations
and serves to establish Royal LePage
as the voice of Canadian Real Estate
1984
A.E. LePage and Royal Trust
Merge creating the country’s
leading diversified real
estate services organization.
The new company is
named Royal Lepage
1987
Royal Lepage becomes
a publicly-traded company,
trading on the Toronto,
Vancouver and Montreal
stock exchanges
1994
Royal LePage offers a
franchise system, and rapidly
grows its network by attracting
leading independent
brokerages and those from
competing brands, including
Johnston & Daniel
1995
Royal LePage launches
www.royallepage.ca,
Canada’s first national Real
Estate portal. The site becomes
one of the most popular
real estate Web sites in
Canada
2000
Royal LePage is Canada’s
first national real estate
company to offer property
search and neighbourhood
information via interactive
mapping technology
2012
Royal LePage grows to
14,000 REALTORS® , in
600 offices across Canada
and re-launches its
commercial brand
2013
Royal LePage marks its 100th year.
The official 100-year anniversary
is July 2, 2013. To commemorate
Royal Lepage’s 100-years, it has
launched the 100 Years of Helping
You Home campaign. A series
of celebrations and special
initiatives are planned in 2013
Each office independently owned and operated.
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16. ROYAL LEPAGE TERREQUITY REALTY
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A Brief History of ROYAL LEPAGE Terrequity:
• Terrequity was incorporated in 1988 as Coldwell Banker Terrequity Realty
• Top Coldwell Banker Affiliate in Canada for ten consecutive years
• In 2014, Terrequity joined the Royal LePage network in order to provide better
services and more benefits to its clients
Terrequity’s Recent Achievements:
• Winner of the 2016 Consumer Choice Award GTA Central
• Number 1 company in Canada for almost a decade
• Winner of the prestigious Premiere Office Award 12 times
• Led Canada with 98% Customer Satisfaction rankings
Top Office Award in Canada:
Terrequity has won the top office award in Canada in many size categories including:
• 100+ size category
• 50 -100 size category
• 35 -50 size category
Terrequity Today:
• 370+ Agents
• 67 Different Languages Spoken
• 15 Separate Offices (6 Primary and 9 Satellite)
• Completed transactions with a property value of over $1 Billion year after year
17. TERREQUITY’S
PRIMARY OFFICES
.
Our expert Agents work in various office locations
across the Greater Toronto Area in order to serve
you better:
211 Consumers Rd.
North York
10 Yonge St.
Downtown Toronto
3082 Bloor St. W.
The Kingsway
95 Queen St. S.
Mississauga
10 Royal Orchard Blvd.
Thornhill
293 Eglinton Ave. E.
Midtown Toronto
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TERREQUITY
OFFICE LOCATIONS
Primary Office
Satellite Office
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19. Our Vision
Terrequity’s Vision is to have the reputation of being
the best team of professional Agents in the Greater
Toronto marketplace. This means Agents who are:
• Trained in providing excellent customer service
• Focused on helping our clients make smart
real estate decisions
• Acting as your pro-active trusted advisors
for all your real estate needs
Our Mission
To partner with Agents who are committed to be
skilled real estate professionals that run successful
real estate businesses focused on providing excellent
client service.
Our Values and Beliefs
1. Do what is right
2. Think win-win
3. Look and act like a professional
4. Meet all your commitments
5. Respect our differences
6. Take initiative and accept responsibility
7. Communicate clearly and directly
8. Never stop learning
9. Embrace technology and what it can do for you
TERREQUITY’S
MISSION
STATEMENT
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20. ROYAL LEPAGE RELOCATION SERVICES
Royal LePage’s sister company Brookfield Relocation Services is the second largest relocation
company in the world and the unquestioned relocation leader in Canada.
