The House Seller’s Guide: A Checklist For Success
Diving into the home seller’s market can be a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re a first-time seller or you’ve lived in your home for a long time, there are a few steps to follow to ensure you find the best buyer—in the fastest amount of time—to get the best deal for your home.
With an experienced realtor and a great to-do list, you can approach selling your home with ease.
Steps To Prepare Your Home For The Market
A home is a big investment, and selling it can come with big liabilities. In that case, the best way to start preparing your house to sell is to hire a realtor, someone who can guide you through the fine print and recommend tips for improving your sale. If you live in the golden horseshoe region of Ontario, it’s best to find a local expert who is hyper-aware of all market trends and knows the ins and outs of Oakville houses for sale.
The next thing you need to do—and often the hardest part—is to determine the selling price. This will depend on things like renovations, how much you bought it for, whether it’s a waterfront or luxury house, and even how much income you hope to make from the sale. One thing that could affect this, and your home sale, is whether or not you fill out a seller property information statement (SPIS). An SPIS is a document that details property information regarding your home, which can be very helpful in proving the value added to your property, or it might even be a condition required from the buyer.
Marketing Tips To Boost Your Property
Selling houses often requires a certain amount of marketing. In the greater Toronto area, especially in Mississauga, due to a recent influx of buyers, adding a few touches to sweeten the selling experience can be the difference between a fantastic sale and a mediocre one.
Here are some of the areas to focus on when visually marketing your house for sale:
- Keep any visible grass, gardens, and trees mowed, clipped, and pruned. This will catch the eye of anyone doing a drive-by and will hopefully convince them to take a closer look!
- Add an interior decorating touch to the inside of your home: re-paint, re-organize, clear clutter, and more. Having a clean home will allow potential buyers to see its full potential.
- Get great photos. Photos of your home, inside and out, are often the first thing people see, so having a great photo will boost your chances of getting viewers.
Things To Consider When Negotiating An Offer
So, you’ve found a buyer for your home, what now?
To ensure the remainder of the deal goes as smooth as possible, be sure to go over the agreement of sale, the legal document containing the specifics of the negotiation. This contains the sale price, whether repairs have been requested, the move-in date, and more. If repairs have been requested, now is the time to hire someone to fix those as quickly as possible.
Finally, it can be helpful to get an appraiser’s official valuation of your home, and it is often required if your buyer is using financing to purchase the property. This will place a definitive value on your property based on the market and any work you’ve put into it.
Selling your home is an exciting opportunity to reap the value of your long-, or short-term investment. By following this guide and reaching out to your local expert realtors at Alex Irish & Associates, you can improve the process of selling your home by ensuring you have all of the support and information you need. And, with the checklist complete, you’re off to the races and, hopefully, to finding the best-interested buyer out there!
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August 2025 GTA Real Estate Market Update | Regan Irish
The August 2025 GTA Real Estate Market Update reflects renewed momentum and affordability in Toronto, Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington, and Muskoka. Thanks to steady interest rates and appealing home prices, July proved surprisingly dynamic. Let’s dig into the numbers and what they mean for you.
Interest Rates Remain Stable — Affordability Fueling Activity
In July 2025, the Bank of Canada maintained its key rate at 2.75%, its third consecutive pause. With lower borrowing costs now more accessible, affordability is encouraging a wave of renewed buyer activity.
GTA Market Overview: Sales Surge, Prices Slightly Dip
- Home Sales: 6,100+ transactions region-wide, marking a 10.9% increase YoY and the strongest July since 2021.
- Month-over-Month: Seasonally adjusted sales rose 13% from June to approximately 5,744 units, the biggest monthly gain in nine months.
- New Listings: Up 5.7% YoY, totaling 17,613 new offers.
- Price Trends:
- The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark fell 5.4% YoY.
- The average GTA selling price dropped 5.5% YoY to around $1,051,719.
- Word on the street indicates the HPI drifted slightly lower—about $979,000, down 0.2% from June.
What It Adds Up To: Buyers are back in force—sales are outpacing new listings while prices softened, creating renewed market opportunities.
