Rejection can cause a homebuyer to experience heartache. A seller is not forced to shoot down a homebuyer’s offer for the buyer to feel completely horrible. All the seller needs to say is one word “No,” and the offer is null and void. Here are the top four reasons as to why a potential home bid is rejected:

The number one reason why offers are rejected is because of a lower than list price offer. 1.) A seller could feel insulted if an offer is not large enough, the seller may get the impression the buyer is not serious enough. 2.) A seller could be too mad to respond and could reject the offer immediately. 3.) If the house is new on the market, the seller could feel it is a bit too early to entertain offers that are lower than the listed price. 4.) In most provinces , a seller is not required by law to respond to lower offers.

Offer rejection may be because the buying agent is less than pleasant. An agent that has less than scrupulous ethics should have their real estate license revoked because nobody wants to deal with a professional that is like this. Agents who have no ethics or manners are wasting their time and making their potential customers miserable. If the buyer’s agent is annoying the listing agent, especially during an offer dealing with multiple situations, it does not look good on the agent’s buyer. Make sure your agent never does the following things: 1.) Raising of voice or screams on the phone or in person 2.) Forgets to use manners and say “please” as well as “thank you” 3.) Issues demands or delivers ultimatums 4.) Acts insulting towards the listing agent by printing out market data or sale information, making an agent appear stupid or inept ( even though this may be true) 5.) Acts demeaning towards others 6.) Acts aggressive or pushy towards others 7.) Does not act in a professional manner at all times

There is nothing saying a listing agent cannot take two similar offers to a seller saying, “I don’t prefer Agent A, however, Agent B is very professional. Select whichever offer you want.” Do you believe that the buyer is going to select Agent A’s proposal? Do not forget the business of real estate is alot about networking; being polite and ethical earns respect, acting unscrupulous does not. Do not let your agent sabotage your chances of buying your dream home; if it does not have anything to do with price, it could be more than likely the agent!

Reason for having an offer rejected: Listing agent represents the competition A relatively unknown practice among consumers is the variable or dual-rate commission discussion that an agent will sometimes include in the listing agreement. This means the listing agent has an understanding with the seller that if the listing agent also ends up working with and representing the buyer, the listing agent will reduce the fee (because of a dual commission being earned).

An example would be if the listing agent is supposed to receive 6% commission, 3% for listing and 3% that is to be given to the broker, he or she might agree to take only 5% total if working for both sides of the deal. Therefore, if your personal agent writes up an offer, the seller will spend more and net less profit. Ask your agent to check with MLS to see if the commission rate is variable.

Offers are rejected because the buyer didn’t meet the sellers particular needs A buying agent should contact the listing agent to find out if the seller has particular requirements or contentious points. If so, include them in the offer. 1.) If the seller requires a long escrow, offer the seller a long closing date. 2.) If the seller wants to see a large monetary deposit, make an increase in the deposit. 3.) Sometimes the financial terms in MLS are not fulfilled. For example, the seller will accept only offers in cash; do not believe for one second an offer with FHA terms to be acceptable. 4.) If the seller expresses concerns about repairs, make an offer to purchase the property “as is,” after a visit from a home inspector. 5.) The seller may want the buyer to have pre-approval for financing, point being you won’t have any idea as to what the seller wants if you don’t ask.

One of the most important things to do when purchasing a home is to find a great real estate agent to make the process flow smoothly and effectively. A question many people ponder is how to find a good real estate agent. The best agent may not necessarily work at one of the top ten agencies in the area. The agent who will work best for you would be an experienced agent who will listen to your needs, act in a professional and ethical manner and knows the market in your area.

1.)Word-of-Mouth or Referral Most real estate professionals attract a sizable amount of business because of a satisfied client who recommends them to a friend, family member or neighbour. When you are thinking of purchasing a home, it is a good idea to ask those around you who they have used and ask them to elaborate on their specific experience with the real estate agent in question. Successful real estate agents strive to make customer satisfaction their number one priority and will do everything they can to facilitate a good experience for a customer. Try to find an agent that has a proven track record and reputation for delivering quality service, customer satisfaction, and have experience in the neighbourhoods that you are looking in.

2.) Do an Online Search For Real Estate Agents There are many online resources available when searching for a real estate agent referral, but this by no means ensures quality. The agents referred online may have paid a fee to the website owner to be listed in the directory. Performing a Google search of the top agents in your area and then reviewing their websites will give you a good list of agents to interview. Agents who have experience in the field will tell you, but a newer agent will more than likely have the extra time to spend working with you. Review any customer testimonials or feedback about an agent you may be interested in retaining.

