For sellers
Selling a home in Ottawa
A good sale begins with a private conversation about timing and what matters to you. Poonam Babbar, REALTOR® with eXp Realty of Canada, Inc., Brokerage, helps Ottawa owners prepare, price, present and negotiate the sale of their homes with care and discretion.
Figures and rules checked . Confirm current rules before you act.
What could your home sell for? Ask for a private valuation.
Request a private valuationThe process
Six stages, from first conversation to keys.
Timing varies with the home, the season and the market. This is the order in which things usually happen.
For preparation ideas, read how to prepare your Ottawa home for sale.
Selling a luxury home? See Ottawa luxury homes and what to expect when selling a luxury home in Ottawa.
A private conversation
Poonam meets you, at the home if you like, to talk about why you are selling, your timing, what matters beyond price, and who else is part of the decision. Privacy preferences are set here: who may visit, what is shown publicly and how you wish to be contacted.
Preparation and presentation
Poonam advises on what is worth doing before the home goes to market: repairs, cleaning, decluttering, styling and professional photography. Not every project pays back, so each one is weighed against its cost and what buyers are likely to notice first.
Pricing strategy
The price is built from evidence: recent comparable sales, what is on the market now, and the features and condition of your home. Pricing too high and pricing too low each carry a cost. Poonam talks through the trade-offs with you and you agree a strategy. The final decision is yours.
Marketing
A plan matched to your home and your preferences. For most sales it includes a listing on MLS® through the brokerage, professional photography and floor plans, a carefully written description and scheduled showings, with video and social media where they help. How much exposure the home receives is agreed with you.
Offers and negotiation
Offers arrive on a written Agreement of Purchase and Sale. Poonam reviews each with you: the price, the deposit, the conditions, the closing date, what is included and the strength of the buyer’s position. You may choose a set date for reviewing offers or consider them as they arrive, and Poonam discusses with you which suits your home and the market. Every decision to accept, counter or decline is yours.
Closing
Once the conditions are satisfied, your lawyer prepares the transfer, discharges any mortgage and arranges the adjustments. On the closing date the funds are released and the keys are handed over. Poonam stays involved through the final walk-through and any last questions.
Private valuation
An opinion of value, in plain terms.
A private valuation is a considered opinion of what your home could sell for, given by Poonam after reviewing your property and the market. It is not an automated estimate.
Request a private valuationWhat it is
- A considered opinion of value from Poonam, given in conversation.
- Based on your home’s features and condition, recent comparable sales and the current market.
- An opportunity to ask how each comparable was weighed.
- Free of any obligation to list your home with Poonam.
What it is not
- An automated online estimate generated by software.
- A formal appraisal, which is prepared by a qualified appraiser, often when a lender requires one.
- A guarantee of the price your home will achieve or how quickly it will sell.
- A substitute for tax or legal advice.
The conversation
What Poonam will discuss with you.
Before anything is listed, these are the subjects Poonam covers with you. You set the pace, and nothing is decided in the first meeting.
- Your reasons and timing
- Why you are selling, when you need to be moved, and what a good outcome looks like for you, which is not always the highest price.
- Your home
- Condition, upgrades, the things buyers will notice first, and the things worth fixing before they do.
- Value and pricing
- Recent comparable sales, what competes with your home today, and how to position it.
- Presentation and marketing
- What to prepare, how the home is photographed and shown, and how widely it is promoted.
- The costs of selling
- The brokerage commission, which is negotiable and set out in the listing agreement, legal fees, the cost of discharging your mortgage, preparation costs and moving.
- Selling and buying together
- If you are buying your next home, how to coordinate the two closings and what happens if the dates do not line up.
- Tax and legal questions
- These belong with your accountant and your lawyer. Poonam will tell you which questions to bring to them.
Discretion
Prefer a quieter sale?
Public marketing does not suit every owner. If you would rather limit who sees your home, a quieter sale is an option to talk through with Poonam.
It has trade-offs. Fewer buyers may see the home, which can affect the price and the number of offers. The brokerage’s policies and professional rules also shape how a property can be marketed. No outcome can be guaranteed, so the conversation covers what is possible for your home, what you would give up, and what you would gain.
Talk it through privatelyQuestions
Straight answers to what owners ask most. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Selling in Ottawa: common questions
How do you decide what my home is worth?
A considered opinion of value rests on recent comparable sales nearby, what is currently for sale, and the features and condition of your home. Poonam walks through the comparables with you so you can see how the figure was reached. It is an opinion of value, not an appraisal and not a guarantee.
What does it cost to sell a home in Ottawa?
The main costs are the brokerage commission, legal fees, discharging your mortgage, preparation and moving. The section above on what Poonam discusses with you sets out each one, and she goes through them with you before you sign anything.
How long will it take to sell?
It depends on price, condition, location, the season and the market. Poonam gives you her view of what to expect for your home, which is a judgment and not a promise. A well-prepared home that is priced with care tends to make for a smoother sale.
Should I renovate before selling?
Not necessarily. Repairs, cleaning, decluttering and careful styling often matter more than major work, and large projects add cost, time and risk. Poonam gives you a view on each item for your home, and you decide.
Can I sell my home quietly?
It is an option to discuss. Fewer buyers may see the home, so the price and the number of offers can be affected. See the section above on a quieter sale.
Do I need a lawyer to sell?
In Ontario a real estate lawyer completes the transfer, discharges any mortgage and handles the funds, so you will need one. It helps to choose a lawyer early, before an offer arrives.
Should I sell first or buy first?
It depends on your finances, your mortgage and the market. Options include making a purchase conditional on your sale, arranging bridge financing, or negotiating flexible closing dates, and each carries its own risk. Talk it through with Poonam and your lender before you list.
Will I pay tax when I sell my home?
If the home has been your principal residence, a federal exemption may apply to any gain, but conditions apply and the sale must be reported correctly on your tax return. Tax advice is outside Poonam’s role, so confirm your position with an accountant.
Private consultation
Thinking about selling?
Ask for a private valuation, or bring the address, your rough timing and a list of recent work on the home to a first conversation.