How much communication should I expect?
“How often will my agent actually update me—daily, weekly, or never?”
If you’re selling a home in Georgetown, ON, you deserve an answer you can count on. Not vague promises. Not excuses. A clear, timed communication plan that matches the speed of this local market. Below is a direct, no-BS guide that tells you exactly how much communication to expect from your listing agent — and how to demand it if you’re not getting it.
Why communication matters in Georgetown real estate
Georgetown‘s market moves fast. Listings get strong interest in a matter of days. Buyers come from Halton Hills, Milton, and Guelph. Inventory can be tight in popular neighbourhoods like Old Georgetown and Glen Williams. When the market moves this quickly the difference between an ok sale and a great sale is information and timing.
Good communication does three things for sellers:
- Keeps pricing and strategy aligned with real-time market signals.
- Converts showing feedback into immediate action to improve the property’s appeal.
- Gets you to the best offer—fast—without second-guessing.
If your agent is slow or vague, you lose leverage, money, and peace of mind.
The baseline communication schedule you should demand
Here’s a simple, practical plan. If your agent won’t commit to this, find one who will.
1) Pre-Listing (1–7 days before going live)
- Promise: A minimum of two direct contacts. One planning call to confirm photos, pricing, staging, and launch time. One written checklist and final launch confirmation via email or text.
- Why it matters: Small delays here cost momentum on day one.
2) Launch Day (Day 0)
- Promise: Immediate confirmation when the listing is live (email + text) with a link to the MLS, online tour, and marketing status (professional photos, virtual tour posted, open house scheduled).
- Why it matters: Buyers and buyer agents move fast. You want proof your property is visible.
3) First 72 Hours (most critical)
- Promise: Daily summary for the first 72 hours: showings scheduled, traffic, buyer agent feedback, any price or strategy suggestions. Prefer short calls or texts plus a single consolidated email at day’s end.
- Why it matters: Initial buyer reactions drive price adjustments and staging tweaks.
4) Active Listing (after 72 hours)
- Promise: Weekly written update and one scheduled call (10–20 minutes). The written update should include showing stats, feedback, marketing activity (social ads, email blasts), and competitor listings.
- Why it matters: Weekly rhythm keeps you informed without overloading you.
5) Offers & Negotiation (when an offer arrives)
- Promise: Immediate direct contact by phone or video call upon receipt of any offer. Follow-up written comparison of offers and recommended next steps within 2 hours.
- Why it matters: Offers require quick decisions. Delay costs you negotiating power.
6) Inspection & Closing (post-acceptance)
- Promise: Status check every 3 days and immediate alerts for critical items (inspection findings, financing hiccups, legal docs). Final closing checklist delivered 7 days before closing.
- Why it matters: Keep the sale on track and avoid last-minute surprises.
Response time standards (set the SLA)
Treat communication like a service-level agreement (SLA). Say this to your agent up front and get agreement:
- Urgent (offers, inspection failures, contract deadlines): Response within 60 minutes during business hours.
- Important (strategy change, buyer feedback that affects price): Response within 4 hours.
- Routine (weekly updates, non-urgent questions): Response within 24 hours.
If your agent can’t meet these times, ask what they will do instead—backup agent, assistant, or 24-hour office line. If there’s no plan, walk away.
How communication should be delivered
Different messages need different channels. Here’s a simple matrix to demand from your agent:
- Text/SMS: Quick confirmations (showing booking, offers received). Keep it short.
- Phone or video call: Offers, negotiations, sensitive feedback, major decisions. Real-time conversation beats email here.
- Email: Daily/weekly summaries, documents, and comparisons. Keeps everything traceable.
- Client portal or shared document: Live showing dashboard and feedback log. One place for status.
If your agent is only emailing you and not answering calls or texts, you’ll feel slow and powerless.
What good feedback looks like after a showing
Many sellers get vague feedback: “It’s fine.” Don’t accept that. Demand three things from buyer-agent feedback:
1) Specifics: What did they like? What turned them off? (e.g., “kitchen layout seemed small,” “backyard is a plus.”)
2) Buyer profile: Were they first-time buyers, downsizers, investors? This helps target the marketing.
3) Likelihood to offer: Low/Medium/High—so you know whether to push for price changes or wait.
If you get generic feedback, your agent should follow up with the buyer agent and deliver specifics.