3.) Visit Open Houses in the Area You should visit some area open houses where you can actually meet with a potential agent in a non-threatening manner. Here you can see how they work, collect business cards, formulate an opinion and talk with them on a personal basis. If you are thinking about selling a home, pay close attention to how the agent presents the home. Make sure the agent is polite, informative, approachable and professional. Does the agent promote the home by handing out professional looking feature sheets or other related materials? Is the agent trying to play up the features that make the home more enticing? Or is the agent in the corner, back turned and uninvolved in the whole scenario?

4.) Pay Attention to Real Estate Signs Carefully monitor the real estate signs in your neighbourhood. Observe how long from the day they go up until the home is actually sold. An agent who has a high sales turnover might be a better choice than an agent who has lots of for sale signs but few sold signs. An agent who gets results is what you want.

5.) Why Agents Use Printed Advertising There are two main reasons real estate agents use printed advertisement. First is to advertise and sell a specific piece of real estate. Secondly, advertising is used to promote the agent handling the transaction. By checking the local Sunday real estate ads in your neighbourhood and then checking the agents website, you can find the agents who may specialize in your particular neighbourhood. Contact the agent and inquire about their expertise and ask any other relative questions you may have.

6.) Seeking Recommendations from Other Real Estate Professionals Ask around and seek out other real estate agents for a referral. Most agents are happy to refer a buyer or seller to another associate, if the service you require is not a specialty they can provide. Some agents only specialize in resale property, while others work predominantly with the sale of new homes. Other agents work exclusively with commercial or investment properties. Mortgage brokers are a great resource for agent referrals; many brokers have first-hand knowledge and can point you in the direction of a top-quality real estate agent and remember professionals tend to refer like-minded peers. There is also typically a referral fee involved for the referring professional so be careful that they refer you to the best Agent not the one that pays the highest referral fee.

There is a set of steps a real estate agent needs to take in order to prepare a property to be marketed effectively so that the home can be sold for its highest value in the most efficient amount of time. Although there are a number of variations on this procedure the following steps are needed to achieve the best result. Make sure to review this list and evaluate the Agents answers when you speak with them.

Step 1: Agent Interviews Interview several Realtors, the most satisfied clients are the ones who have interviewed other Agents; by knowing who else was out there they are confident right from the outset that they have made the right decision.

Step 2: Sign an Exclusive Listing Agreement Once you have decided on your Agent it is standard for them to ask you to sign an exclusive listing with them. This document will reassure the Realtor that the homeowner has made a decision and will be loyal to the selected Agent. Once the Agent has this reassurance they will start to invest their time and money into marketing the property.

The property is listed ‘Exclusively For Sale’ at 5% or 6% commission. The exclusive period usually lasts a week or two while the prep-work is done (pre-inspection, photography, home staging, floor plans, decor etc…). If the home is ‘double-ended’ and the Agent is not in competition, the Agent will normally be receptive to discussing a reduction in the commission. Double ended means that the listing Agent sells it to a client during this exclusive period. There is a specific set of rules that will allow the Agent to negotiate in good faith on behalf of both parties. I believe that this is actually not fair to the Seller since you sign a listing with them vowing to work in their best interest. It is appropriate to ask the listing Agent’s Broker to negotiate on behalf of the purchaser. This way both parties still receive fair representation.

Step 3: The House is Staged There are many different things that have to happen before a property can be properly marketed. Most of these items have to do with getting the property shined up and ready to be photographed and subsequently shown. This process is typically referred to as ‘Staging’ a home.

Staging can mean anything from a new coat of paint and some fresh flowers to entirely re-decorating and furnishing a home. There is great value in staging because it helps market a home to a broader audience then the current owner’s individual taste. This can be a very touchy subject because most people take great pride in their home, as they should, and think that it already looks its best. Unfortunately a lot of Buyers might not have the same appreciation for lime coloured paint or they may have trouble seeing how big the room is past all the boxes of receipts and tax papers from 1976.

It is usually the clutter and minor deficiencies that the home owner doesn’t notice anymore. They tell themselves they will get around to fixing it eventually and just never do. This is where the Agent has to be cautious not to overstep their boundaries, but make it clear that the goal is to sell the home for the most amount of money and it is therefore necessary to appeal to the widest audience possible. Quite often an agent will recommend a ‘Fluffer’ or ‘Stager’ to do this because that way they don’t have to be the bad guy. The goal of staging is to make the house desirable to everyone who would be looking in their market.

The Agent should shoulder the costs of all the marketing, but the homeowner is expected to pick up the costs of staging and any pre-inspections. These are suggestions that will net them more money at the end of the day and stay with the house after sale.

At this point the house is ready to be professional photographed and subsequently marketed. Don’t underestimate the value of having your home professionally photographed. Pictures form the basis of any marketing campaign. To sell your house for the most amount of money in the least amount of time you need you home looking its absolute best.

