Bōde empowers home buyers to take control over their purchase – without an agent. On the Bōde marketplace, we connect buyers directly with sellers so they can make a home purchase. All the tools, data, and information you need are provided, making the process simple and convenient for home buyers.
As a home buyer, you are empowered to search all of the homes on the market as well as favourite homes, see sold data, message, request showings, and, ultimately, make offers on homes listed by Bōde.
By signing up for a free account, Bōde empowers you to make a legally-binding offer on any Bōde -listed property directly to the seller. This is all conveniently done online. In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Scandinavia over 95% of buyers are self-represented, compared to just 10% in Canada. Bōde’s new functionality makes it easy to buy without an agent – resulting in a more efficient transaction that saves both buyer and seller money.
When you book a viewing through Bōde, the request will be sent to the seller. The seller will be excited to hear from you as they are looking for Bōde buyers! The seller will simply confirm the time and you will get a confirmation email. If you have not received the email within the same day, you can also follow up with a text or phone call to the seller. If you have not heard back within 24 hours, please contact our team to help.
Simply click “Make an offer” on any Bōde listing page and our technology will take you through the simple process, of making an offer.
You will fill out your offer price, deposit amount, timelines, and conditions. You may choose how long you want to make your offer available. Typically offers are presented with a 24 to 48 hours offer expiration. The offers you have placed may be reviewed at any time in the “My Offers” section of your account on Bōde.
When a seller receives your offer, they may message you on Bōde, asking for your email address or phone number to discuss your offer. This is completely normal and the Bōde team is there to support you in any way throughout the transaction process.
A: It’s free. Like, actually free. Our goal is to connect buyers and sellers directly streamlining the entire experience as well as removing the fees and motivations of the people between the buyer and seller. Bōde buyers have loved connecting with the sellers as it makes this significant transaction more human.
A: We are here and ready to chat! Of course, we have an extensive resource centre too.
A: Bōde is a licensed brokerage so we abide by all real estate regulations (snore). We use industry-standard contracts when you buy a home listed by a Bōde seller and simply sign using DocuSign – it’s that easy. Want to double check? Lawers still cross t’s and dot i’s before possession day!
A: This is a matter of negotiation between you and the seller. Industry practice is for the brokerage representing the seller to hold purchase deposits.
A: Message the seller to receive access instructions to tour the home, these will vary based on the seller’s preference. You can use the “messaging tool” to discuss this! If the home is represented by an agent, they may be present for the viewing.
A: If there is an agent representing the seller, we recommend you call or text the agent directly to arrange a viewing. You can also reach out on RELATOR.ca however, this is usually less successful.
A: If the agent has not responded within half a day of your inquiry, it is best to call the agent using the phone number shown on the Bōde listing page for that home.
A: The seller decides who can view the property, not the listing agent. It is extremely rare for a seller to instruct their listing agent to not show the home to buyers without agents (given it is a lower-cost transaction by selling to a buyer without an agent). A seller would need to have instructed their agent in writing that they don’t want to allow viewings from buyers with agents.
You have 3 options:
Option 1. Ask the agent if the seller has confirmed in writing that they do not want to show the home to buyers without realtors
Option 2. Contact the agent’s broker by searching the Agent name and seeing the associated broker here. The message to the broker is as follows: “I tried to book a viewing at a listing represented by your brokerage and (a) the agent has not responded or (b) the agent said I was not able to view without an agent… Is this a brokerage policy?”
Option 3. Knock on the door of the home to speak directly with the seller. Keep in mind that by not using a buy-side agent both yourself and the seller stand to save significantly on the transaction.
A: This is not a requirement to see a property, however, it is in your best interests to know what you can afford early in your home search process. You can get pre-approved online for free here.
A: You can choose to be self-represented in all of your buy activities. This means that neither you nor the seller has to pay any buy-side commission. You are acting in your own interest with the support of Bōde information and data. A listing agent may present you with an option to have them represent you and the seller on a specific property. This is an option available to you typically costing you a full buyer commission, however, it is not required to purchase the property.
Our Resource Centre is full of helpful information, FAQs and step-by-step guides.
Are you more of a video person? Check out our YouTube channel here for how-to videos!
If you can’t find the answer you are looking for, we are here to help! Yes, we are a pro-tech company, but we are also humans. We have a team that loves it when our homeowners are over the moon with their experience with Bōde. Easily connect with us by booking a call – we are here to support you.