Seller Empowerment
A private home sale is a transaction arranged outside public MLS marketing. This guide covers preparation, pricing, buyer inquiries, offers and closing in Canada.
$20K–$50K+
Kept in Your Pocket
Full Control
Your Price, Your Terms
Direct Buyers
No Agent Middlemen
What 5% Actually Costs You
"5%" sounds small until you see it as a dollar figure. On the average Canadian sale, the commission cheque rivals a year of your salary. Here's where every dollar goes — and where it goes when you sell direct:
| Line item | Listing with an Agent | Direct via Off Market Match |
|---|---|---|
| Listing-side commission | ~$22,500 | $0 |
| Buyer-side commission (you usually pay it) | ~$22,500 | $0 |
| HST on commissions | ~$5,850 | $0 |
| Listing photos & marketing | Bundled (locked-in) | Use any photographer you want |
| Pricing strategy | Agent's CMA | AI CMA + dynamic pricing |
| Showing schedule | Agent decides | You decide |
| Legally required professional | Lawyer (notary in QC) | Lawyer (notary in QC) |
| Platform charge at closing | Agent commission may apply | $0; optional listing and tools priced upfront |
Numbers based on common 2.5% / 2.5% commission split + 13% HST. Actual figures vary by province, price, and brokerage agreement. The structural point holds: agents are an optional expense, lawyers are not.
Create a seller account to list your property. You can choose a fixed-term, one-time listing purchase without a subscription, or compare professional plans if you need their included tools. Prices are displayed before purchase and are not charged at closing.
Pricing is the most important decision you'll make as a seller. Price too high and your property sits unsold. Price too low and you leave money on the table. The good news: you have access to the same valuation tools the professionals use — and they're right here on this platform.
Since you're not paying 5–6% in realtor commissions, you can price your property more competitively while still netting more money. This is a huge advantage over MLS listings.
MLS Listing at $800K
After 5% commission: You keep $760,000
Off Market Match at $780K
No commissions: You keep the full $780,000
$20,000 more + buyer saves too!
You don't need a staging company to prepare your home. A clean, well-presented property sells itself. Focus on the basics that make buyers feel at home.
Virtual tours let buyers explore your property from anywhere, which means more serious inquiries. No special equipment needed — just your smartphone. When creating your listing, you'll see a field to paste your tour link. Here are the free services you can use:
Listings with virtual tours receive significantly more views and inquiries. Even a simple phone video walkthrough on YouTube makes a big difference.
Creating your listing is straightforward. Write a compelling description that highlights what makes your property special — you know your home better than any agent ever could. Include all the details buyers care about.
One advantage of selling directly is that you control who visits your home. Screen buyers upfront so you're only spending time with qualified, serious candidates — not tire-kickers.
Showing your own home is easier than you think — and more effective. Realtors often breeze through in 15 minutes reading off a sheet. You can share the real story: why you chose the neighbourhood, what upgrades you've made, and what it's like to live there. That personal knowledge sells homes.
When offers come in, you review them directly — no agent pressuring you to accept quickly or steering you toward a deal that benefits their commission. Our platform supports offer tracking, counter-offers, and version history so you can negotiate with confidence.
Accept
Sign back the offer as-is. The deal moves forward to conditions.
Counter
Change the price, conditions, or terms and send it back.
Reject
Decline the offer. You're under no obligation to counter.
Once you've accepted an offer and conditions are met, your lawyer handles everything else. They prepare the closing documents, manage the fund transfer, and ensure the title is properly transferred. This is the same process whether you use a realtor or not — the lawyer does the real work either way.
Your lawyer will prepare a statement of adjustments showing exactly what you'll receive:
You Receive:
Costs Deducted:
As a seller in Canada, you have a legal obligation to disclose known material defects — issues that could affect a buyer's decision to purchase or the price they'd pay. Being upfront protects you from legal liability down the road.
Off Market Match gives you powerful tools to make your listing stand out and attract more qualified buyers. Take advantage of these features to sell faster and at a better price.
Stay on top of buyer activity without being overwhelmed. Customize your notification preferences to get alerts that matter — new inquiries, offer updates, viewing requests — and set your preferred frequency.
You're not alone in this journey. Join our community of sellers, buyers, and investors. Share your experience, learn from others, and earn rewards by referring new members to the platform.
Ask questions, share tips, and connect with other sellers who've successfully sold on their own. Get advice from experienced community members.
Refer friends and family to Off Market Match and earn rewards. Share your referral link and get credited when they sign up and subscribe.
Verify your identity to build trust with buyers. Verified sellers get a badge on their listing and receive more inquiries from serious buyers.