Seven Easy Steps
Register Online
This involves you providing us with your contact information, housing preferences and reviewing our terms and conditions. Completing your housing preferences accurately is important as it will serve as a guideline as to what sort of housing features and neighbourhood amenities are important to you so that your agent can notify you of suitable properties for sale even during your first meeting but especially when new listings become available in the market every week.
Meet Your Agent
Once you register online we will shop your business around to local agents who are interested in participating in the HomeFrog rebate program and select a qualified, reputable agent that we believe provides the best value for the money and is experienced in the local area and type of property which interests you. A few days after registering online, you will be contacted at a time convenient to you by a local real estate agent who will introduce themselves and their company and make an appointment to meet with you. During this meeting, they will review in detail how they plan to help you with your real estate needs and answer any questions you may have. Finally you will be asked to confirm the working relationship by signing a buyer agency agreement. Once we receive a copy of this we will send you a copy of the rebate agreement which confirms the percentage rebate agreed to by your agent.
Get Your Home Sold
Your agent will implement a customized marketing plan designed to get your home sold as quickly as possible and for top dollar. Based on detailed, local market analysis, they will formulate a realistic asking price designed to generate maximum interest from other agents and prospective buyers. As well, they will take steps to ensure your home has strong visual appeal in all marketing efforts to the public and other agents. Your agent will be able to identify likely objections and how to overcome them and will also ask for feedback from other agents who have shown your home to their clients. Finally, they will use their knowledge and experience to draft complete and legally binding contracts and to assist in negotiating offers and counter-offers to reach your selling goals.
Get Pre-Approved Financing
Before you start looking for homes, it is critical to know what price range you can realistically afford. Please visit your bank to find out what mortgage amount and rate you qualify for and ensure that there are no errors in your credit report. Doing so will allow you to properly budget for future monthly expenses, will save you and your agent time by avoiding viewing properties which are outside of your budget and give you peace of mind that you will be able to finance the deal when the time arrives to submit an offer.
Search for Homes
Based on the housing preferences you submit in your online HomeFrog registration, your agent will regularly email you new listings along with others which may appeal to you but be sure to do your own homework as well. This is where you can take charge and really `earn’ your rebate by trying your best to minimize one of the most time-consuming activities for real estate agents – which is driving around buyers to visit properties. You can do this by conducting detailed home and neighbourhood research online, visiting open houses on your own and driving by neighbourhoods and homes on your own for an outside preview. After doing this and narrowing down the list of properties to ones you really like, simply call your agent to schedule viewings.
Buy a Home
This is where your agent’s expertise gained from years of experience comes into play and the real value of having your interests protected through a Buyer Agency agreement can be appreciated. They will guide you through determining fair market value for the property, negotiate the best possible price & terms and co-ordinate the closing. In addition they can help you find reputable lawyers, home inspectors, appraisers, contractors and home-staging specialists. Finally they can answer questions about the local market area including schools, neighbourhoods and the local economy. Such critical guidance will lead you to a smooth transaction that avoids pitfalls which could otherwise cost you thousands of dollars.
Enjoy Your Rebate - You Deserve It
You’ve done a lot of work up to this point and have saved your agent lots of time, so they will be happy to share their commission with you at closing. The referral fee will be sent to us, from which we will keep $350 per transaction and send you a cheque for the difference. It could come in quite handy for buying furniture or appliances, renovating your home, taking a vacation, paying off some bills or topping up your savings. Whatever you decide to do with your rebate, enjoy your new home, congratulate yourself on finding a way to `earn’ money when buying real estate and don’t forget to recommend us to your friends and family!