Some of the key statistics about Brookfield Relocation Services:
• Operates over 22 offices in all 5 continents
• Operates 6 regional offices in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Ottawa
• Provides services to the Government of Canada since 1995
• Administers over 20,000 relocations per year
• Operates in 24 Military Bases across the World
• Employs over 1900 Agents across the World
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21. :
OUR CORPORATE CLIENTS
The Corporate clientele of our relocation services is the “Who’s Who” of Canadian
business including:
• Air Canada
• Bayer
• CIBC
• CP
• Deloitte & Touche
• Exxon Mobil
• GE
• GM
• Great-West Life
• Imperial Oil
• J&J
• Labatt’s
• Shaw
• Suncor Energy
• TD Canada Trust
• Telus
• Toyota
• WestJet
• Xerox
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22. RELOCATION SERVICES
SERVICES FOR SELLERS INCLUDE:
• Marketing Assistance
• Guaranteed Home Purchase Program
• Equity Advances
• Property Care Services
• Closing/Legal Services
SERVICES FOR BUYERS INCLUDE:
• Home Finding
• Settling-In
• Rental Assistance
• Area Orientation
• Mortgage Assistance
• Cross-Cultural Training
• Education Connections
• Career Connections
• Elder Care Connections
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24. PRICING YOUR PROPERTY RIGHT
It is important to understand that only the market determines the ultimate value of your
home.
Choosing the optimal list price is essential to maximizing your home’s value.
Pricing your home right the first time will result in:
• more exposure,
• more showings,
• more offers
• ultimately the highest price for your home
If you price too low, you risk not getting as much as you can for your property.
If you price too high you risk losing potential buyers who may think your property is out
of their price range, and you help your competition sell faster.
Determining the OPTIMAL list price is in part simple math, but for the most part it is a
strategic process that requires extensive market knowledge and research. An in-depth
Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) will tell you what similar properties have sold for
recently, but to effectively price your property, it’s equally important to consider every
similar home on the market to understand exactly what your competition is. In addition,
expertise in both the local and national market conditions is paramount to arriving at the
optimal list price.
For your no-cost, no-obligation CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) and opinion of value
using our comprehensive pricing strategy, please contact us today!
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COMPETITIVE MARKET ANALYSIS
Subject Property Date: _______________________
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
APPROX
AGE
APPROX
LOT SIZE
SURVEY
AVAIL
Recently Sold
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
ORIG LIST
PRICE
FINAL LIST
PRICE
DATE
SOLD
DAYS
ON MKT
SALE
PRICE
TERMS
PENDING (P)
OR CLOSED
(C)
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
ORIG LIST
PRICE
FINAL LIST
PRICE
DATE
SOLD
DAYS
ON MKT
SALE
PRICE
TERMS
PENDING (P)
OR CLOSED
(C)
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
ORIG LIST
PRICE
FINAL LIST
PRICE
DATE
SOLD
DAYS
ON MKT
SALE
PRICE
TERMS
PENDING (P)
OR CLOSED
(C)
Currently For Sale
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
APPROX
AGE
APPROX
LOT SIZE
DAYS ON
MKT
LIST PRICE TERMS
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
APPROX
AGE
APPROX
LOT SIZE
DAYS ON
MKT
LIST PRICE TERMS
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
APPROX
AGE
APPROX
LOT SIZE
DAYS ON
MKT
LIST PRICE TERMS
Did Not Sell
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
APPROX
AGE
ORIG LIST
PRICE
FINAL LIST
PRICE
TERMS
DAYS ON
MKT
DATE
EXPIRED
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
APPROX
AGE
ORIG LIST
PRICE
FINAL LIST
PRICE
TERMS
DAYS ON
MKT
DATE
EXPIRED
Address: Extras/Comments:
STL RMS
BED
RMS
FAM
DEN
DIN BATH
GAR
C/P
HEAT A/C F/P BSMT PATIO POOL
APPROX
SQ M/FT
APPROX
AGE
ORIG LIST
PRICE
FINAL LIST
PRICE
TERMS
DAYS ON
MKT
DATE
EXPIRED
26. Recently Sold
Each mark indicates the actual selling price of a property in the competitive range.
Currently For Sale
Each mark indicates the list price of a competitive property now on the market.
Did Not Sell
Each mark indicates the final list price of a property that was offered for sale but did not sell.
