Everything Ontario sellers ask us about MLS, commissions, costs, deposits, safety, and how a sale actually closes on Bidwell.
Not through Bidwell. Realtor.ca listings can only be posted by a registered brokerage, so a for-sale-by-owner listing can't go there directly. If MLS exposure matters to you, many Ontario sellers pair a flat-fee "mere posting" brokerage with an FSBO listing — you can do both. Bidwell gives you a full public listing, search exposure to Ontario buyers, and a link you can share anywhere.
That's your call. Buyer agents are paid out of the sale in most transactions, and some buyers arrive with an agent who expects compensation. You can choose to offer a cooperating commission (commonly around 2–2.5%), offer nothing, or negotiate it deal by deal. Even if you offer the full buy-side commission, you've still saved the listing side — usually half the total fee.
Yes, and you'd need one with an agent too. In Ontario, title transfer is registered electronically and that has to be done by a lawyer. Budget roughly $1,200–$2,500 in legal fees plus disbursements. Bidwell handles the listing and the agreement; your lawyer handles closing.
One flat fee to list, paid once. No percentage, no commission, no fee at closing. During early access there's no listing fee at all.
Insert the flat-fee amount (e.g. "$XXX to list") once pricing is set.No. What you'll pay outside Bidwell is what you'd pay with an agent anyway: your lawyer, land transfer tax (if you're also buying), any mortgage discharge penalty, and moving costs.
You've paid a flat fee, not a percentage, so there's nothing further owed.
Add refund / relist policy — decide this before launch.Not Bidwell. Deposits are held in trust by a lawyer — normally yours — until closing. You should never accept a deposit directly into your personal account, and no legitimate buyer will ask you to.
Ask for a mortgage pre-approval before booking a showing, and treat the deposit amount as the real signal — a buyer putting $30,000 in trust is committed in a way a friendly email isn't. Bidwell's messaging keeps first contact off your personal phone and email.
Take basic precautions: showings by appointment only, never alone, ask for ID, and put away valuables, mail, and medications.
Consider linking a short showing-safety guide — good SEO, good optics.Bidwell generates an Agreement of Purchase and Sale built for Ontario transactions, along with the disclosures and checklists that go with it. You and your lawyer review everything before signing — Bidwell provides documents and guidance, not legal advice or representation.
Ontario has no mandatory seller disclosure form, but you can't conceal a latent defect — a serious problem a buyer couldn't reasonably discover on inspection. Many sellers complete a Seller Property Information Statement voluntarily. Your lawyer can advise on your specific situation.
Look at what comparable homes in your area actually sold for, not what they were listed at. You can pull recent sales from the land registry, ask your lawyer, or pay $300–$500 for an independent appraisal — still a rounding error against a $40,000 commission.
Yes. There's no exclusivity and no listing agreement locking you in.
Confirm whether you'll refund or credit — sellers will ask.Anywhere in the province. We're onboarding in waves by region, so join early access and we'll reach out when your area opens.
