For any homeowner deciding to sell their property, one of the most pressing questions is, “How long is this going to take?” The answer is crucial for planning your next move, managing your finances, and mentally preparing for the journey ahead. While there’s no single magic number, the selling process in Ontario can be broken down into a predictable timeline with three distinct phases.

Understanding each phase will help you set realistic expectations for selling your home in the current Ontario real estate market of mid-2025. Let’s break down the journey from the decision to sell to the final closing day.

Phase 1: Pre-Listing Preparation (Typically 1 to 4+ weeks)

This is the phase where you, the seller, have the most control. The work you do here directly impacts how quickly your home will sell once it hits the market. Rushing this stage is a common mistake that can lead to a longer time on the market and a lower final sale price.

  • Decluttering, Deep Cleaning, and Repairs (1-2 weeks): This is the essential first step of getting your property show-ready. It involves a thorough deep clean, making minor repairs, and significantly decluttering to make your space feel larger and more inviting. To learn more, explore our detailed guide on how to prepare your home for sale in Ontario.
  • Staging and Professional Photography (1 week): Once the home is clean and repaired, the next step is presentation. This may involve professional home staging, a crucial marketing tool that helps your home look its absolute best for the all-important online photos.
  • Hiring an Agent and Setting the Strategy (1 week): During this time, you’ll interview real estate agents, sign a listing agreement, and work closely with your chosen professional to develop a winning strategy, including how to price your home correctly for the Ontario market.

For a home in good condition, this preparation phase typically takes one to four weeks. For a property needing more significant work, this period could be longer.

Phase 2: On the Market (The “Days on Market”)

This is the most variable part of the timeline. “Days on Market” or DOM refers to the number of days from when your listing goes live on the MLS® until you accept a firm offer.

The 2025 Ontario Market Context: As of mid-2025, many regions in Ontario, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area and other urban centres, are experiencing a competitive seller’s market. This means there are more buyers than available homes, leading to quicker sales. In these desirable areas, the average Days on Market is currently between 15 and 25 days.

The “Offer Night” Strategy: It’s important to understand why this number is often low. A very common strategy in a seller’s market is to list a property and specify a date—typically 7 to 10 days in the future—when the seller will review offers. This is done to build momentum and generate multiple bids. In these cases, the home often sells on that specific offer night, resulting in a DOM of only 7-10 days. This is a key part of how to handle multiple offers on your home in Ontario.

However, several factors can influence your specific DOM:

  • Price: This is the number one factor. An overpriced home will sit on the market far longer than the average.
  • Condition: A turnkey, move-in-ready home will always sell faster than a property needing work.
  • Location: Homes in high-demand neighbourhoods sell more quickly.
  • Time of Year: The spring and fall markets are traditionally the busiest and fastest-paced.

Phase 3: The Closing Period (Typically 30 to 90 days)

Once you’ve accepted a firm offer, the “Sold” sign goes up, but the process isn’t over. The closing period is the time between accepting the offer and the official closing date when the new owner takes legal possession.

  • Typical Length: The length of the closing period is a negotiated term in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. The most common closing period in Ontario is 60 days, but 30-day or 90-day closings are also very frequent.
  • What Happens During This Time: This period allows the buyer’s lender to finalize mortgage documents and for both your lawyer and the buyer’s lawyer to conduct title searches, prepare statements of adjustments, and arrange the legal transfer of the property title. While rare, this is also the period when a real estate deal falls through if one party defaults on the firm contract.

The Total Timeline: Putting It All Together

So, how long does it really take? Let’s look at a typical example in a competitive 2025 market:

  • Phase 1: Preparation: 2 weeks
  • Phase 2: On the Market: 2 weeks
  • Phase 3: Closing Period: 8 weeks (60 days)
  • Total Estimated Timeline: Approximately 12 weeks, or 3 months.

While every sale is unique, this provides a realistic timeline from start to finish. The key takeaway is that while market forces have a significant impact, the best way for a seller to achieve a fast and successful sale is to focus on what they can control: meticulous preparation and a smart, data-driven pricing strategy from the very beginning.