British Columbia · Seller Report
“Full marketing package” is not a plan. Ask for the list, in writing, with who pays for what.
Every agent says they market aggressively. Very few will hand you an itemised plan with costs attached, and the request itself is one of the most useful filters in the interview.
Here is what a genuine plan contains, roughly in order of how much each item actually matters.
The list
Eleven things to ask for in writing
Professional photography
Non-negotiable, and the item that does the most work by a wide margin. Nearly every buyer sees your home on a screen first and decides there whether to visit. Ask to see recent examples from their actual listings, not a portfolio page.
Correct pricing, with the comparables attached
Strictly speaking not marketing, but it determines whether any of the rest works. Ask for the recent sold comparables the suggested price is built on, in writing, before you sign anything.
A floor plan
Consistently ranked among the most useful things in a listing by buyers, and it pre-qualifies them — people who come have already decided the layout works. Cheap, and still frequently skipped.
MLS® and portal syndication
The foundation. Your listing should reach the board and syndicate out to the major portals. Ask specifically where it goes and confirm it has landed everywhere a few days after launch.
Specific, well-written copy
Facts buyers search for, not adjectives. The school, the suite, the roof year, the exposure, the walk to transit. Ask to read the descriptions on their current listings.
Launch timing
When it goes live, when the first open house is, whether there is an offer date. Momentum in the first two weeks is worth more than anything that happens in month two.
Video or a virtual tour
Valuable on larger homes, unusual layouts and anything that does not photograph well. Less critical on a standard townhouse, and worth asking whether it is included or extra.
Paid social and digital advertising
Ask the specific question: what is the budget, which platforms, and who pays? “We advertise on social media” can mean a substantial targeted campaign or one organic post.
Open houses
Who runs them, how often, and how leads from them are followed up. The first weekend matters most; after the first few, returns diminish sharply.
Direct outreach to buyers and agents
Their own buyer database, agents with matching clients, and the neighbourhood. This is where a well-connected agent earns their fee and it never appears on a brochure — ask about it directly.
Reporting back to you
A written weekly update with online views, showings and verbatim feedback. Poor communication is the single most common reason sellers end up unhappy. Get the commitment in writing at the start.
Three questions that separate a plan from a brochure
“Who pays for each of these?” Photography, video, staging, print, paid advertising. Some brokerages absorb all of it, some bill it, some bill it only if you cancel early. There is no wrong answer — there is only knowing before you sign.
“Can I see this plan executed on a current listing?” Not a sample, not a portfolio. A listing that is live right now. Look at the photographs, read the copy, check the floor plan, see where it appears. That is what yours will look like.
“What happens in week three if there are no offers?” A good answer is a specific pre-agreed review: new photographs, a copy rewrite, a price review on a set date. A vague answer means the plan ends at launch, which is when most listings actually need it.
Questions we get asked
Does more marketing mean a higher price?
Up to a point. Marketing determines how many buyers see your home, and more qualified buyers produces better offers. But no amount of marketing overcomes a price the comparables do not support — it just means more people see an overpriced listing.
Is a “coming soon” launch worth it?
It can build a list of interested buyers before you go live, so the first weekend is busier. There are board rules about off-MLS® marketing and about advising sellers in writing of the consequences of not publishing to the board — make sure your agent explains how they handle that.
Should I pay extra for premium portal placement?
Usually not. The buyers who matter most are on alerts and are shown new listings by their agents within hours. Paid placement mostly reaches people browsing casually. Spend the money on photography instead.
What if I do not want open houses?
Then say so. Some sellers have privacy, security or tenancy reasons, and a well-run listing can do without them — they are one channel, not the whole plan. Good photography and an active agent network matter more.
Ask us for the plan in writing
Itemised, with who pays for what, and a live listing you can go and look at right now. Then ask two other agents for the same thing and compare.
Call 778‑234‑2000 Prefer to write? Send a message insteadPlease note: Marketing inclusions, costs and board rules vary by brokerage and change. This page is general information about British Columbia and Canadian rules, current at the time of writing, and is not legal, tax, financial or mortgage advice. Figures and programs change — confirm anything you intend to rely on with the relevant authority or a qualified professional. Sonny Bhinder is a licensed REALTOR®, not a lawyer, accountant or mortgage broker. Not intended to solicit properties currently listed for sale, or to cause a breach of an existing agency relationship.