The condo seller's guide

1. Start with your own building

Buyers and their agents will compare your unit with the last few sales of the same floor plan. Know those numbers before you pick a price: the sold price, the floor, the exposure, and whether parking and a locker were included. Our free condo evaluation pulls them together for you.

2. Order the status certificate early

Almost every offer on a resale condo is conditional on the buyer's lawyer reviewing the status certificate. Ordering it before you list means you can hand it over the same day, and it gives you time to deal with anything unexpected in it, such as an upcoming fee increase or special assessment.

3. Prepare the unit

Condos sell on photos. Declutter, repair the small things, repaint if the walls are tired, and book a professional photographer. If the unit is small, staging helps buyers understand how the space works.

4. Price it to the market

Price per square foot, your floor and view, the monthly maintenance fee and what it covers all move the number. A unit priced in line with recent sales in the building gets showings in the first week, which is when the strongest offers arrive.

5. Plan the showings

If you live in the unit, keep it show-ready and be flexible on times. If it is tenanted, the tenant must be given at least 24 hours' written notice before each showing, so plan your schedule around that and keep them on side.

6. Compare offers on more than price

Look at the deposit, the closing date, and the conditions. A slightly lower offer with a short status certificate condition and firm financing can be the better one.

7. Close

Your lawyer handles the transfer, pays out your mortgage and settles adjustments for maintenance fees and property taxes. You hand over the keys, fobs and garage remote on closing day.