Selling price (in thousands)
Current list price (in thousands)
Final list price (in thousands)
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COMPETITIVE PRICE
LINES
27. THE RISK OF
OVERPRICING
Pricing your property competitively from the start will generate the most activity
among brokers and buyers.
Buyer
Showings
Overpriced marginally
Overpriced significantly
Time on Market (weeks)
• A property generates the most interest within the real estate community when it
first goes on the market.
• The number of showings is greatest during this time - if the property is priced at
realistic market value.
• Starting too high and dropping the price later misses the excitement and
generates less activity.
• It may even become necessary to drop the price below market value to compete
with new, well-priced listings.
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PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE
After price, the condition of your home is the single biggest factor determining how
fast—and for how much—your home sells.
Agents repeatedly find that people can’t visualize the potential of a home. They have to
see it. That means that how your home shows now is how people see themselves in it.
They can’t see past the chips, leaks, clutter and stains—in fact, they tend to focus even
more on those things.
Luckily, you can dramatically improve how your home shows with few quick steps:
• Clean. Inside and out. It matters. A lot.
• De-clutter. Give it away, throw it away or store it away, but get it out of your house.
• Gardening. Keep lawns and hedges neatly trimmed
• Clean out your garage or carport to show its full size
• Make minor repairs, cracked tiles, chipped paint, squeaky hinges and leaky
faucets. Fix everything you can.
• Consider staging. According to the National Association of Realtors®, staged
homes sell 49% faster, and for 7-11% more money.
• Photographs, Good pictures get people interested and professional photos are the
way to ensure your place looks its best.
• Make sure all pet areas are clean and free of odour
• Clean again. Really. It’s that important.
Sound overwhelming? You don’t need to do it overnight. Your agent can point you to
someone who can help, or you can break it down into just one small task a day.
Think of it this way: everything you remove from the house, clean or repair puts money in
your pocket. You’re getting paid to do it!
30. 1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________________
7.______________________________________________________________________
8. ______________________________________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________________________________
THE 10 THINGS
YOU LOVE LIST #1
List below the 10 things you love most about your home:
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31. 1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________________
7.______________________________________________________________________
8. ______________________________________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________________________________
List below the 10 things you love most about your neighbourhood:
THE 10 THINGS
YOU LOVE LIST #2
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32. PREPARING TO LIST
YOUR HOME
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
@
In preparation for listing your home, you will need to gather
the following items and info:
• A copy of your front door key
• Your most recent annual property tax assessment
and tax bill.
• The average cost of utilities (gas, hydro, water, etc.)
• The age of your home
• Receipts of recent improvements and renovation
costs
• A list of items you would like to exclude from the sale
• Pictures of seasonal features (i.e. gardens in bloom)
• A copy of your survey
• A list of any easements or right-of-ways
• Receipts and Warranties for recent home
improvements
• “10 things you love” lists (see previous two pages of
this guide)
• A list of upgrades, copy of floor plans, builder plans
and/or model name, etc.
For condominium owners:
• Maintenance Fees and a list of maintenance/fee
inclusions
• Parking and Locker Numbers
• Pass Key to the Building
• Status Certificate (if available)
• A list of Bylaws and restrictions
Please call Mike Knecht
if you have any questions or need clarification.
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35. MAXIMIZE EXPOSURE
TO BUYERS
Once you’ve found a price for your home and put it in
showroom condition, there’s one more critical piece of the
puzzle before buyers begin flocking in to see your
masterpiece: getting their attention.
Getting the word out about your home matters for two
critical reasons: First, buyers can’t be interested if they don’t
know your home exists. But more important still, the more
buyers you have interested in your home, the higher the
potential sale price, and the faster the sale.
Marketing your home to the biggest audience possible takes
more than a sign on the front lawn. The best and fastest
home sales use a combination of many of the following:
• MLS Listing. The largest online database of available
real estate.
• Video Tour. A behind-the-scenes, online look at your
home and neighbourhood.
• Property Website. Your home’s very own website with
all the info a buyer needs.
• Online Exposure on nationally ranked real estate
websites such as yourwebsite.com.
