Real Estate Agents Pivot During Market Downturn

Toronto, ON, 2026-05-11—With the downturn in Canada's real estate market, some agents are getting creative with ways to supplement their income.

Gerard Phipps, a Scarborough real estate agent, says that he has begun selling other items using the real estate model. "For example, the other day, I was walking my dog and we went past a house that was having a garage sale. The owner was selling an alarm clock for $5.00. I said to her, No, that's too low, and you have to stage it. She contracted with me and she ended up selling the clock for $6.00, or $4.75 after I took my commission."

Phipps said he's stunned by the casual way goods are sold at garage sales. "Everything's verbal!" he exclaimed. "And buyers don't even insist on an inspection and there are no lawyers involved. How can that be?"

Phipps proudly talks about his star client, a man who was selling off his late mother's belongings. "Tim had a grandfather clock to sell. We listed it for $300 and solicited secret bids. We found the top bidder and went back and forth for about a week concluding the negotiations, and eventually the clock sold for $50 over asking. After legal fees, expenses and my commission, Tim ended up owing me only $47.89."

Phipps intends to expand his model beyond garage and estate sales. "Remember," says Phipps, "next time you see a cute kid selling lemonade for $0.50 per glass, that kid is probably a shark and you need an agent on your side to negotiate!"