Frequently Asked Questions

No, that was carefully selected. To qualify for the designation the salesperson must be a minimum of 3 years in real estate. Given that a large percentage of real estate people leave within their first or second year in this demanding business the 3 years is a minimum standard. On average, our members have approximately a career of 15 years each. They are Senior Agents.

To work solely within the senior’s market is not practical. To list a house is one aspect of the agent’s role but to sell that listing, the buyer will likely be younger and possibly a first time buyer. An Accredited Senior Agent must be able to work with all parties to find the right buyer.

There is a perception that once a house goes onto the MLS system it will be easily sold and that far from the truth. Today, in any community only a small percentage of agents can be deemed true professionals. Only a professional will undertake to present a detailed listing presentation in order to price your home within a reasonable asking range. Only a professional will market, follow through on all promises and only a professional will always put your interests above theirs. An Accredited Senior Agent adheres to a strong code of ethics, has years of experience and special training - they are top professionals.

They learn about tax law, estate law, capital gains problems, wills and trusts and all of the aspects of the special needs for many families (see Transition). The Accredited Senior Agent understands that for this major life changing event, the selling of the long established family home, it takes someone who has patience, can offer multiple services and the advice of other professionals. Our member have learned to counsel, to ask questions, to deal with special needs and at all times to put the client’s needs before theirs.

Simply put, they are true real estate professionals with many years of experience and adhere to a high standard of ethics. They are not a commodity, like most real estate agents. They do not compete on price, either on how high someone wants to over list their property or to undercut their services. Dedicated professionals earn a top designation. An Accredited Senior Agent is just that, a long serving professional who works with all age groups in any aspect of the buying, selling or leasing process.

Unfortunately, according to the American National Association of Realtors, this is the number one complaint by the public about Realtors. This is not the case with an Accredited Senior Agent. They take the time to work with the client or their family right up to the day of closing (see Transition). Given the high ethical standards that a designated member must adhere to, ignoring a client would be in violation of the ethics of the Senior Housing Council.

Face it, for many long time residents of a house there is an accumulation of possessions, some treasured and some that are clutter.

It takes a lot of work to get a house ready for sale. If there is an estate or mom or dad must move into a care facility, the family may not be able to deal with all aspects of getting the house ready. Many family members do not reside in the same community as their parent(s) anymore. There is a lot of work to be done before the house can be sold.

• family treasures must be identified, packed and shipped
• charities must be contacted to take away household items
• someone has to clear out the junk
• some goods may have value that require the services of appraisers, such as art, jewellery, antiques, etc.
• that old baseball card or glove may need the services of an ebay specialist to maximize a profit for the family (this service may not be available in all communities)
• staging, to get the house in tip top condition in order to maximize the listing/sale’s appeal in order to achieve the highest possible price
• it may take a lot of work and time just to get the house to a state where it is marketable and an Accredited Senior Agent has those skills.