• Proactive Prospecting. Reaching out directly to
people who might be interested.
• 24/7 Direct-to-Text Ads. Instant access to property
details right from your For Sale sign.
• Property Brochures. Great photos, vibrant
descriptions in professional take away form.
• 24-Hour Online Ads. On major online sites from
Craigslist to Kijiji.
• Print Marketing. Print ads, just listed cards and more.
• Social Media. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest,
Google+ and more.
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36. THE MARKETING PLAN
• Any plan to market your property must be designed to
maximize the exposure to the property
• Studies have shown that the top 5 places where buyers
found the homes they purchased (existing homes) include:
o The internet
o The real estate Agent and his/her referral network
o Open House and yard signs
o Friends, relatives and neighbours
o Knew the Seller directly
• Gone are the days of just putting a “For Sale” sign on your
home, although we do that too
• Recent studies also tell us that over 80% of the Buyers
begin their search online
• As such Royal LePage invests heavily in Marketing websites
that attract an abundance of Buyers and Sellers
• We promote your property on numerous sites including the
following industry leading websites:
o royallepage.ca
o carriagetradeproperties.ca - for luxury properties
o royallepagecommercial.com – for commercial properties
o m.rlp.ca/mobile
o terrequity.com
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37. LISTING SYNDICATION
• The Royal LePage.ca site leads Canada year after year as the top online destination
among all the real estate brands.
• Our sites strategically release new listings in a way that is proven to generate the
most interest.
• Following is our proven multi-media marketing system designed to maximize the
exposure of your property.
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38. OUR PROVEN MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING SYSTEM
MLS (MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE)
MLS is the largest online database of available real estate in the GTA, and it’s where the
majority of people begin their search. This website is accessible by over 39,000 real estate
Agents in the GTA area, each with (on average) four clients potentially looking for a place
just like yours. MLS listings contain complete and detailed information about the property as
well as full colour photographs.
WEBSITE MARKETING
Your property will be featured prominently several prominent real estate sites that combined
garner over 300,000 hits per month. Our online marketing strategy gives your listing the
best possible exposure to the most potential buyers worldwide.
PROACTIVE PROSPECTING
There are only two ways to find a buyer. You can wait for them to find you, or you can
proactively go out and find them! We do both, and that means far more potential buyers for
you and your home.
VIEWING FEEDBACK
You will receive real-time feedback directly to your e-mail inbox from all Agents who take
their clients through your property. You can log into the secure system to view past and
pending appointments, as well as read the reviews. We analyze all feedback and continually
tweak your listing for maximum appeal.
VIRTUAL TOURS
In a sea of competitive listings, virtual tours give potential buyers a behind-the-scenes look
at your neighbourhood and your home without having to leave their couch. Your custom
virtual tour will be uploaded to prominent real estate websites, where hundreds of potential
buyers have viewing access 24/7. This is an invaluable tool for today’s tech savvy, educated
consumer.
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39. OUR PROVEN MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING SYSTEM
[CONTINUED]
PROPERTY BROCHURES
Breathtaking photos and vibrant descriptions make up your customized home brochure,
designed as a memorable take-away for visiting buyers and their Agents. These
professionally designed brochures leave a lasting impression and often lead to repeat
viewings.
24-HOUR ONLINE ADS
Your property details and images are also immediately uploaded to all the major advertising
sites. Rest assured, your home is visible wherever buyers are looking.
PRINT MARKETING
In most cases, we distribute ‘Just Listed’ cards in your area to let your neighbours know that
your property is for sale. It’s just one more way we widen the net to get your property the
best possible exposure. Who knows who might end up buying your home?
COMPLIMENTARY HOME STAGING CONSULTATION
Studies suggest staged homes sell faster and attract more money, and in a changing
marketplace, a staged home can make the difference between selling your home or not.
Staging can be as simple as removing some clutter or as detailed as redesigning or
refurnishing rooms. The choice is yours and our home-staging professionals will provide you
with a complimentary recommendation list that will create maximum buyer appeal for your
home.
SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNING
We actively maintain a blog, two Facebook pages, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Check us
out. Your home will be everywhere!
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40. • Talk is cheap – too many Agents promise the World, never put it in writing, and
provide substantially less.
• Our goal at Royal LePage Terrequity is not only to provide award winning service
but achieve Service Excellence.
• In Service Excellence we go through three distinct steps:
1. We listen and identify your needs.
2. Together, we agree on our written Service Standards.
3. You confidentially evaluate us online to give us feedback on how we did.
• Your feedback is used to help us do our job better and provide data for our top
representative award - The Service Excellence Award!
• Best of all, if you are not satisfied with our services you can cancel your Agreement;
read our written Guarantee to see how it works.
GUARANTEED SERVICES
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41. THE SERVICE EXCELLENCE PROGRAM
SELLER SERVICES GUARANTEE
1. Mission
Our mission is to provide the highest level of professionalism and quality of service that exceeds
your expectations every time. We provide you with a written guarantee of our services.
2. Together, we set your expectation
Jointly we agree to provide our 19-point Service Excellence program unless customized as follows:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. We fulfill our 19-point program
We do our best and work hard to sell your property. We will keep you updated on the listing
progress at the frequency of your choosing. An informed seller makes confident decisions.
4. Feedback
You tell us whether we fulfilled our guarantee. Upon completion of the transaction we will ask you
to complete a brief survey on our performance.
If we don’t fulfill our commitments to you, you have the right to address your concerns with the
Managing Broker. Your concerns should be in writing, delivered directly to the Broker; he/she then
has 2 business days to resolve the situation. Should the Brokerage be unable or unwilling to
resolve the issues, we will cancel your Listing Agreement without cost or penalties and will have
no further obligations to each other. Should the Listing Agreement be cancelled, the termination
provisions of the Listing Agreement still apply.
Seller’s name (print)
Seller’s name (signature) Date:
Seller’s name (print)
Seller’s name (signature) Date:
Seller’s phone
Seller’s email
Real estate Agent’s name (print)
Real estate Agent’s (signature)
Broker/Manager (print)
Broker/Manager (signature) Tel:
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42. Using the prepaid postage envelope provided, please mail your completed survey to:
Royal LePage Terrequity Realty, Brokerage ,
211 Consumers Road, Suite 105, Toronto, Ontario M2 J 4G8. SE - SS - MAR 2014
Your Name: Agent’s Name:
Sold /Leased Address:
Email Address:
What is the main reason(s) you chose the agent to assist you in your real estate transac on?
Skill/Knowledge Market Share Positive Personality Assertive Reputation
Other:
How would you rate the agent’s advice and assistance in preparing your home for the market?
1 2 3 4 5
Very Dissa d Sa ed Excep onally Sa d
How long did it take to receive a m o er on your home?
Less than 1 wk -31 weeks 1-3 months 4-6 months Greater than 6 months
How sa s ed were you with how the agent communicated and kept you informed during the
sale process?
1 2 3 4 5
Very Dissa d Sa ed Excep onally Sa d
How would you evaluate the agent's nego on skills at the me of the o er?
1 2 3 4 5
Very Dissa d Sa ed Excep onally Sa d
How would you evaluate the agent’s overall performance?
1 2 3 4 5
Very Dissa d Sa ed Excep onally Sa d
Would you recommend the agent to a family or friend?
Yes No Undecided
Would you use the agent to assist you in any future real estate transac ons?
Yes No Undecided
Please provide us with any add nal comments/tes monials.
Can we use your comments in any marke ng materials providing your name is not disclosed?
Yes No
Language/Nationality
Seller Survey
Our brokers and Agents have a mission to deliver services of the highest quality, value and integrity; we
416-496-9220 | mknecht@terrequity.com40
Terrequity Realty
Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
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45. SHOWING YOUR HOME
• Having an excellent marketing plan is the first step to maximizing the price of
your property.
• Once we have agreed on your marketing plan it is time to get into action!
