Selling privately can save commission, but you take on the work of finding a buyer and negotiating the sale. If avoiding repairs and managing fewer appointments matters more than marketing the property yourself, a direct offer may be a better fit. Compare the actual price and terms before choosing.
First, decide what selling privately means
There are two different routes people call a private sale: advertising your property yourself to find a buyer, or discussing a direct purchase with a property-buying business. Both can avoid a traditional listing, but the work and trade-offs differ.
This guide is published by Trusted Home Group, a property-buying business. We have an interest in helping suitable sellers consider our service. Our recommendation is to compare your options, not assume that a direct sale always leaves you with the most money.
RECO explains that a person who is not a brokerage client is self-represented and recommends independent professional advice. An agent working for the other party is not your adviser. Read RECO’s guidance on representing yourself.
The work you would take on
Before advertising a Markham house, Scarborough bungalow or Cambridge family property, make a practical plan. Who will answer enquiries during your working day? Who will show the home? How will you compare two offers with different conditions?
- Prepare an accurate description, photographs and a defensible asking price.
- Choose advertising channels and check what each paid service actually includes.
- Arrange viewings and protect personal belongings and information.
- Keep a record of offers, conditions and deadlines.
- Ask your lawyer about disclosure, deposits, title and closing arrangements before signing.
RECO’s seller checklist stresses accurate property information and understanding agreements. Use it as a preparation aid even while deciding which route to take. Source: RECO seller checklist.
If you already signed a listing agreement, review your obligations before accepting a direct approach. Do not assume finding a buyer yourself removes every obligation under that agreement.
What other sellers say—and what their stories cannot prove
In a public Ontario-focused Reddit discussion, one commenter described selling without an agent in 2008, using a lawyer and dealing with people who also wanted a private transaction. They described the process positively but said it involved more searching and checking things themselves.
Another commenter in the same discussion described paying for an MLS posting service for sales in 2018 and 2022 while doing the selling work themselves and using lawyers for paperwork. Their account highlights a middle ground between a full-service listing and handling every part unaided.
Read the original seller discussion. These are unverified, self-reported anecdotes about past transactions, not Trusted Home Group customers or endorsements. They do not establish typical savings, current service prices or what your house will sell for.
The useful lesson is that private sales can work. The question is whether you want the work involved and can evaluate the offers with suitable professional advice.
Compare the money without assuming a winner
Commission saved is only one line in the calculation. Put the expected sale proceeds, advertising, preparation, legal work, mortgage payout and other applicable costs into the same comparison. Our net-proceeds guide shows how.
Invented example: a private sale at $750,000 with $12,000 in selling expenses leaves $738,000 before mortgage payout and any taxes. A direct offer of $720,000 with $3,000 in seller-paid expenses leaves $717,000 on the same basis. The private sale leaves $21,000 more. You would need to decide whether the time and work avoided justify that difference.
These are teaching figures, not valuations or fee estimates. Use written terms and include extra carrying costs if one route takes longer. Do not assume that paying no commission means receiving the highest net proceeds.
When Trusted Home Group may be the better fit
Consider asking Daniel and the team for an offer if you want to explore selling as-is, have a particular moving date, or would prefer discussing one potential purchase to organising a public sales campaign yourself. Share the property’s condition and what matters most about the timing.
Ask us to explain the proposed price, conditions, closing date and exactly which costs you would pay. Get your lawyer’s advice on the agreement. An initial enquiry is not a commitment to sell, and any final agreement needs its own review.
If your house is easy to show, you have time to market it and maximising the price is your priority, a private listing or brokerage sale may be worth pursuing. If the work is the obstacle, our service may fit better. Read your as-is selling options and how to check a cash buyer before deciding.
Take one useful next step
Write down your preferred moving date, the work you are willing to do and the net amount you need to understand. Then get a realistic opinion on open-market value and a written direct offer to compare.
You do not have to decide that a whole category of buyer is better. You need a specific proposal that works for your property. Tell Daniel and the team about your house to start that conversation, or call (647) 956-4700.
Common questions
Does selling privately mean I have no selling costs?
No. Advertising, professional services, mortgage charges and other transaction-specific expenses may still apply. Use your own quotes and agreements.
Is a direct offer automatically better than selling myself?
No. It may suit your timing and preference for less work, but compare the actual price, costs and conditions.
Prepared by Trusted Home Group for Ontario homeowners. This is general information, not advice on a particular transaction. Editorial approach and corrections.
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