How Do I Find a Real Estate Agent for Seniors in Scarborough?

November 6, 2024 | Senior Services

You might wonder how to find a real estate agent in Scarborough. I suggest asking yourself, “How do I find a real estate agent specializing in seniors’ real estate in Scarborough?”

There is a distinction between a real estate agent and an agent specializing in senior real estate (SRES). The SRES designation means having specialized training and expertise when dealing with complex real estate and being able to provide solutions for your unique situation.

Why Should You Work With a Senior Real Estate Specialist?

A typical real estate agent is transactional and about getting the sale but won’t necessarily offer much else in terms of service and value. A real estate agent specializing in senior real estate (SRES) will be more client-centric, focusing on the relationship and your transition. As an SRES Realtor, I learn about my clients’ lifestyles and what motivates them to sell their homes. Is it by choice or by circumstance? You could be considering a move because of a serious health condition, and you’re trying to get ahead by choosing where you want to live while you’re still in control.

If you wait, stay in your current home, and an accident occurs, your adult children are called in to assist you. Maybe you lose capacity, and your Power of Attorney is making decisions for you. You are no longer in complete control. Now you’re in crisis mode, no longer a choice. Now you’re moving because of circumstances, which makes selling your home and moving more stressful for everyone involved. As an SRES, I mitigate the risks by providing solutions so you and your loved ones can make informed decisions.

Need more senior-specific real estate advice? Check out these related blog posts next!

Finding the Right Senior Real Estate Agent For You

When you do a Google search for the term “How Do I Find a Real Estate Agent for Seniors in Scarborough,” look at the websites that include an individual’s name and don’t have the word “sponsored” in front of it. They should also have something written about specializing in seniors’ real estate. These are the realtors you want to put on your list of considerations.

Go to their websites, and you will quickly determine their work areas. There should be a “where I work” tab. This will show you the exact neighbourhoods they work in. This process will help you eliminate an agent who doesn’t necessarily work in Scarborough but whose website ranks for Scarborough.

Separating the Good From the Not-so-good

When reviewing each website, look at the quality of their work from current or past listings. Do they have before and after examples of their work? This will help you verify if they will add value. The photography and staging will reflect the quality of the work you can expect if you were to hire them. Also, look at their list of services to see what is included. Is staging included, or will they subcontract that work and hand you a bill? Check out their testimonials and go to their Google Reviews to see how many 5-star reviews there are and what others say about their experience working with them. It will verify their knowledge and expertise working with older adults and their families. You will also understand how recently and frequently they worked in these situations. Select the top three individuals and contact them to interview for the job.

Advertisment Vs. Experience

A popular way to find a real estate agent for seniors in Scarborough is to “Google” it. Search the term “How Do I Find a Real Estate Agent for Seniors in Scarborough?” You will get a list of real estate agents and services. When you search this way, here’s a tip: eliminate the websites where the word “Sponsored” appears. These pay-per-click ads pay to be at the top of Google search results. These resources typically aren’t experts in anything, especially not seniors’ real estate. They are often third-party companies that refer agents to you and charge the agent a referral fee. They aren’t looking for the best agent that suits your specific requirements. They’re looking for the agent that pays the most significant referral fee, which will mean less service and expertise for you, the client.

The following websites you can eliminate are the institutional ones. These websites might offer a list of retirement homes or be named as businesses or agencies without personal names. These aren’t resources or experts on how to sell your house to meet your unique needs. They sometimes link realtors within their websites based on paid advertising to them. They are merely third parties generating revenue for their businesses. They don’t actively trade in real estate and are certainly not in production. The highest bidding agent gets the space, but they’re not necessarily your best realtor. Their resources and information are templated and generic. That doesn’t make them an experienced expert in senior real estate. I say this because these websites always solicit me to buy ad space, so I know precisely their motivation.

Think you may want to downsize your home soon? Read these other blogs for more advice.

Ask a Friend or Family Member

A great way to find a real estate agent for Seniors in Scarborough is to ask a family member, friend, or neighbour for a referral. What better way to learn about a real estate agent than someone else’s experience?

As a senior real estate specialist (SRES), I can say firsthand that the lifeblood of a realtor’s business is referrals. It doesn’t mean you are obligated to hire them, but you should consider interviewing them for the job. If possible, try to get more than one referral from multiple friends, family, or neighbours.

Here’s an example of this scenario. I was referred to an interview with an executor for the listing of an estate sale. Their lawyer advised the executor to interview at least a couple of real estate agents. I was referred to the executor by her brother, who has been a long-time client of mine. The second agent is a friend and is known to the executor. I treated the listing presentation as usual, with a comprehensive evaluation and marketing plan. Being thorough and local to the Scarborough real estate market won me the listing. When I asked the client why she hired me, she said, “Your level of detail, the services offered, and your presentation blew me away.” Her friend, who she didn’t hire, wasn’t a realtor who specialized in seniors’ real estate, was less detailed, didn’t know the nuances of the Scarborough real estate market, and didn’t offer the same level of services.

The lesson here is that referrals are great, but make sure the referral is professional. Please don’t allow them to mail it in because the person knows you or is referred to you by someone else who knows you.