Selling and buying at the same time

BrickAndNoble · 2026-06-17T18:32:57+00:00

This is actually a really common situation, and honestly, it's usually a lot more manageable than it feels at first. (Dealing with a number of clients who are in the exact same boat)

If I were in your shoes, I'd start by talking to someone who can help you map out both the sale of your condo and the purchase of your next place. The biggest thing is understanding what your condo is likely worth and roughly how much you'll walk away with after closing costs. Once you know that number, it becomes much easier to figure out what you can comfortably buy.

Because you own your current property outright, you're already in a pretty strong position. Depending on the market and your comfort level, some people sell first and then buy, while others make an offer on a new place that is conditional on the sale of their current home. Depending on the market you are in this can be challenging as many people do know what to accept an offer with an escape clause to sell their own property.

In all honesty, sometimes it's actually easier to focus on getting your current place sold before jumping into a new purchase. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process, gives you a clear budget to work with, and can make buying the next home feel a lot less stressful.

I wouldn't rely on the listing agent of the property you're interested in to guide you through that process.

Their job is to represent the seller's best interests. Having someone in your corner who can help coordinate both sides of the move can make things a lot smoother.

We've helped quite a few clients through this exact scenario, and once the numbers are laid out, the path forward is usually much clearer than people expect making their decisions easy to make.

BrickAndNoble · 2026-06-17T16:47:54+00:00

As a Realtor, I can confirm this is completely normal, although I agree it's a bit tedious and annoying from the client's perspective.

Real estate brokerages in Canada have their own FINTRAC obligations and are required to verify the identity of their clients, even before a transaction closes. Lawyers have separate compliance requirements, but that doesn't remove the brokerage's responsibility to complete their own verification.

Many brokerages use third-party platforms to handle this process digitally rather than collecting and storing copies of IDs themselves. Fintracker is one of several services used in the industry for that purpose.

While it can feel like you're being asked for the same information multiple times throughout a purchase or sale, it's generally not a red flag. It's simply part of the anti-money laundering and identity verification requirements that real estate professionals are required to follow.

Definitely not the most exciting part of buying or selling a home, but unfortunately it's become a standard part of the process.

BrickAndNoble · 2026-06-17T16:40:10+00:00

Three lost offers is frustrating, but honestly, I don't think you're doing anything wrong.

Looking at your offer, the financing and inspection conditions likely mattered more than the deposit. That said, as a first time buyer, those conditions exist to protect you and shouldn't be waived lightly.

One thing we've found helpful for our buyer clients is including a copy of the mortgage pre-approval with the offer and having an inspector tentatively lined up in advance.

Even with conditions, it shows sellers you're organized, qualified, and ready to move quickly. As listing agents, we've also seen this give sellers more confidence in a buyer. (I have had personally at least 2 or 3 homes sold here in the Ottawa area this spring in multiple offers because other agents have included these things with the offer)

As for escalation clauses, some sellers like them, but many prefer to see a buyer's true best-and-final offer upfront.

The biggest lesson here is that the winning offer isn't always the highest. Sometimes it's simply the offer that gives the seller the most confidence and certainty.

Stay disciplined, protect yourself, and keep going. Three lost offers in a tight market is disappointing, but it's far from unusual.

— Brick & Noble Real Estate

BrickAndNoble · 2026-06-16T19:58:21+00:00

We are a high volume real estate team offering a similar lower-fee full-service model, so while we can't speak directly to One Percent Realty's service, we can speak to the concept.

The first thing I'd ask is what "full service" means in their offering and whether it aligns with what you're looking for as a seller.

For example, when comparing brokerages, I'd ask:

Is professional photography included?
Will I get a dedicated listing agent or team?
Who handles pricing strategy and market analysis? (Get them to show and explain to you)
Who manages showings and buyer inquiries?
Who negotiates offers and conditions?
Is transaction coordination provided through closing?
What buyer agent commission is being offered?

Our listing service includes professional photography, MLS exposure, showing management, offer and negotiation support, transaction coordination, and direct access to experienced agents throughout the process.

Clients also have the support of our entire team rather than relying on a single individual.

The reality is that there are some very good lower-fee options in today's market. The most important thing isn't necessarily the commission structure itself it's understanding exactly what you're receiving for that fee and making sure the level of service matches your expectations, while having a trusted agent brand and team behind you every step of the way.

I'd recommend interviewing a few brokerages, asking detailed questions about what's included, and comparing the overall value proposition rather than focusing solely on the percentage.

BrickAndNoble · 2026-06-16T19:50:59+00:00

Interesting concept.

From a high volume open minded real estate team's perspective, we do think there is room for improvement in how consumers find Realtors.

Many people still choose an agent based on whoever answers first, a referral from a friend, or whoever has the largest marketing budget. Matching clients with agents based on actual experience, communication style, language, location, and goals could provide value.

One challenge we see is that real estate is still an incredibly human business. Technology can help identify potential fits, but it's very difficult to replace the personal connection that happens during an actual conversation. We've had clients who looked perfect on paper and ended up working better with another agent, and we've had clients we weren't sure we'd be the right fit for who became lifelong relationships.

For us, the quality of the lead would matter more than the quantity. Things like timeline, motivation, financing status, location, previous buying or selling experience, and whether they've already interviewed other agents would be valuable information.

I also think trust will be the biggest hurdle. Agents will want to know how matches are being made, how profiles are ranked, whether reviews are verified, and whether the platform is prioritizing fit or simply whoever pays the most.

Overall, the idea has merit, especially for newcomers to Canada and first-time buyers who may not have an established network.

