Transparent Guide to Selling

Maximize Your Home's Value with Our Expert Selling Services

Your Trusted Partner for a Stress-Free Sale in the Greater Toronto Area and Surrounding Areas.

What to Expect When Selling with Us

We believe in providing full transparency and exceptional service, no matter which listing package you choose. We know that selling your home can feel overwhelming, so we’ve put together this FAQ section to answer common questions and help guide you through the process. From understanding our services to knowing what to expect at every step, we’re here to ensure your experience is smooth, informed, and focused on maximizing your success.

Explore Our Top FAQ's

What makes us different?

We prioritize efficiency and minimize disruptions to your life while ensuring you achieve maximum value for your home.

Supported by a reputable brokerage and over 180 trusted agents across Southern Ontario, our team offers enhanced services that deliver greater value. When you work with us, you’re not just hiring an agent -you’re gaining a committed team of professionals with extensive experience and a history of proven results.

2. Will your listing be visible on MLS® and realtor.ca?

Absolutely. Your listing will be showcased where it matters most - on REALTOR.ca, the leading real estate platform in Canada. With over 87% of Canadian buyers using REALTOR.ca during their home search, your property will be seen by a vast audience. But we don’t stop there. Through our Data Distribution Facility (DDF®) agreement, your listing is syndicated across multiple real estate platforms, ensuring it reaches beyond just one site.

Additionally, we utilize social media to extend your property’s exposure even further. Our marketing strategy also includes physical and virtual tours, attracting agents with serious buyers. This comprehensive approach ensures your home gets in front of motivated buyers across a wide range of channels, maximizing its visibility and potential.

3. How Much does it cost to sell with Harris Homes?

Selling your home is a significant financial decision, and one of the biggest factors within your control is setting the right price. Buyers today come armed with data and have clear expectations about value. We use our understanding of buyer psychology and market trends to help you price your home effectively, ensuring it attracts interest and sells quickly for the best possible price.

We offer two tailored service packages, with full transparency in commission—meaning you have control over what you offer to buyer agents. Typically “1%” agents often suggest an additional 2.5% to the buyer’s agent later on, however, we believe in laying everything out upfront, so there are no surprises [36, 37].


Essential Listing Package – 1.5% Listing Side Commission (4% Total)

Our Essential Package offers everything you need to sell your home with minimal hassle, designed for sellers who are comfortable preparing their own home but want expert marketing, negotiation, and closing support.

What You Get:

  • Pre-Listing Pricing Guidance: The first step to selling efficiently is pricing your home right. We combine market insights with buyer psychology to help you set a price that aligns with buyer expectations and maximizes your return [38].
  • Professional Photography & Videography: Buyers make decisions based on first impressions, and 90% of buyers start their search online [22, 24]. We ensure your home stands out with stunning visuals and virtual tours.
  • REALTOR.ca & Online Exposure: Your home will be featured on REALTOR.ca, the most trusted platform used by 87% of Canadian home buyers, and syndicated across other top real estate websites to ensure it reaches the widest audience [22, 25].
  • Targeted Social Media Campaigns: We use buyer-behavior insights to create targeted marketing campaigns that bring your home in front of the most relevant buyers [36].
  • Showings Management: Buyers want an efficient process. We handle all scheduling and feedback to make sure serious buyers have a seamless showing experience.
  • Negotiation Expertise: Buyers often come in with lower offers but are willing to meet the market price if negotiated well. Our team ensures you get the best possible terms [37].
  • Closing Support: We handle all the paperwork, ensuring the process is stress-free and smooth.

Total Commission: 1.5% on the listing side, with 2.5% typically offered to buyer brokerage (4% total). This is a guide only, and you have full transparency to adjust the buyer brokerage percentage as needed. Offering less or more to the buyer’s agent is completely up to you, but we provide recommendations for best results [36, 37].
Perfect for: Homeowners with well-maintained properties who are comfortable handling their property preparation, but want expert marketing and negotiation to close the deal at the best price.


Premium Listing Package – 2.5% Listing Side Commission (5% Total)

Our Premium Package is designed for those who want a completely hands-off, all-inclusive experience, ensuring your home looks its best, attracts high-value buyers, and sells for the highest price possible.

What You Get:

  • All Essential Package Features: Plus...
  • Professional Staging: Staged homes can sell up to 20% faster and for up to 10-20% more than non-staged homes [35]. We ensure your home looks its best to create an emotional connection with buyers.
  • Minor Interior Enhancements: Buyers are looking for move-in-ready properties. We handle light painting and fixture upgrades to make sure your home meets their expectations [38].
  • Advanced Marketing Strategies: We use premium marketing tactics like drone photography, paid social media ads, and virtual open houses to target serious buyers ready to make offers [35, 36].
  • Exclusive Open Houses: Both virtual and physical open houses ensure your property gets maximum exposure, tapping into both local and out-of-town buyers.

Total Commission: 2.5% on the listing side, with 2.5% offered to buyer agents (5% total). Just like with the Essential Package, you have full transparency and control over what to offer buyer agents. This flexibility ensures your commission dollars are spent where they’ll bring the highest return [36, 37].
Perfect for: Sellers who want their home to make a strong impression and prefer a fully managed service that maximizes their return, especially in competitive markets.


Why Pricing Guidance is Crucial

Pricing your home correctly is the most critical factor in attracting serious buyers. If priced too high, buyers will move on; if priced too low, you leave money on the table. Our expertise in market trends and buyer psychology helps you find the sweet spot. This approach not only increases efficiency but also ensures you get the best possible price and terms. Our data-driven recommendations align with what today’s buyers are looking for, so you can feel confident in your pricing strategy [38].


Full Transparency in Commissions

We’re fully transparent about commission fees. While some agents promote “1%” models, they often suggest later that you offer 2.5% to the buyer’s agent, leading to confusion and unexpected costs. At Harris Homes & Co., what you see is what you get. You’re in control, and we guide you through what works best for your goals and market conditions. The figures we provide are simply examples of what we typically see working well [36, 37].


Special Preferred Rates for Buying & Selling Simultaneously

If you're buying a new home while selling, we offer preferred rates to help you save on both transactions. This is part of our commitment to giving you the best value while ensuring you get the most out of both deals.


Ready to Get Started?
Let’s talk about the best package for you. Contact us today to see how we can help you achieve your real estate goals and make your next move exceptional.


Disclaimers & Acknowledgments

  • Information regarding REALTOR.ca as the leading platform for Canadian home buyers is sourced from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) [22, 25].
  • Buyer behaviour statistics, including 90% of buyers starting their search online, are based on insights from CREA and similar industry reports [22, 24].
  • Insights into pricing strategies and buyer psychology are based on studies showing that staged homes can sell up to 20% faster and for 10-20% more than non-staged homes [35, 37].
  • Full transparency about commission structures ensures that all figures are examples based on what typically works in the current market, and the decision to offer buyer agents 2.5% is completely optional. This is consistent with guidelines set by the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and CREA [36, 37].

For more information, please refer to official resources from:

Always consult with your REALTOR® and legal advisors to ensure all decisions align with your specific circumstances and local regulations.

4. Do you offer staging? 

Absolutely! We understand that every home is unique, which is why we offer two flexible service levels to meet your needs. Whether you prefer a hands-on approach or a fully managed staging experience, both options are designed to maximize your home’s appeal, helping it stand out in the Greater Toronto Area and Durham Region markets.

1. Essential Listing Package – Expert Guidance

In our Essential Package, we focus on helping you enhance what you already have. In this guided approach, Stephanie, our Property Presentation Specialist, will provide personalized recommendations on how to optimize your home’s layout, improve natural light, and make small yet impactful updates, such as fresh paint or decluttering [54]. This package is ideal if you’re comfortable managing the prep work but want expert guidance to ensure your home appeals to buyers.