• Specifically there are three things we need to do before we can start generating
offers:
1. Confirm your showing instructions (see our “Home Showing Questionnaire”)
2. Agree on Immediate Action Steps
3. Spring into Action-executing the plan
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46. SHOWING YOUR HOME
A CRITICAL PART OF THE PROCESS
Access to your home for showings is a critical component of the sales process; however,
we understand how difficult and inconvenient it can be to have people come through
your home. As such, we take great steps to ensure this process is as streamlined as
possible.
We will schedule showings when you’re most comfortable with them, always check
and confirm with you first, and we ensure all showings are conducted with a reputable,
licensed Agent present. We take an extreme amount of care in ensuring that the key to
your home is kept safely. In most cases, we place a combination lock box on your door
that is only accessible by professional Agents. You will also receive feedback on each
showing so you know where you stand every step of the way. Communication is key!
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47. HOME SHOWING QUESTIONNAIRE
Showing your property takes some coordination. Please help us minimize the disruption of
your regular routine by answering the following questions:
1. Between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm from Monday to Friday, are there any time slots
that you do not want your home to be shown? Please specify below:
__________________________________________________________________
2. On the weekends (Saturday and Sunday), we will typically offer to conduct Open
Houses and schedule showings between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm. If this is not ideal
for you, please specify your preferred times below:
__________________________________________________________________
3. When confirming appointment times, please let us know what is your preferred
confirmation method:
…… Verbal confirmation by phone call
…… Leave voicemail message
…… Send email message – no response required
…… Send email message – response required
…… No response/notification required
4. Please specify how much notice is required to confirm appointments during the
agreed-upon times:
…… None
…… 1 hour
…… 2 hours
…… Other: _________________________________________________________
(Continued on next page)
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48. HOME SHOWING QUESTIONNAIRE
[CONTINUED]
5. Does your home have an alarm? If so, please provide alarm code and disarm
instructions below:
6. Unless you instruct us otherwise, we typically request that all agents and their
visitors follow all of the below steps. Please tick off the boxes that you require of all
showings:
…… Knock first
…… Remove shoes
…… Leave card
…… Turn off all lights
…… Lock doors
…… Call if cancelling
7. Assuming confirmation is required, who should we contact to book and confirm
appointments? How should we best contact this person?
Name: _________________________________________________
Phone: _________________________________________________
Relationship: _________________________________________________
Email: _________________________________________________
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49. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
Over the next few days, we will take the following initial steps to find a buyer for your
property:
Action Target Date
…… Install lock box, if required _____________________
…… Install ROYAL LEPAGE FOR SALE sign _____________________
…… Place information on royallepage.ca _____________________
…… Submit information to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) _____________________
…… Promote at ROYAL LEPAGE office Sales Meetings _____________________
…… Hold ROYAL LEPAGE office preview _____________________
…… Prepare property information flyers/Feature Sheets _____________________
…… Distribute JUST LISTED cards to target areas _____________________
…… Hold Open House for Agents (other Brokers) _____________________
…… Organize digital photos and /or Virtual Tour _____________________
…… Prepare advertisements for newspapers/magazines _____________________
…… Prepare on-line advertising _____________________
…… Prepare “showing instructions” sheet for security _____________________
…… ___________________________________________ _____________________
…… ___________________________________________ _____________________
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TIPS WHEN
SHOWING
YOUR HOME
As interest in your home rises, so will interest
in seeing the real thing, as opposed to seeing
it online. It is time to show off your
masterpiece to potential buyers. An Agent
will take care of almost all the details but here
are a few tips to maximize the showing
experience:
• Make sure that your home is clean and
tidy - make sure it is inviting
• Turn on all lights and open blinds
where appropriate
• Have quiet music playing
• Leave inside doors open or slightly ajar
• If appropriate, light your gas fireplace
• Remove pets from the home during
showings
• Secure jewelry, cash, prescription
medications and other valuables
• Provide access to the garage
• Try to avoid cooking foods that might
linger during a showing
• Please save business cards of all
Agents who show your property
• It is usually best if you can leave while
your house is being shown
• For security reasons, do not let
strangers into your home who are not
accompanied by an agent, please refer
them to us; we will pre-screen them
Most important - be as flexible as you can—
try to accommodate the buyer’s schedule.
