Look into a referral for a rep to sell your cottage
I’m ready to sell my cottage — I live in the GTA. Given that open houses are off the table, I would like to have a brokerage near the cottage conduct private showings and handle the sale. Can my local sales rep recommend a brokerage near my cottage to list my property?
Last month, I shared some advice for buying or selling a cottage during the COVID-19 pandemic, and reminded readers that the current ban on open houses remains in place across Ontario. The ban is an important measure put in place by the provincial government, in consultation with health officials, to protect everyone from virus transmission by enforcing physical distancing and preventing group gatherings. Thank you for giving this your careful consideration as you plan to bring your property to market.
As for your question about your GTA salesperson recommending a brokerage or salesperson local to your cottage: yes this can occur and is quite common.
Salespeople do regularly refer buyers and sellers to other salespersons within their professional network.
Typically, the referring salesperson will receive a referral fee for doing this, so your local salesperson will likely receive some form of compensation for this service — or they may have an existing referral program. Usually the referral fee is negotiated and paid directly between the salespersons’ brokerages, so there should be no cost to you.
This can be an effective way for a buyer or seller to secure a rep to represent them, for the reasons you’ve expressed, or for a specific expertise — for instance, the sale of a cottage property, or one with dual residential and commercial zoning, or farmlands.
Local salespersons can offer the value-added local knowledge that you’ll want, and need, when selling a cottage. It can be a win-win situation for you. Since you trust your local salesperson, and based on their referral, you will benefit from the expertise of a local salesperson that handles cottage properties in that area as part of their regular business.
This is what you should consider, given you are an out-oftown seller, and selling a cottage property. There are many special considerations surrounding cottage properties, like rights and access to roads or shorelines, the existence and condition of a septic system, and things like zoning, surveys and access to municipal emergency services.
In some cases, that local value-add benefit may provide you with a salesperson who is plugged-in to local information like marinas, restaurant, and any upcoming developments that may impact property values in the area.
Best of luck with your sale. I am confident that the salesperson you find will be able to assist you. Even though the marketing strategy will not include live open houses, it can feature other strategies — like virtual and online promotion. As well, the salesperson you work with can navigate the best approach to private viewings while respecting health authorities’ safety recommendations.
If you have a question about the home-buying or selling process, please email information@reco.on.ca.
Joe Richer is registrar of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @RECOhelps