When selling your home, you should select a real estate professional who can expose your property to the biggest market to ensure the fastest sale at the best possible price. Ask your prospective REALTORs about the different ways they plan to advertise your home. Good marketing should include advertizing on sites like:

• MLS ( exposure to general public)
• REMAX (international company with international relocations - serious buyers)
• Local  (community Websites so the neighbourhood knows)
• Neighbourhood (promotion sites so internet savvy people can research)
• Dynamic (REALTOR sites so their large people networks know)

Good market exposure should employ other mediums as well.  Promotional materials should include:

• lawn signs
• bus bench signs
• sport team sponsorships
• advertising in high profile magazines such as Homes and Land
• advertising in board publications such as Ottawa Real Estate Guide
• high gloss marketing material

A REALTOR that is working hard for you should be constantly networking.  Networking for you.  Don't you want your REALTOR out there contacting people through circles such as:

• Chamber of Commerce
• Rotary and other service clubs
• Business Network International
• Sports Leagues

It is this type of dedication that helps get your real estate needs met.  It's  your decision who you select to represent you in your real estate transaction.  Make your decision count!  It's your move... Make it 558-MOVE.

Some homeowners think that selling their own home will save money and give them an advantage over the majority of people who use a REALTOR. Before you start down this complicated path, here are a few reasons why using a real estate professional is important:

1. You will be drastically limiting your exposure to potential buyers, which means it can take between 10 and 15 times longer to sell your home. Houses that take a long time to sell usually sell for less because buyers believe there must be something wrong with them.
2. Most buyers find negotiating with sellers extremely awkward, and therefore avoid For Sale By Owner situations.
3. Most buyers use a REALTOR in their home search, and most buyers' agents will typically not work with FSBOs because they will not be paid. This means you will have to offer a selling commission to attract buyer's agents, which will cut into your expected "savings." 
4. Lack of negotiating experience can result in a lower selling price, or worse, a bungled contract and possible lawsuits. It is probably unwise to pit your negotiating skills against those of experienced professionals. 
5. If you plan to use a lawyer to help you negotiate, your lawyer's fees could be considerably higher than a REALTOR's commission. Unlike REALTORs, lawyers do not get paid for proactively representing your best interests or mediating delicate situations. 
6. You only pay a commission to your REALTOR if they successfully sell your home at a price you are happy with.