Knowledge centre
Use the first showing to identify questions and decide whether the property deserves deeper professional review—not to perform your own inspection. A showing is short and emotional. Fresh paint and furniture can dominate attention while the buyer misses water marks, grading, older mechanical systems, window condition, electrical concerns, noise, parking or evidence of unpermitted work.
Use the listing to decide what must be verified—not as proof that every description, income claim or improvement is acceptable to the lender or municipality. Listing photos are marketing. The useful information may be in property taxes, condo fees, lot and parking details, legal description, rental claims, inclusions, exclusions and wording that signals renovation or condition concerns.
Write five needs, five preferences and five deal-breakers before the first showing, then confirm which items affect financing or resale. Without agreed priorities, every attractive listing can rewrite the plan. Buyers may stretch the budget for finishes while overlooking commute, ownership costs, future space, resale limits or a property feature the lender cannot accept.
Give the Realtor three numbers: the comfortable target, the tested upper range and the absolute ceiling that cannot be crossed without another mortgage review. The maximum mortgage approval is not a target purchase price. A buyer still needs room for property taxes, condo fees, utilities, maintenance, insurance, closing costs and changes in the property used by the lender.
Understand the form of representation, the services that will be limited and the alternatives before consenting. A buyer may assume the agent can continue giving the same negotiation advice when the brokerage or designated representative also represents a competing interest. The permitted services and loyalty can change materially.
Do not sign until you can explain who represents you, what services are included, what you may owe, the exact scope and how the relationship can end. A buyer may believe the form only allows an agent to book showings. It is a contract with a brokerage and can define the services, geographic scope, property types, compensation, expiry, cancellation and obligations that continue after it ends.
Interview more than one registered professional and choose according to the area, property type, communication and services required—not pressure or popularity. A friendly conversation or fast showing does not prove that an agent has the local knowledge, property experience, availability and negotiation approach the buyer needs.
Complete a mortgage strategy review and a personal budget before asking a Realtor to build the property search. Opening a listing app is easy. The costly mistake is beginning the search before the buyer understands the comfortable payment, available cash, approval weaknesses and property types the mortgage can support.
A first-home plan is ready only when the borrower and the exact property have both been reviewed. A pre-approval, savings balance or online calculator cannot confirm the appraisal, condominium, insurer or final lender conditions. Set a comfortable household budget, verify the down-payment trail and closing costs, keep a financing condition where appropriate, and avoid new debt before closing. Rajiv can then compare suitable A, alternative/B and, only where necessary, carefully planned equity-based options.
A first-home plan is ready only when the borrower and the exact property have both been reviewed. A pre-approval, savings balance or online calculator cannot confirm the appraisal, condominium, insurer or final lender conditions. Set a comfortable household budget, verify the down-payment trail and closing costs, keep a financing condition where appropriate, and avoid new debt before closing. Rajiv can then compare suitable A, alternative/B and, only where necessary, carefully planned equity-based options.