Hello everyone!

Today, let's delve into an important topic that often causes a bit of confusion: limited joint representation in real estate transactions. What does it mean when your real estate transaction is under limited joint representation? Let’s unpack this together.

What is Limited Joint Representation?

Limited joint representation occurs when the same real estate brokerage represents more than one party in a real estate transaction. Most commonly both the seller and the buyer. It's a situation where one brokerage has the privilege and responsibility of assisting both parties. But, for this to happen, both the seller and the buyer must agree to this arrangement. They will need to sign a form acknowledging their understanding and consent to proceed under limited joint representation.

What Changes with Limited Joint Representation?

You might wonder, what exactly changes when both parties are represented by the same brokerage compared to when they have separate representation? The primary difference lies in how the realtor can communicate and advise each party.

Maintaining Fairness for All

In limited joint representation, fairness is the cornerstone. The realtors involved must ensure they are unbiased and cannot favor one party over the other. This means that realtors are restricted in how they can advise on pricing and other sensitive information.

For instance, imagine a home listed at $350,000. If the seller privately tells their realtor they are willing to accept $340,000, the realtor cannot disclose this to the buyer. Similarly, if a buyer tells the realtor they are willing to go up to $360,000 but will start with an offer of $340,000, the realtor cannot share this with the seller.

Another critical aspect is confidentiality. Realtors cannot disclose the reasons behind a sale or purchase. For example, if the seller is moving to another city and has already bought a new home, the realtor cannot share this information with the buyer. Such details remain confidential to maintain fairness and integrity in the transaction.

Understanding these nuances helps ensure that both buyers and sellers are treated equitably and that the transaction proceeds smoothly and transparently.

Note that just because you are in a limited joint representation situation does not necessarily mean the realtors involved know both parties. When two realtors work for the same brokerage and one represents the seller and the other represents the buyer this is still considered a limited joint representation situation. In this case though often times the realtor representing the buyer has never meet the seller and vice versa.

I hope this clarifies what limited joint representation means and how it impacts your real estate transactions. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or if you need further clarification!

Your Friend in Real Estate,

Sam Scribilo

1. Prepare and Stage the Home

Set the stage! Imagine walking into a home that feels warm, inviting, and move-in ready. This is the experience potential buyers should have. Start with deep cleaning, decluttering, and making minor repairs. Next, stage the home to highlight its best features. Use neutral colors and tasteful decor to create a welcoming environment that allows buyers to visualize themselves living there. A well-staged home can significantly increase its appeal and value. 

Actionable Tips:

• Clean every nook and cranny, including windows, carpets, and walls.

• Remove personal items and excess furniture to make spaces appear larger.

• Use professional stagers.  We can help with this!

2. Price It Right

Think of pricing your home like casting a wide net to catch the biggest fish. Price it too high, and you may scare off potential buyers; price it too low, and you leave money on the table. Realtors conduct thorough market analysis to ensure you are positioned properly on the market. Setting a competitive price from the start can attract more interest and lead to quicker offers.

Actionable Tips:

• Review recent sales of comparable homes (comps) in your neighborhood.

• Consider the current market trends and local real estate conditions.

• Listen to your Realtor’s recommendations on pricing.

3. Maximize Online Presence

In today's digital age, your home's online listing is like its first open house. The majority of buyers start their search online, so it's crucial to make a great first impression. Professional photography, videography plus a compelling property description are paramount.  Be sure you highlight the home's unique features and the benefits of the neighborhood.

Actionable Tips:

• Ensure your Realtor uses professional photographers and videographers

• Proofread the property description and confirm it highlights details for your ideal buyer.

• Ensure the listing is on all major real estate platforms and social media.

4. Market Aggressively

Think of your home's sale as launching a product. To reach the right audience, you need a comprehensive marketing plan. This includes traditional methods like open houses and flyers, as well as digital marketing strategies like social media ads and email campaigns. The goal is to generate as much interest as possible.

Actionable Tips:

• Hire a Realtor that hosts open houses and private showings to attract different types of buyers.

• Study their social media platforms to see how they generate a buzz for their own listings.

• Ask questions! Ask to see sample marketing materials, or to speak to references.

5. Be Flexible and Responsive

Picture a buyer who falls in love with your home but has questions or wants to see it at a specific time. Being responsive and accommodating can make all the difference. Flexibility with showing times and quick responses to inquiries can keep potential buyers interested and engaged.

Actionable Tips:

• Keep your schedule open for showings, even on short notice.

• Respond promptly to questions and requests from your Realtor.

• Be open to negotiating terms to close the deal efficiently.

Now there are many moving pieces when it comes to selling a home.  However, focusing on these pieces in particular will have a substantial impact on your success.

Your friend in real estate,

Jen Queen

The Crucial, Yet Most Overlooked Step in Preparing Your Home for Sale

If you're considering putting your home on the market, you've probably done some research on maximizing its appeal. From simple DIY projects promising the highest returns to strategic updates like fresh paint, enhancing curb appeal, flooring upgrades, hardware swaps, and professional staging – the list is extensive and yes still very relevant. However, amidst these projects lies a commonly neglected aspect- the cleanliness of your home. In short: PRIORITIZE A DEEP CLEAN!

When guiding my clients through the process of preparing their homes for sale, I often stress the significance of a deep clean. It's remarkable how such a relatively inexpensive step can profoundly impact the presentation of your home and set it apart from the competition. Consider it from the perspective of a prospective buyer.

