How often should I receive updates?

How often should I receive updates?

How often should I receive updates? — The Milton edition: Get updates that win, not noise.

Quick promise

You’ll get a clear, no-BS communication plan in this post. If your agent can’t meet this schedule, they’re costing you money in Milton’s fast market.

Why communication matters more in Milton, ON

Milton is not a sleepy town. It’s one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities. New developments, commuter demand from Toronto, tight inventory cycles and strong bidding pressure mean windows open and close fast. That’s why update frequency isn’t a courtesy — it’s a transaction strategy.

Miss one meaningful update and you could miss a buyer, lose an offer, or be stuck priced wrong for weeks. Communication equals speed. Speed wins pricing and position in Milton.

The rule I use with every client

I run my client communications on two principles:

1. The 48/24 Rule — for sellers: critical updates within 24 hours, weekly summary within 48 hours.
2. The Active Search Rule — for buyers: immediate notification of new listings or price changes; daily digest while searching actively.

These two rules cut confusion and create predictable action. Follow them and you’ll outmaneuver competitors who treat communication like an afterthought.

How often you should get updates — by client type

• Sellers (listed homes in Milton)

• Launch phase (first 14 days): daily status updates. Why: the first two weeks set market perception and attract buyer attention. You need daily feedback on showings, online views, leads, and any buyer comments.

• Active marketing phase (after week 2): twice weekly if activity is high; weekly if quiet. Provide a 48-hour response on any offers.

• Pricing/strategy changes: immediate — same day.

• Offers and negotiations: immediate — real-time communication. If an offer drops, you decide in hours, not days.

• Buyers (actively hunting in Milton)

• New listings/price drops: immediate alert (text/email/app push). Milton listings move fast; if you don’t know within hours you lose out.

• Daily digest: once per day when actively searching (best picks, new comps, feedback on submitted offers).

• After showings: same day feedback from agent and recommended next steps within 24 hours.

• Investors

• Deal alerts: immediate for on-market deals; instant for off-market opportunities.

• Monthly performance/reporting for rental properties.

• Quarterly strategy review for portfolio adjustments.

• Sellers in slow markets or conditional sales

• Weekly update at minimum. If the market is slow, weekly communication keeps momentum and prevents surprises.

What an update should include (no fluff)

Every update should answer three things quickly:

1. What happened? (showings, new comps, offers, inspections)
2. What it means? (impact on price, timeline, buyer interest)
3. What we do next? (clear, actionable steps with timing)

Examples:

• “Two showings today, one buyer asked about basement flooding — schedule inspection. No offers yet. Next: refresh listing photos by Friday and increase online ad spend.”
• “New listing at 45 King St priced $20k under comps — immediate viewing recommended. I’ll submit Monday morning.”

If an update doesn’t answer those three questions, it’s noise.

Tools and channels that win in Milton

Use the tools that deliver speed and traceability:

• Text messages for urgent updates (offers, immediate inspections).
• Email for daily/weekly digests and documents.
• MLS alerts and saved searches for instant listing notifications.
• Shared dashboards (Google Sheets or CRM) for marketing metrics: views, clicks, showings.
• Phone call for strategy conversations and offer discussions.

Agreed channels eliminate dropped messages. Pick one urgent channel and one summary channel and hold your agent to them.

Response time expectations — set standards

Set these expectations up front. If your agent can’t commit, find one who can.

• Urgent (offers, inspections, price changes): 1 hour during business hours.
• Important but not urgent (showing feedback, listing performance): within 24 hours.
• Regular reports (market summaries): weekly or daily depending on activity.

If you don’t get these response times, escalate: text, call, then request a weekly meeting until the agent consistently meets the standard.

How I hold agents accountable (and how you can too)

Ask for a written communication plan at onboarding. It should state frequency, channels, and response times. Put it in the listing agreement or buyer representation form. If they miss commitments twice in a row, demand remediation or switch agents.

Measure what matters: number of showings, online impressions, buyer feedback, days on market, offers received. If those metrics don’t match the communication level promised, that’s proof.

Sample communication plan you can copy

• Sellers: daily text and same-day email digest for first 14 days. Weekly performance call every Friday thereafter. Immediate text for offers/inspections.
• Buyers: instant push/text for new listings; daily email summary; 24-hour feedback after showings.
• Investors: instant deal alert; monthly PDF performance report; quarterly call.

Use this verbatim. Give it to your agent and ask them to sign off.

Why frequency changes with market conditions in Milton

Milton’s market swings. New condo developments, commuter demand, and school catchment changes create short windows of opportunity. When inventory tightens, frequency ramps up. When it cools, frequency can step down to weekly, but strategy conversations must stay regular.

The point: update frequency is tactical and should flex with real market signals, not agent convenience.

Common objections and the real answers

• “My agent says they’ll call me when there’s news.” That’s lazy. You need scheduled updates and immediate alerts for critical events.
• “I don’t want daily clutter.” Quality matters. Daily meaningful updates are short bullets — not essays.
• “Agents are busy.” Great agents make time for clients. Busy is not an excuse for silence.

How this approach delivers better outcomes in Milton

Consistent, timely updates create leverage. You respond faster to offers, adjust pricing quicker when needed, and capitalize on market momentum. That turns into higher sale prices, faster sales, and fewer missed opportunities.

That’s not theory. It’s how top agents win multiple-offer scenarios in Milton.

Closing — what to do next

Get a communication plan in writing. Use the sample above. Demand response times and use the tools listed. If your agent won’t sign or can’t meet the plan, get a different agent. Communication isn’t optional in Milton — it’s your competitive edge.

If you want a proven communication plan tailored to your property or search in Milton, reach out. I manage aggressive, measurable communication systems that keep you first in line.

Contact: Tony Sousa — Milton, ON Realtor
Email: tony@sousasells.ca
Phone: 416-477-2620
Website: https://www.sousasells.ca

FAQ — quick answers about working with agents in Milton, ON

Q: How often should I hear from my agent if I’m selling in Milton?
A: Daily during the first 14 days, then weekly or twice-weekly depending on activity. Immediate alerts for offers and inspections.

Q: How fast should an agent respond to an offer?
A: Within one hour during business hours. Offers are time-sensitive; delays cost deals.

Q: What should updates include?
A: What happened, what it means, and the next steps. Include metrics: showings, online views, inquiries, and buyer feedback.

Q: How do I make sure my agent follows the plan?
A: Get the plan in writing in your agreement. Set response time expectations and follow up with measurable metrics.

Q: I’m a buyer — how often will I get new listing alerts?
A: Immediate push/text alerts for new listings and price drops. Daily curated digests when actively searching.

Q: Does Milton need faster updates than nearby towns?
A: Yes. Milton’s growth and commuter demand mean faster market movement. Faster updates equal better outcomes.

Q: What happens if my agent misses updates?
A: Escalate: text, call, request remediation. If missed twice in a row, consider a new agent.

Q: Can communication fix a weak marketing strategy?
A: No. Communication exposes gaps and accelerates fixes. It won’t replace a poor strategy but it forces transparency so problems get solved.

For a communication plan built for Milton’s market, email tony@sousasells.ca or call 416-477-2620. I’ll send a copy of the exact checklist I use with sellers and buyers in Milton.