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NEGOTIATING THE OFFER
AND CALCULATING YOUR NET
Now this is where things get exciting. You’ve got an offer or maybe two or three at once!
In most cases, your home’s list price won’t be the selling price. When it comes to settling
on that final magic number, you’re going to be negotiating. That’s something your Agent
is an expert at, but here are some key strategies for owners:
It’s a conversation. Don’t be offended by low offers and conditions. No one is forcing you
to accept them. Think of it as a starting point to have a conversation.
Always counter-offer. Momentum matters. Just the act of moving a deal forward helps
make the deal happen.
Price isn’t the only thing. You can negotiate on price, offer conditions, assets in the home.
Don’t get stuck on one thing.
Remember, even 1% more for your home can mean thousands to your bottom line.
As part of the offer process we have to calculate your net proceeds. This means we have
to determine exactly how much you will net after paying your closing costs. We describe
this as well.
Once you and the buyer agree, the buyer provides a deposit cheque to be held in trust
until the conditions are met. The conditions usually have a set time for removal, and
usually include things like an inspection and financing.
Once the conditions are met, the buyer signs a waiver and the deal is firm. If you’ve
completed all these steps, then you are a successful home seller. Congratulations!
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CALCULATING YOUR
NET PROCEEDS
As part of the selling process, it is important to determine how much you get to keep.
There are a number of closing costs to consider.
Legal Fees. Lawyer’s fees vary, but they often have structured fees for the purchase and
sale of homes posted on their websites. Sellers pay in the area of $1000.00 for a lawyer
to look after the legal details necessary to close their deal. Please make sure to ask your
lawyer about disbursements as they will be in addition to their legal fee.
Disbursements. These fees cover additional legal expenses such as travel, photocopies,
couriers, registration fees and preparing document transfers. Disbursements can range
upwards of $500, but can sometimes be built into your legal fees.
Closing Adjustments. Your lawyer will ensure that any overpayments or deficiencies on
rents, mortgage interest, property tax and utility charges will be corrected, and the buyer
and seller will be credited or charged accordingly. The lawyer wants to make sure that you
get full credit for everything that you have paid for up to the day of closing.
Mortgage Fees. Check with your mortgage lender to determine if any costs will occur
when transferring or releasing your mortgage. There is sometimes what is referred to as a
discharge fee to remove the mortgage from title, that can range from $100 to $250.
Moving Costs. Moving costs vary based on location and the amount of possessions being
moved. If you’re moving yourself, you should factor gas, rental vehicles and moving
supplies into the cost.
Land Transfer Tax is a cost imposed by the Government to transfer properties. This cost is
paid by the buyer.
To estimate your net proceeds, see the worksheet on the next page.
55. $
Less:
Mortgage Balance $
Mortgage Penalty (if applicable) $
Interest - Calculated on a Daily Basis
(Interest from last payment to date of closing) $
Property Tax / Utilities Adjustments $
Real Estate Commission with HST $
Moving Costs $
Other: $
Estimated Net Proceeds of Sale $
NET PROCEEDS CALCULATOR
Estimated Selling Price
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MEET WITH MIKE KNECHT
AND HIS TEAM
I hope you have found this Home Seller’s Guide helpful and informative. As you can
see, selling your home is no simple task.
If, after reading this Guide, you have any questions, we look forward to our upcoming
meeting with you. We will also provide you with a complimentary market evaluation of
your home, and answer any other questions you have about our services.
We find that informed Home Sellers are our best clients. Our goal is to make any
transaction as trouble and worry-free as possible.
We look forward to helping your with your move forward!
Sincerely,
Mike Knecht
Mike Knecht
Sales Representative
ROYAL LEPAGE Terrequity Realty
10 Yonge St, Ground Flr, Toronto, ON M5E 1R4
Direct: 416-522-6492 (cell)
Fax: 416-366-8801
mikeknecht@royallepage.ca
www.torontobestvalues.com
www.facebook.com/mikeknechtagent
This document is not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale.