For Sellers
The Manitoba Seller's Guide
The Process
Selling in six steps
- 01
Understand Your Market Position
Before anything else, I'll review comparable recent sales in your neighbourhood to establish a realistic price range. The right price attracts buyers; an inflated price costs you time and momentum.
- 02
Prepare Your Home
Not every improvement adds value. I'll walk you through what actually moves the needle in the current Winnipeg market — typically: deep cleaning, decluttering, curb appeal, fresh paint in neutral tones, and addressing obvious deficiencies.
- 03
Professional Marketing
Professional photography, a well-written listing, and exposure across MLS, social media, and my network. First impressions happen online — your listing photos are your open house.
- 04
Showings & Offers
I coordinate showings and give you feedback after each one. When offers come in, I'll explain every term and help you evaluate price, conditions, and possession date holistically.
- 05
Conditional Period
A firm offer is usually stronger than a higher one with conditions, but the right call depends on the buyer and the conditions. I'll walk you through the risk before you decide. Once every condition is waived, your deal is firm.
- 06
Closing & Beyond
Your lawyer handles the paperwork. I support you through possession day and answer questions that come up after the deal closes. The relationship doesn't end at the sold sign.
Marketing
Getting your home seen.
Selling a home takes more than putting a sign on the lawn.
I use MLS®, my website, Facebook, and professional connections to help buyers discover homes for sale.
Every property is different, so the marketing approach should fit the home and the people most likely to buy it.
MLS®
Your listing can be shared through the MLS® system, where Realtors and buyers search for properties.
204realtor.ca
Your property can be featured on my website, giving interested buyers another way to discover it.
Facebook
Social media gives me another way to introduce properties to potential buyers and people who may know someone looking.
Professional network
Other Realtors and people in my network may know buyers looking for a home like yours.
No marketing plan can guarantee a sale or a particular price.
Value
What affects your sale price
Location & neighbourhood
The biggest factor. You can't change it, but you can price for it.
Condition & presentation
Clean, staged homes consistently sell faster and for more.
Pricing strategy
Overpricing is one of the most common and costly seller mistakes.
Market timing
Spring and fall are traditionally active. Summer and winter, less so.
Competition
How many similar homes are listed right now? I monitor this daily.
Negotiation
Responding quickly and professionally to offers matters more than most sellers realize.
FAQ
Questions worth asking before you sell
When you list your home, you’ll sign an agreement explaining what your Realtor will do, how long the listing lasts, and what the fees are.
It also explains your responsibilities and what happens when the listing ends.
If you decide you want to cancel early, that depends on the agreement and what you arrange with the brokerage. We’ll go through everything before you sign.
The highest offer isn’t always the best offer.
One buyer might offer more money but need financing approval. Another might offer a little less with fewer conditions and a possession date that works better for you.
We’ll compare the offers, including price, conditions, deposits, and possession dates. Then you can decide which one works best for you.
It depends on where you are in the sale.
If the buyer has conditions in their offer, such as getting approved for a mortgage, they may be able to walk away if those conditions aren’t met.
But once those conditions are removed and the deal is firm, backing out can have serious consequences.
If that happens, I’ll help you understand the next steps, and a lawyer may need to get involved.
If a buyer can’t meet a condition in their offer, such as getting mortgage approval, their deposit is usually returned once the necessary paperwork is completed, provided the offer allows them to end the deal for that reason.
If a buyer backs out after the deal is firm, things can get more complicated. What happens to the deposit depends on the agreement and the circumstances.
I’ll help you understand what happens next if that situation comes up.
Official sources: Real Estate Services Regulation (opens in a new tab).
First, we figure out why.
Is the asking price too high? Are buyers seeing the listing but not booking showings? Are people visiting but not making offers?
We’ll look at comparable homes, showing activity, buyer feedback, and how your home is being marketed.
Then we’ll decide whether to adjust the price, improve the presentation, change the marketing, or give it more time.
Buying your next home while selling your current one takes some planning.
If you sell first, you’ll know how much money you’re working with. But you may need somewhere to stay before your next home is ready.
If you buy first, you’ll have your next home lined up, but you may need short-term financing while waiting for your current home to sell.
We’ll work through the timing, financing, and possession dates before you make a decision.
You can sell a home that has tenants, but the tenants have rights.
Putting the property up for sale doesn’t automatically mean they have to move out.
If the buyer plans to live in the home, Manitoba has specific rules about when tenants can be asked to leave and how much notice they must receive.
We’ll review the tenancy before promising a buyer that the home will be vacant.
Official sources: Residential Tenancies Branch: landlord sells rental unit (opens in a new tab).
If you’ve finished a basement, added a deck, or made other changes to your home, it’s worth checking whether the proper permits were obtained and closed.
Buyers may ask about permits, and missing paperwork can create problems during a sale.
The City of Winnipeg lets homeowners check permit records. It also has a Permit Amnesty Program for certain work done without permits.
Not every property or renovation qualifies, so it’s better to check early.
Official sources: City of Winnipeg permit search (opens in a new tab) and Permit Amnesty Program (opens in a new tab).
If you’re selling the home you’ve lived in as your main residence, you may not owe tax on the profit.
But there are exceptions, especially if you’ve rented out part of the property, used it for business, or owned more than one home.
Even if you don’t owe tax, you still need to report the sale to the CRA.
Homes bought and sold within 365 days can also face special tax rules, with some exceptions.
If your situation is unusual, it’s worth speaking with an accountant before selling.
Official sources: CRA: principal residence (opens in a new tab) and CRA: residential property flipping rule (opens in a new tab).
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. What applies to you depends on your contract and your circumstances, so check the details with your lawyer or accountant.
Thinking about selling?
Whether you're exploring your options or ready to get started, there's no pressure to commit.
- Tell me about your homeShare a few details at your own pace.
- Book a consultationPick a time for a free 30-minute conversation.
Prefer to reach me directly? Call 204-612-0586 or email info@204realtor.ca.