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Summary: Selling a home in Ontario runs through about 10 steps, from hiring a real estate agent and pricing the home to listing, reviewing offers, the conditional period, and closing. Once the deal is firm you are required to engage a real estate lawyer to review title and close. The main costs are the agent's commission, legal fees, and disbursements.
Selling a home is one of the biggest transactions most Ontarians will go through, and between the move, the money, the paperwork, and the legal side, it can feel overwhelming. It does not have to. Ontarians sell their homes successfully all the time by understanding the basic steps and leaning on the right professionals. Here is the process, broken into manageable pieces.
What are the steps to selling a home in Ontario?
Selling moves through ten broad steps. Each builds on the last, from choosing an agent to handing over the keys:
Hire the right real estate agent. You can list "for sale by owner," but most sellers find an experienced agent makes the process easier and often achieves a higher price and faster sale. Look for someone with a strong listing track record and real expertise in your specific area.
Determine the home's market value. Pricing right from the start is the most decisive factor in a fast, strong sale. Your agent analyzes the market to set a price that attracts qualified, motivated buyers.
Prepare the home for sale. Boost curb appeal, make necessary repairs, clean and declutter, and consider staging to help buyers picture themselves in the space.
List the home for sale. Your agent creates the listing on the MLS and other marketing platforms so buyers and agents can find it.
Show the home. Through open houses or scheduled showings with lockbox access. It can be disruptive if you still live there, but it is a necessary part of selling.
Review offers. The highest price is not always the best offer. A better closing date, fewer conditions, or stronger buyer financing can make a lower offer more attractive. Your agent helps you weigh them.
Accept an offer and start the conditional period. The Agreement of Purchase and Sale is finalized and the buyer puts a deposit in trust. Over the next few days to weeks, the buyer works through their conditions, such as inspection and financing, and can walk away (recovering the deposit) if a condition is not met.
Real estate lawyer and title search. Once the offer is firm, you engage a real estate lawyer to close. The buyer's lawyer reviews title by the requisition date set in the agreement, confirming you have the right to sell and transfer ownership.
Closing. When all terms are satisfied and funds are held in trust, the lawyers transfer the funds and ownership to the buyer, the keys change hands, and your sale proceeds are released to you and your lender.
Cancel utilities and change your address. Transfer electricity, water, gas, and other utilities out of your name, and notify vendors and government offices of your new address.
What does a real estate lawyer do when you sell?
Once the deal is firm, your real estate lawyer carries the sale to closing. They review the public legal records for your property (the title review), confirm you can transfer clear ownership, and calculate your closing costs. You may want to involve a lawyer earlier to advise on the Agreement of Purchase and Sale or a status certificate.
The buyer's lawyer must inspect title and raise any issues by the requisition date in the agreement, and your lawyer responds. Because the buyer is paying a large sum and often taking on a mortgage, this verification matters to them, and the buyer will usually also obtain title insurance for protection against issues a search does not surface. Your closing costs, calculated by your lawyer, include the legal fee, disbursements, and the agent's commission, among others, covered in more detail in our guide to the costs involved in a real estate transaction. For more on the value a lawyer adds, see 7 reasons why you need a real estate lawyer.
What happens on closing day when you sell?
On closing day, once all terms are met and the buyer's funds are held in trust, your lawyer and the buyer's lawyer collaborate to transfer the funds and register the change of ownership. Legal title passes to the buyer, the keys are handed over, and your sale proceeds are wired to you and your lender.
As an Ownright client, you can track your closing through a personalized dashboard with automatic email and text updates, and we keep your agent in the loop so they can step in where needed. For a fuller walkthrough, see what actually happens on closing day.
What do you do after closing?
After the sale closes, transfer your utilities and update your address. Electricity, water, gas, and other services need to come out of your name, and government offices and vendors need your new address.
A couple of Ownright guides make this easier: what ID you'll need to update after moving within Ontario, and who you should inform when your address changes.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a lawyer to sell a house in Ontario?
Yes. Once the sale is firm, you are required to engage a real estate lawyer to close. The lawyer reviews title, responds to the buyer's requisitions, calculates closing costs, and works with the buyer's lawyer to transfer ownership and funds.
How long does it take to sell a home in Ontario?
It varies with the market and how the home is priced, but the conditional period after an accepted offer typically runs a few days to a few weeks, followed by the closing date set in the agreement. Listing-to-sale time depends heavily on local demand.
What are the closing costs when selling a home?
The main costs are the real estate agent's commission, your legal fee, and disbursements, along with any payout of an existing mortgage. Your lawyer calculates the exact figures for your transaction; see our guide to the costs involved in a real estate transaction for detail.
Can you sell your home for sale by owner in Ontario?
Yes, you can list without an agent. Many sellers still choose an agent because the marketing reach, pricing analysis, and negotiation experience often lead to a higher price and a smoother sale, but it is your choice.
What is the requisition date?
The requisition date is the deadline set in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale for the buyer's lawyer to review title and raise any issues with the seller's lawyer. It is a key milestone in the closing process.
About the author
Joel Fox is a co-founder and COO at Ownright. He helps run the firm's day-to-day work on Ontario residential closings, refinances, and sales, and writes regularly to demystify the parts of a transaction that most homeowners only encounter once or twice in their lives.
At Ownright, we focus on Ontario real estate law and on making the closing seamless. Working with a real estate lawyer can feel like a black box, but our experienced lawyers and easy-to-use app keep you informed at every step of your sale. You can start your closing online or get in touch with any questions.
Important note: This article is not legal advice. No one should act, or refrain from acting, based solely on the information in this post or any linked materials without first seeking appropriate legal or professional advice.