This option allows you to stay hands-on while receiving professional advice to make your home market-ready. You'll leave with a tailored action plan that aligns with what buyers in the Toronto and Durham markets are looking for today [67].

2. Premium Listing Package – Fully Managed Staging

For those who prefer a hands-off experience, our Premium Package offers a fully managed staging process. Stephanie will guide you through the consultation, after which professional stagers will completely transform your home with curated furniture, artwork, and lighting. Every room will be arranged to maximize appeal, making it easier for buyers to envision themselves in the space [57].

This package includes interior enhancements such as painting, light fixture upgrades, and other improvements to create a move-in-ready experience. In the GTA and Durham Region, professionally staged homes are known to sell faster and often for a higher price due to their enhanced presentation [68]. If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to maximize your home’s value, the Premium Package provides a complete, polished transformation from start to finish.


Regardless of the package you choose, we’re committed to ensuring your home shines in the marketplace. The Essential Package offers expert guidance to help you stay involved in the process, while the Premium Package provides a full-service staging experience designed to boost buyer interest and increase your home’s value.


References:

  • The importance of decluttering, cleaning, and optimizing space before listing is key for appealing to buyers in competitive markets like the GTA [54].
  • In Canada, staging has been shown to significantly impact both the speed of sale and the final sale price by helping buyers visualize the property as their future home [67].
  • Homes staged professionally, especially in areas like Toronto, sell faster and for up to 20% more than their unstaged counterparts [68].

For further information and Canadian-specific studies on home staging, you can visit resources such as the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA).

6. Are there any upfront fees?

There are never any upfront costs. Our primary objective is to prepare your home or property for the market, ensuring a seamless process and minimal hassle for you.

6. Will I be tied to a contract?

We understand that circumstances in real estate can change for various reasons. We’re here to guide you through any ups and downs and can adjust or cancel the listing if needed. We want to ensure we proceed only when everyone is on the same page.

7. Do you offer a free home evaluation?

Absolutely!

We offer a free evaluation to assess your property’s unique features and strategize for a successful sale.

8. Will other agents show my listings?

Absolutely. We use BrokerBay, the industry leader in listing and showing management, seamlessly integrated with MLS®, allowing agents to easily book showings and create a smooth experience for all parties. Internally, we handle everything efficiently, keeping you updated through text-based notifications so you're always in the loop.

Beyond technology, we take your listing to the next level by positioning your property for high exposure. We cross-promote it within our brokerage of over 180+ agents and feature your property in virtual agent tours, where it’s showcased to a panel of agents with buyers, expanding your home’s reach and getting it in front of motivated buyers early in the process. 

This comprehensive approach ensures maximum visibility and the best opportunities for your sale.

9. Is your approach effective?

Our approach to selling your property challenges the conventional methods.

Rather than making flashy promises about the selling price—which no one can truly predict—we focus on what we can control to attract serious buyers. We prioritize maximizing your equity, ensuring you walk away with more to put toward your next dream home or whatever plans you have in mind.

No gimmicks, just a proven strategy that works. Experience a smarter, results-driven way to sell with us.

10. What does "Full Services" mean?

Full Service means that no matter which listing package you choose, you're getting comprehensive, professional support every step of the way. Whether you opt for our Standard or Premium package, we provide:

  • MLS® listing and broad online exposure
  • Professional photography
  • Strategic marketing to reach the right buyers
  • Management of showings offers, and all necessary documentation
  • Expert negotiation and seamless communication with buyer's agents

While our packages offer different levels of property preparation, you’ll always receive the same commitment to excellence and attention to detail. Our goal is to maximize your home’s value and ensure a smooth, successful sale. With us, you can trust that you’re in capable hands from start to finish.

Ready to achieve the best possible outcome for your home sale?

Contact us today to get started.



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