Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Am I required to sign a contract for my broker or agent to sell my house?
Answer: Yes, the brokerage contract establishes a legal and business bond between the client and broker or agent. It provides the details your broker needs to sell your property. The brokerage contract is also designed to protect consumers.
Question: How long is a brokerage contract valid?
Answer: The only valid duration of the brokerage contract is the one you and your agent or broker agree to.
Question: Can a brokerage contract be cancelled?
Answer: Consumers benefit from a three-day grace period after signing the contract to reconsider committing to a brokerage contract. The brokerage contract is revocable at any time by the seller, unless the parties have agreed otherwise and specified such in the contract.
Question: May I hire several people at once to sell my house?
Answer: Yes, you may sign a non-exclusive brokerage contract with them, but this type of approach prohibits your property from being listed on MLS®.
Question: Apart from compensation to my broker or agent, what other unavoidable costs are involved in selling my property?
Answer: Reimbursing your mortgage; a penalty in the case of prepayment; the costs of moving. Other costs may be incurred as well, such as outstanding taxes at the moment of sale. Also, you may want to pay for getting your property in a presentable state, and advertising costs may be additional.
Question: Is a new certificate of location required when selling a property?
Answer: According to the offer to purchase form established by the Association des courtiers et agents immobiliers du Québec, the seller is obliged to provide a certificate of location representing the current state of the site. Any new certificate is the buyer’s responsibility only if no modification was required to the previous certificate.
Question: If the lot number has changed, does the seller have to provide a new certificate of location?
Answer: A change to the lot number constitutes a modification to the certificate of location. In this case, the seller must assume the costs of a new certificate of location to be given to the buyer.