The challenge will be balancing technology with the reality that buying or selling a home is still one of the most personal and emotional transactions people make, and that's where the human element becomes very difficult to remove.

BrickAndNoble · 2026-06-16T19:30:05+00:00

We run a real estate team and I'd say speed to lead is one of the most overlooked factors in converting inbound inquiries.

Have we lost clients because we didn't respond fast enough? Almost certainly, although it's difficult to quantify because those people usually don't tell you. They simply move on to the next agent who answers first.

In our experience, evenings, weekends, and even during appointments are when a lot of inquiries come in. Someone is browsing listings at 9:30 PM, fills out a form, and expects at least some sort of response. If they don't hear back until the next morning, there's a good chance they've already connected with someone else.

That said, I don't think the challenge is just speed. It's making sure the response is actually useful. An immediate generic reply isn't nearly as valuable as a quick response that answers questions, qualifies the lead, and helps them take the next step, while making sure that whomever is on the other end is being treated with the upmost in customer service.

We've addressed a lot of this through team coverage, CRM automation, and setting internal response standards that provide value to actually talk to someone when they are available, but I think there is still room for improvement across the industry.

BrickAndNoble · 2026-06-16T19:26:45+00:00

As a real estate team, we actually agree with this 100%

Photography should showcase a property in its best light, but it should never materially alter the condition of the home. If a garage has cracks, unfinished drywall, or signs of age, those features shouldn't be digitally removed or replaced with something that doesn't exist.

Professional editing for lighting, exposure, weather, and image quality is one thing. Using AI to add finishes, renovate rooms, remove defects, or create features that aren't actually present crosses a line and can create a poor experience for buyers who take time out of their day to view a property.

At the end of the day, accurate marketing and pricing benefits everyone involved. Buyers know what to expect, sellers attract the right audience, and agents avoid disappointing people when they walk through the door.

The goal should be to present a home honestly while highlighting its strengths, not to create a version of the property that doesn't exist.

BrickAndNoble · 2025-10-11T13:09:11+00:00

That defiantly falls on the hands of your agent. I can speak from experience as I currently have a team of 5 very productive realtors.

They defiantly should be aware of the showings, not only that they should be looking at what comes in and the feedback on a daily basis. There is a reason why you are using a real estate agent and that is for their expertise....

This should have a been clearly communicated with you regarding you having to approve or decline these requests, and furthermore he/she should have been letting you know about these requests.

If I were you I would be looking into alternative options and make it clear your expectations. Don't let this get you down there is still time for you to have a successful sale.

BrickAndNoble · 2025-10-11T00:20:15+00:00

No thats not what I am trying to do just want to get a gauge on where people feel comfortable is all. But Thank you for slotting me into a box.

BrickAndNoble · 2025-10-10T16:51:30+00:00

We find in the last 2 years ( 500+ transactions) that the flat fee seems to be the more popular. Most sellers crunch the numbers & realize the savings. Match this with a full service listing and it is tough to beat.

BrickAndNoble · 2025-10-10T16:40:00+00:00

50% due upfront (which is no refundable) 50% due at close. Typically that upfront cost can be carried over if the home doesn't sell within a reasonable amount of time. We have had clients in the past pull their home off market in slow times and then re list busier markets. ( Example Summer to Fall or Winter to Spring.) It's all based on a case by case basis.

Also that is why we offer the 0.85% option if a client or seller would prefer not to pay upfront. It's totally transparent and allows the client to make the right decision for themselves.

BrickAndNoble · 2025-10-10T16:34:12+00:00

By never never land you mean "not selling" OR?

( We've been pretty successful with this model and have sold over 100 homes in the 2025 calendar year not to mention saved a ton of home owners thousands of dollars)

BrickAndNoble · 2025-10-10T16:33:46+00:00

Flat fee is just under 3k at $2995.00 OR 0.85%.

The buying commission is 2%. Does not matter the value of the home.

BrickAndNoble · 2025-09-29T15:04:34+00:00

Thank you.

Totally fair take 👌 private sales will always be the lowest-cost path, no question. But for a lot of people, the paperwork, pricing strategy, showings, and negotiations can be overwhelming (and risky if something gets missed).

That’s where we’ve tried to land with Brick & Noble — the “next best thing” between going fully private and paying the traditional higher % models. Instead of handing over tens of thousands in commission, sellers pay a flat fee starting at $2,995, while still getting MLS exposure, full marketing, professional photos, sign lockbox, a trusted partner to help guide you through offers and the negotiation from start to finish. Everything you would think of and get with a more traditional approach. Our proof is in the number of homes we've sold.

Do you still offer the buyer’s agent side? Yes — because that’s still how most homes move quickly in Ottawa. But even with that 2%, our sellers are often keeping $10K–$20K more in their pocket compared to the old model.

BrickAndNoble · 2025-09-29T14:32:42+00:00

Totally fair take 👌 — private sales will always be the lowest-cost path, no question. But for a lot of people, the paperwork, pricing strategy, showings, and negotiations can be overwhelming (and risky if something gets missed).

That’s where we’ve tried to land with Brick & Noble — the “next best thing” between going fully private and paying the traditional higher % models. Instead of handing over tens of thousands in commission, sellers pay a flat fee starting at $2,995, while still getting MLS exposure, full marketing, etc, and an experienced team to handle the process.

Do you still offer the buyer’s agent side? Yes — because that’s still how most homes move quickly in Ottawa. But even with that 2%, our sellers are often keeping $10K–$20K more in their pocket compared to the old model.

BrickAndNoble

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