Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I’m ready to sell my home, what’s involved with selling using the services of saskhouses.com?

A: Saskhouses.com provides the marketing tools that you need to sell your home. We will provide you with a full webpage with up to 30 pictures of your property, and worldwide internet exposure. We provide a lawn sign for in front of your property with your phone number on it, and we will deliver a “Getting Started” package with all the information you will need to sell privately. Then, the rest is up to you. You are responsible for showing your home or property, and for negotiating with buyers.

Q: How do I get started?

A: The first thing we need is the information on your home. You can submit the information online through our easy online submission form under the blue SELLER’S heading: “submit your listing”. Once you’ve entered the specific details of your home, you can proceed to upload your pictures. Finally, once you pay online, you can post your listing (providing all of the information and pictures are entered). A lawn sign is provided with every listing. Your sign is delivered the day after you submit (signs are delivered week-days only). We provide you with a “Getting Started” package when we send out your lawn sign.

To submit a listing: http://saskhouses.com/Listing/add/

Q: How long does it take to get my ad posted on-line?

A: Posting a listing on saskhouses.com is easy, and fast. If you are taking your own pictures, you can post your listing as soon as you’ve added your pictures & paid on-line. And once your ad has been posted, you can go back and make changes or additions to it anytime you like. If we are taking your pictures, we can usually get it posted on the same day the pictures are taken.

Q: How much do your services cost?

A: Our rates and services are all posted on the web-site. Check under the SELLER’S heading in blue. All of our services must be prepaid. There are no hidden fees or commissions.

Our rates and services: http://saskhouses.com/RateServices/

Q: How long is my ad good for?

A: Your ad is good for as long as you need it up to SIX months. If you haven’t sold and your listing expires, you have the option to renew at a significantly reduced price.

Q: What if I don’t have a camera?

A: If you don’t have a camera, or would prefer to have our photographer do the pictures, we can easily set up an appointment. Our photographer is available in the Saskatoon area, and is quite accommodating with bookings and willing to work around your schedule. We normally require one day’s notice for a booking, but can sometimes accommodate same day requests. You can also send us a CD or prints which we can scan, from a standard camera. When you have the roll developed, just ask for a CD copy.

To book a photographer or for more information, call 229-5518 in Saskatoon or toll free in Canada: 1-866-929-5518

Q: I’m working on submitting my listing, but I’m having trouble loading my pictures. Can you help?

A: They are likely high resolution pictures (which is good). It takes time for the system to re-size them to the size displayed on each of our web-pages. Try loading them one at a time. If you are using dial-up internet, you may experience problems. Dial-up was never meant for the transfer of large files. It will take time. Start with loading one picture. Ideally, if you are able to downsize/optimize your pictures first, you won’t have as many problems loading them.

Don’t hesitate to call us if you still experience problems. In Saskatoon, call 229-5518 or anywhere else in Canada: 1-866-929-5518

Q: How do I price my property?

A: The first thing we suggest is hiring a professional appraiser to assess your home. We also recommend that you wait until you are ready to sell. If you have your home appraised six months before you sell, the market may change, and you’ll have an outdated assessment. Keep watching the market. Research prices using saskhouses.com. On the “View all Listings” page, just click on a price close to what you are thinking, and it will bring up all of the homes for sale in that price range (within a $20,000 window), or click on your neighborhood and compare other homes for sale in your area. You can also research using the MLS web-site. Compare properties in your area, and prices of similar homes. It’s best to stay informed, and on top of the current trend.

Check our home page for advertising appraisers: http://saskhouses.com/

Q: Who does the showings?

A: With Saskhouses.com, the services we offer all relate to marketing your home. Showings are up to you. And after all, who knows your home better than you do? Make appointments that are convenient for you. Consider an open house.

Q: How do I get my lawn sign?

A: Our signs are delivered and set up in the Saskatoon area within one day of posting your listing. Outside of the area, our signs are shipped out, also within one day of posting.

Q: What about open houses? Do you provide signs?

A: We do provide signs, but they must be pre-booked, and picked up prior to the open house and returned at the end of the weekend. We have a limited number of signs, and we like to make sure they are available to everyone having an open house (rather than sitting unused in your garage).

Q: What do I do once I receive an offer?

A: Once a buyer comes to you with an offer, and you have accepted the offer, it’s time to contact your lawyer. Your lawyer will advise on all legal matters once you have accepted the offer. Your lawyer can answer any questions relating to the transfer of title, including how much you should ask for the deposit.

To see our directory of lawyers: http://saskhouses.com/

Q: I’m not familiar with the internet… is it possible to meet with someone to discuss my options?

A: Yes. We’d be more than happy to meet with you, go over the process, discuss your concerns, and then let you decide what’s best for you. Call us to set up an appointment, come into our office and we’ll familiarize you with our web-site and the benefits of internet advertising.

Q: How long have you been in business?

A: saskhouses.com was launched June 18, 1999

Q: How many people look at your website?

A: saskhouses.com is one of the busiest websites in Saskatchewan. We currently average about 200,000 visits to our website every month, with an average of about 2.5 million page views every month. You can see how many people have visited individual listings on the website by checking the number at the bottom of each page.

Q: What is your success rate?

A: The success rate of our customers is very comparable to the success rate of people who sell their homes with the assistance of a real estate agent. In 2006, according to statistics posted by the Saskatoon Region Associations of Realtors, 73.9 % of homes listed on MLS in Saskatoon were successfully sold. In 2006, 70.6 % of saskhouses.com customers were successful in selling their homes privately.

Q: Wouldn’t I get more money for my house if I sold through a real estate agent?

A: Not necessarily. The key to selling your home is having it priced right. Make sure you do some research before posting your ad. There are different marketing strategies you can use. Some sellers start high, with the intention of coming down, leaving “room to negotiate”. Some ask exactly what they want, and are firm with their asking price. Others price it low in the hopes of attracting large numbers of buyers, and hope for a “bidding war”. You can handle your sale using which ever strategy you are most comfortable with. And of course, when you sell your home privately, you pay no commissions. If you sell your home with the help of a real estate agent, with an average MLS selling price in Saskatoon this year of $225,000 , you could expect to pay $13,500 plus GST in commission. (based on a 6% commission)

We occasionally hear from sellers who are unsuccessful selling, and hire an agent to help them sell. Often, these sellers are asked to reduce their price when they go that route.

Q: How fast are homes selling on saskhouses.com?

A: We can’t guarantee how fast you’ll sell your home, because so much depends on how much you are asking, and how many potential buyers are in the market. We can guarantee that you’ll have immediate exposure from your advertising on our web-site. Response varies with each selling season. Our stats show that homes sell consistently throughout every month of the year, but that spring is generally the business selling season.