1. Location, Location, Location! Look for a location in that has the potential for growth, this is the best advice when investing in real estate. If the house you choose in Toronto is not exactly as you’d like it to be, you can always renovate and change things. You cannot renovate an entire neighborhood.

2. The best investment properties are sometimes the ones that require the most work. Sometimes you can find a great fixer-upper in a popular area. When investing time and money into remodeling, not only will you have a great place to live, but you have a home that has been designed to your liking and will get a much better return on your investment.

3. Remember you can always expand Typically it is a good idea for clients to think into the future and see the broader picture. Will the property be suitable within the next few years? If not, it is a good idea to see if the house can be expanded to accommodate a larger living space. This could be in the form of a finished basement or adding an addition. If major renovations are required, check into whether or not there are any building restrictions for the neighborhood. It is a good idea to find it beforehand than when you are actually facing the prospect of buying Toronto building permits.

4. Check into the schools in the area. Even if you do not currently have children, if you are thinking about it in the future, it is a good idea to check into the local schools. Having a good school in the area is something a potential homebuyer should never overlook. Oftentimes, a family will move into a particular neighborhood to be within the district of a favorable school.

5. Perform a personal credit check now. Before applying for a mortgage in Toronto, it is a good idea to perform a personal credit check. If your credit report contains any errors, you can have it rectified before any financial institution makes the discovery.

6. Clean up your credit. Making any credit report repairs can sometimes be as easy as making timely payments. Even if you have had bad credit in the past, you can turn it around and the bank or financial institute can be surprisingly forgiving. This is why it is imperative to check on a credit report prior to shopping the Toronto real estate market.

7. Never underestimate the value of an energy efficient home. An energy efficient house can save you thousands of dollars over the course of time. More and more people are seeking energy efficient homes, it is a common request more real estate agents are hearing every day.

8. How far is the daily commute to work? If you are giving serious thought to a particular home, a good idea is to make a test run to see how the traffic flows in both directions during the average daily commute.

9. How low are the rates? Lock in a secure mortgage rate for as long as possible, if the rates are low and there is no chance of rates dipping any lower it can equal to saving a substantial amount of money over time.

10. Avoid Toronto houses that tilt. Gaze at the house you are interested in from across the street, if the house tilts you definitely need to move on to the next property. Just because the floors of a home are uneven does not mean the house necessarily tilts, to verify if this is the case you will need to have an inspection done. A tilt is indicative of foundational issues; it is a problem with the potential to drain finances when it comes time for making repairs down the road.

11. Remember resale value. When you are considering purchasing a Toronto property, keep the potential for resale in mind. Do not let it determine your every thought, however, at some point you may want to sell the home so it is a good idea to keep the thought in the back of your mind.

Agents charge fees; money that could otherwise be going into your pocket. At least that’s the common misconception amongst home sellers. But is that the reality of the situation? Do real estate agents really take up a large portion of your house sale price? Does a professional real estate agent really cost you that much?

The first thing to acknowledge is that yes, a real estate agent is going to charge you a commission. However, he’s not getting something for nothing. In fact, when you realize what the real estate professional does, you’ll understand that although he does charge you a fee, you are not actually out of pocket. So what does a real estate agent do, and how do they earn their money?

The first thing that a real estate agent brings to the table is an up-to-date working knowledge about houses in your area, what price they are currently selling for, and who’s buying them. This is invaluable because they know exactly the kind of target buyer who will be interested in taking a look at your home with a serious interest in buying it. This kind of buyer is often already qualified so that if they like what they see, you’re more likely to see the sale through to closure than if the buyer hasn’t even started trying to raise finance to buy a home.

An experienced real estate professional will be able to advise you on what needs to be done to your home in order to sell it at the best selling price for your type of home in your area. It could be that his list is actually shorter than yours based on how much return you will get for investing time and money in repairs and updating such things as drapes. You may know your home better than he does, but he knows what sells, and his knowledge on how to place furniture in order to maximize natural light etc could make the difference between selling and not.

Selling a house isn’t like going to the store, picking an item off the shelf and buying it. There a lot of legalities and paperwork to be covered before a closing a house sale. A real estate agent works with this paperwork on a daily basis. They know how to simplify things and get the official process taken care of as quickly as possible. They will negotiate on your behalf with the buyers, the financial people and the legal people so that all the ends are tied up neatly and you won’t have a legal case on your hands in the future because of a form that didn’t get filed, or a negotiation clause that was forgotten in the excitement.

On the surface, it may seem that a real estate agent is there to take your money, but in actual fact, his experience and knowledge will help you speed up the process, and because of his negotiating skill, could put more money into your pocket than you pay into his.

Watertown Connecticut on go skateboarding day 2009 filmed and edited by kyle mcevoy