City Highlights
Toronto
A more balanced landscape—but some segments remain soft. Condos and detached homes see inventory rising; semis are steadier.
Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington & Muskoka
While TRREB doesn’t break down by city in these reports, regional trends suggest:
- Mississauga & Burlington: Strong rise in listings and dipping average prices give buyers leverage.
- Oakville: Stability in demand for luxury keeps discounts modest.
- Muskoka: Continued strong interest in sub-$2M waterfront properties should benefit from broader GTA momentum.
What This Means for You
- For Buyers:
Renewed affordability, rising inventory, and favorable interest rates make August a prime time to move. - For Sellers:
A more balanced market—strategic pricing and quick response will be key to success. - For Investors & Cottage Buyers:
Strong July sales in the GTA point to increasing investor interest; Muskoka remains a high-value lifestyle and investment destination.
Work With the GTA Real Estate Experts
Whether you’re planning to buy a Muskoka cottage, invest in a luxurious Oakville property, or explore options across Toronto, Mississauga, or Burlington, now is the time to act.
Regan Irish & Associates specializes in luxury, resale, and investment properties across the GTA and Muskoka. Our market insight and negotiation skills help you get the best results—whether buying, selling, or investing.
1320 Cornwall Rd Unit 103, Oakville, ON L6J 7W5
905.842.7677
Visit reganirish.com
Let’s make today’s market your opportunity—contact us today!
Ultimate Guide to Downsizing Your Home in Canada
Alex Irish & Associates and The Regan Team Announce Strategic Merger
Two of the most respected names in real estate, Alex Irish & Associates and The Regan Team, are excited to announce a strategic merger that will combine their expertise, resources, and market reach. This partnership of Regan Irish & Associates brings together the strengths of both firms, offering an enhanced real estate experience for clients across Southern Ontario, including expanding into new regions like Collingwood and Muskoka. The merger reflects both brokerages’ long-standing commitment to providing high-quality, relationship-focused service while leveraging new technologies and business strategies to ensure their clients receive unparalleled support.
“Alex is the consummate professional,” said Matthew Regan, CEO of The Regan Team. “She embodies the qualities of a person I would trust with my own home sale, and I am excited to partner with her to combine the best of both our brokerages. Our goal is to create a work culture that allows our agents to thrive, while being confident and equipped to provide the service our clients deserve. Our clients are going to benefit immensely with a wider and deeper net of potential buyers and an even further reach in marketing and advertising.”
Alex Irish, Founder of Alex Irish & Associates, emphasized that this partnership is the next natural step for her business. “By combining our resources and efforts we knew we’d be able to create a better real estate experience for our clients, our agents and business partners.” she explained. “This merger allows me to focus more on client relationships while also mentoring our agents who can continue to offer that same high level of service. Matthew has built a business model that aligns with my long-term vision, allowing us to scale while still maintaining the personal touch. Simply put, we are better together.”
Alex has built her brand over decades, particularly in the Oakville area, where her name is synonymous with excellence in real estate. Her personal approach, based on referrals and repeat business, has earned her a loyal clientele. Matthew has focused on recruiting top agents and scaling his business, growing The Regan Team to one of the top brokerages in Canada. This merger offers an exciting opportunity to grow into new territories. Together, the merged brokerage will have 15 offices spanning from Niagara to Toronto to Muskoka. This expanded presence means more resources for clients, from enhanced marketing capabilities to a wider net of potential buyers.
The merger will officially take effect on October 31, 2024, and the new branding and operations will be rolled out in the coming months.
About Alex Irish & Associates
Alex Irish & Associates, led by Alex Irish, is a highly respected name in Oakville, known for its personalized, referral-based business model and long-standing relationships with clients. Alex has built her brand on trust, excellence, and attention to detail, qualities that will remain at the forefront of the merged firm.
About The Regan Team
The Regan Team has a long-standing reputation for innovation, process-driven operations, and a focus on agent recruitment and development to provide the highest level of service for their clients. Under Matthew’s leadership, the brokerage has expanded its presence across Ontario, providing agents with the tools and support needed to succeed in a competitive market. For more information on this exciting merger, please contact Matthew Regan.