Local market actions that require faster communication
In Georgetown, certain triggers require immediate action:
- A competing listing goes live under your price: consider rapid repositioning.
- A surge of showings in a weekend: evaluate a price or staging change for quick conversion.
- A conditional offer that includes financing concerns: coordinate attorney and lender immediately.
Your agent should flag these within hours, not days.
Red flags: when communication is costing you money
- No daily summary in the first 72 hours.
- No specific showing feedback after multiple visits.
- Slow response to offers or negotiation calls.
- No backup plan when the agent is out.
If these happen, escalate to the agent’s manager or look for a replacement. Selling a home is a business transaction; treat it like one.
What to ask your agent at the interview (communication-focused questions)
- How will you update me during the first 72 hours? (Expect daily).
- Who covers for you after hours or on weekends?
- What is your typical response time for urgent matters?
- How do you collect and share showing feedback?
- Can I get a written communication plan in the listing agreement?
If the answers are vague, keep looking.
A sample communication plan you can paste into your listing agreement
- Day 0: Listing live notification by text and email.
- Days 1–3: Daily morning summary by email + end-of-day text with showing count and immediate concerns.
- Weekly: Monday 15-minute call and written showing report.
- Offers: Phone call within 60 minutes of receipt + written offer comparison within 2 hours.
- Post-acceptance: 3-day status checks and 7-day pre-closing checklist.
Ask your agent to sign or initial this plan.
Why I use this plan with sellers in Georgetown
This plan reflects the reality here: buyers arrive fast, and competing homes change the landscape within 48–72 hours. When I list a home in Georgetown I commit to this cadence because it produces faster sales and better offers. It keeps sellers calm and in control.
What if your agent is great at marketing but poor at communication?
Marketing without communication is wasted energy. Photos and ads generate leads, but leads become offers only when you act. If you love the marketing but the agent is unresponsive, insist on a communications addendum, or hire a transaction coordinator. If nothing changes, the sale will suffer.
Final checklist — demand this before you sign
- Written communication plan included in the listing agreement.
- Clear SLAs for urgent, important, and routine messages.
- Preferred channels documented (text, phone, email, portal).
- Backup coverage confirmed for nights/weekends.
- Sample weekly report format approved.
If your agent resists any of this, that’s a red flag.
Local tips for Georgetown sellers
- Use weekend open house feedback aggressively. Weekend traffic here gives real market temperature.
- Ask your agent for competing listings in nearby neighbourhoods within 24 hours of your listing.
- Request targeted outreach to local buyer agents in Halton Hills and Milton—many Georgetown buyers cross-shop.
- Demand a quick local valuation update if similar homes sell while your home is active.
Ready to demand better communication?
If you want a clear, signed communication plan for your Georgetown home sale, I’ll give you one. No fluff. No excuses. Email tony@sousasells.ca or call 416-477-2620. Visit https://www.sousasells.ca to book a free listing consultation.
FAQ — Communication when selling your home in Georgetown, ON
Q: How often will I hear from my agent after the first week?
A: Expect weekly written reports and one scheduled call. If showing volume drops, frequency can increase while strategy changes are tested.
Q: What if my agent doesn’t answer urgent calls?
A: Ask for a backup agent or office contact in writing. If none exists, escalate or consider a different agent.
Q: Will I get copies of all documents and offers?
A: Yes. Every offer, counter-offer and material contract must be sent to you in writing and saved in your email or client portal.
Q: How specific will showing feedback be?
A: Good agents deliver specific points (likes, dislikes, buyer profile, likelihood to offer). If feedback is vague, insist on follow-up.
Q: Can I limit communication to only email?
A: You can, but it slows urgent responses. Set clear expectations: which items are email-only vs. phone/text.
Q: What happens if I want to change the plan mid-listing?
A: A new written addendum to the communication plan is standard. That keeps both parties aligned.
Q: How does Georgetown’s market affect communication frequency?
A: Faster-moving local markets require daily monitoring for the first 72 hours and quick adjustments. Slower markets allow longer intervals. Georgetown often falls in the quicker category—be ready.
Q: Is there a cost for more frequent communication?
A: No. Communication is part of your agent’s service. If your agent attempts to charge for extra updates, treat it as a red flag.
Need help drafting a communication addendum or want a no-nonsense consultation for selling your Georgetown home? Contact Tony at tony@sousasells.ca or 416-477-2620. Visit https://www.sousasells.ca for local listings and seller resources.