During property viewings with my buyers clients, I can typically categorize homes on the market into three cleanliness tiers:

1. The Dirty Third

These homes often exhibit signs of neglect. Upon entering, one might notice the lack of a cleaning regimen – dirty floors, unkept bathrooms, and pet hair galore. Perhaps having served as a rental property with tenants who didn’t take care of things. The first impression to a buyer is often not great. It leaves buyers wondering "If the owners haven't maintained cleanliness, what else might they have neglected?"

2.The Lived-In Third

This category encompasses homes that are generally well-maintained. This is how most homes look during typical day to day living. A few pet hairs on furniture, a few dishes in the sink, some streaks on the windows, or sand tracked into entryways. While not necessarily off-putting, these homes are deemed 'average' and don’t stand out in terms of cleanliness.

3. The Pristine Third

Here lies the holy grail of cleanliness – I often joke, homes so immaculate you could eat off the floors! While it may seem like an unrealistic standard for everyday living (don’t worry, you only have to keep it this pristine for the showing period), these homes convey a profound sense of care and attention from their current owners. Basically seeing a home in that is pristinely clean screams well maintained. These homes make a great first impression to prospective buyers.

The key takeaway? Aim to position your home in the top tier – the pristine category. Doing so often means you have an edge over two-thirds of the competition!!! Achieving this level of cleanliness is entirely feasible with a bit of effort and minimal expense. However, if undertaking a deep clean isn't something you want to take on, consider hiring a professional cleaning service to ensure your home shines from top to bottom.

If you have any questions or require further guidance on preparing your home for the market, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help!

#AgentSam

Samantha Scribilo

Tel: (204) 960-8851
Email: Sam@JenniferQueen.com

You may or may not have noticed that I have the letters B.Sc after my name in my marketing, but what you may not know is that graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor’s degree in science and I went back to school to specialize in research dealing with freshwater fish.  I also spent nearly a decade working in the field of natural resources mostly involved with fisheries, throughout much of Northern Ontario, Manitoba and Western Canada.

People who knew me before I became a realtor always ask if I miss my previous career, and tend to point out how much different being a Realtor is from being outdoors catching fish. Truthfully it was just like any other job - it had its pros and cons, and while there are fun things that I miss, there are just as many things that were not so pleasant, constantly smelling like fish for instance, which I do not miss.

So, I thought I would take this time in my blog to talk about the 3 major reasons why I absolutely love being a realtor.

1. Learning about houses and construction

I have always been a person who learns so much better by doing something, and in the past 5 years I honestly can’t tell you how many houses I have toured, how many home inspections I have been part of and how much wider my knowledge of house construction has grown.  You see, I had a good idea of how houses were built from my father.  While not a journeyman in any specific construction field, my dad was trained by an electrician and plumber when he was a young man, and although he didn’t pursue that path for a career, he built most of the home my parents still live in by himself (and friends and family) in the 1980’s.  The fact that he did this before there was internet, YouTube and Google to figure it out still astounds me.  Growing up in that house he always included me, my brother and my sister in new projects and working to make improvements in the home. But it wasn’t until Jen and I purchased our first home in Winnipeg in 2008 (a former grow op, and a story for another day) that I really learned to respect the work put into a home and the effort it takes to maintain it.  Suffice it to say that the inner workings of home construction and planning started to grow in my mind. Now 5 years into my real estate career I still find interesting facts from homes built in different time periods, differences in materials and new changes as the building code evolves.  All of these things are fascinating to me and I love increasing my knowledge of it.

2. Meeting new people

I am 100% an extrovert.  I love meeting new people, rarely shy away from a conversation and can usually talk to anyone, even someone I barely know for at least a short conversation about mutual topics. Real estate allows me to meet so many new people, whether that be clients, other real estate agents, experts in home construction, home inspectors, you name it, we meet a lot of people.  Some of the best days have nothing to do with real estate, even if we are touring a home or negotiating a real estate offer, there are so many times that I just get lost in the conversation and find that I really just enjoy meeting these new people and getting to know them and their families.  Learning about peoples lives, and motivations for their real estate goals really increases the level of the relationship.  Truthfully one of the hardest parts of real estate for me is when clients do find their home, or their listing sells and we no longer spend a few days a week together.  It’s a running joke in our house that all of my client appointments run long, not that I am late for things, I just have to plan around my inability to stop a conversation J

3. Everyday is completely different

Sure, we do a lot of the same things with each of our clients, but no two transactions are ever the same.  Literally every day is different, and your day can turn on a dime.  You can get a call out of the blue that a client wants to buy a cottage lot, you can find out that your clients vacant listing’s furnace just quit in -30 C when you go to check on the home, you can be digging yourself and a fellow realtor out of a 3-foot snow drift after a showing (yes these are real examples).  What I am trying to say is there are ups, there are downs but the work is always eventful. Also negotiating an offer on behalf of your clients and getting them what they want or BETTER than what they want is always such a rewarding feeling.

I guess what I am saying is although I have chosen a different career path in the past 5 years, I couldn’t be happier with my decision.  Thank you to my awesome family who have always supported me in my decisions (except my tattoos….. J), and especially my dad for teaching me how to wire an outlet when I was 12.  To my clients past and present, thank you for trusting in me, spending your time with me and know that even when we don’t see each other for a while I always reminisce about similar homes, or interesting places we toured together. 

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” – Ursula K. Le Guin

#AgentLogan

Logan Queen

Tel: (204) 226-1261
Email: Logan@JenniferQueen.com