When you decide to purchase a home with Laura, YOUR experience matters. This process is all about YOU and although Laura is there to navigate you through it the entire time, it is YOU who are in the driver's seat. Below is Laura's process, but nothing is set in stone and anything that doesn't feel right can be modified or changed to suit your specific situation.
- The first time you have contact with Laura, it may be a phone call, email, zoom/ google meet virtual introduction or an in person connection, such as an open house. Before Laura can provide any advice, opinion or support to you, representation needs to be established. You will be provided with the RECO Information Guide to look over and acknowledge. Are you looking for an agent to work with you, or are you representing yourself? Both come with clear parameters under TRESA (Trust in Real Estate Services Act) and you will be given the opportunity to decide which is best for you. It is advised that you read the information before moving forward with your search.
- Initial Meeting: this is to determine if you and Laura wish to work together. If so you will sign a Buyer Representation Agreement, Working with a REALTOR® form and any other required Brokerage documents. These document establish representation and allows Laura to send you listing matches based on your preferences, take you to showings, advise about price, terms, etc. and register your offer when the time comes.
- Laura will ask you to complete some "get to know you" questionnaires, so she has a clear understanding of your expectations as well as some fun info that will help her make your experience even better. As Laura wishes to provide the most personalized experience for YOU, one of the forms 'The Like List' is a key element to that process.
- ‘The Informed Buyer’s Guide’ will provide some great resources for you and the ‘Getting Started Guide’ clarifies some of the details you are looking for in a home, your Needs vs your Wants, proximity to area amenities like schools, shops and transit + other must have elements.
- Laura will explain all paperwork you will be signing before, during and when you submit an offer (sometimes several). There can be some confusing terms or seller’s directions, and often competing offers on the property you like. This process can move quickly, so knowing what you are signing and what to expect beforehand, will allow you to have confidence and peace of mind when the time comes. But, do read the Information Guide
- After establishing your needs needs, Laura will set you up on REALM™, the Toronto Real Estate Board's System. You will be asked to download the app so that you may see your listing matches, view your signed documents and send and receive messages with your agent. You may select the frequency you receive listing emails and set up your search in addition to the one Laura has set up for you.
- At this time, you should ensure your deposit money ,needed for deposit, is in an accessible account ready when your offer is accepted. Deposit is due within 24 hours of acceptance. (Banks like Tangerine, or other no fee, no teller institutions, can take up to 10 days to get the funds to you. Be prepared early by moving your money beforehand) If you cannot provide the deposit within 24 hours then your offer may become null and void and you may lose the opportunity to purchase that home/property.
- Not all of listings you receive from the system will be a match, but some will. You will let Laura know if any look interesting and she will book them for you to see at a time convenient to your schedule. Many listings only allow for one showing per time slot. Therefore, to ensure you are able to see it at your desired time, booking quickly is essential.
- Book showings for the homes of interest
- See the homes of interest. Repeat until you find one you LOVE
- Have Laura draft an offer for you to sign on the home of interest, with your desired terms, price and dates. Laura will send the offer to the listing agent with all required attachments and your specific requests. In high demand Seller’s markets, you may experience one or more attempts. You should expect some negotiation in all markets.
- Win the bid. Yay! YOU BOUGHT A HOME!
- Within 24 hours of your offer being accepted, you will deliver the full deposit amount, as indicated in the Agreement, to the Listing Brokerage office or wire it from your bank to the Listing Brokerage Trust account. The money you are offering as deposit should be available in your chequing account and not tied up in investments.
- Once the deposit has been made, you will send Laura a copy of the deposit cheque/ wire confirmation and receipt. Laura will be guiding you at each and every step..
- Notify your Mortgage Agent or bank that you have bought a home. Send, or ask Laura to send the complete agreement and copy of the listing to them
- Book Home Inspector, if outlined in the agreement as a condition (recommended).
- Sign Notice of Fulfillment documents for any conditions such as Inspection, Financing, etc. so Laura can send to Listing side to firm up the deal.
- If you don’t intend to firm up the deal due to latent damage (something you didn’t see and was revealed at the inspection), the seller is unable or unwilling to remedy, you and the Seller will sign a mutual release to have the deposit returned to you. It can sometimes be more complex than this, which Laura can explain
- Select a Lawyer to close the transaction. If you need a referral who can close the deal, Laura can provide you with some options. Once you have provided the Lawyer's information, the Sutton Group-Heritage Deal Secretary will send all paperwork to them to start the process.
- You will receive a checklist and reminders, by your preferred communication method, to help create a moving plan, information for utility transfers, movers, address change, etc.
- Laura will ask you for a friendly review on Google or Rate-My-Agent describing your experience.
- Book re-visit(s) to view the home now that it is yours!
- Schedule an appointment with your Lawyer to sign all of the closing documents the week of closing
- Finish packing and get ready to move!
- You will receive a call from the Lawyer's office on the day of closing once the deal has closed, meaning the money has been transferred to the Seller and the property has been registered in your name(s).
- Call Laura to let her know that the deal has closed. The Lawyer will only let YOU know this information.
- You will be given instructions on where to pick up the key, or what the lockbox code is at the house so you can enter your new home!
- If there is a lockbox, the Listing Agent will come by, usually within a week, to retrieve the box. It is best to leave it empty and in place until it is picked up.
- Enter your new home and do a thorough walk through, ensuring everything is as it should be. If anything is broken, missing or not right, let Laura know right away.
- Begin making memories in your new home! Take lots of pictures! Houses, just like people, change so quickly and it is easy to forget how far you've come in making it your own over time.
- It is highly recommended to change the lock key plate/ keys on all of your entry doors on the day or the day after closing. This ensures that any keys from the previous owners that still may be out there, will not provide access to YOUR home.
- Receive a bio of the ‘Junior Green Thumbs’ classroom garden (Laura’s passion project) that was donated to a local teacher as a result of your purchase.
- Every home Laura sells means another teacher receives a garden. Please refer Laura to anyone you know is thinking about buying or selling a home. Together we can create a brighter future - one home and one garden at a time!
