Pay Nothing Until We Place a Tenant
MoveSmart is a full-service leasing and tenant placement company. There is no setup fee, no monthly retainer, no management percentage. You pay a single one-time success fee - typically equivalent to one month of rent - only when a qualified tenant signs the lease.
§ 01 · How we charge
One fee. Earned on results.
Zero upfront. Always.
You pay nothing to engage MoveSmart. No setup fee. No onboarding fee. No monthly retainer. Photography, syndication, screening, and lease preparation are all carried by us until a tenant is in place. Our economics are aligned with yours from the first conversation - if we don’t place a qualified tenant, we don’t earn a dollar.
A single leasing success fee.
When a qualified tenant signs a lease we negotiated, you pay a one-time success fee - a fee structure tailored to property type and market, typically equivalent to one month of contracted rent. It is invoiced once, on placement, and is the only fee you owe for the leasing engagement. We are a leasing brokerage, not an ongoing manager: there is no monthly percentage, ever.
And nothing in between.
No vendor markups. No marketing surcharges. No listing-prep surcharges. No clawbacks. The only optional charges are clearly named add-ons: Rent Protection (priced through our underwriting partner) and paid advertising beyond our standard syndication. Institutional lease-up engagements are quoted per RFP. Everything else is on this page.
§ 02 · Two ways to engage MoveSmart
Pick the fee structure that fits the asset.
Both options run the same nine-pillar leasing playbook end to end. The only difference is who funds the advertising spend, and how the success fee is structured on placement.
Option A
Full Service
Per successful lease, on placement.
MoveSmart covers all leasing and advertising costs. You pay one flat success fee only when a qualified tenant signs the lease. We carry photography, syndication, paid ads, screening, and lease execution end to end.
- Zero upfront. No retainer, no setup, no onboarding fees.
- MoveSmart funds all advertising and listing distribution.
- Professional photography, video, and floor plans included.
- Full multi-portal syndication and paid social campaigns.
- Tenant screening, lease execution, and move-in coordination.
- Tenant Replacement Guarantee included for the first six months.
Best for
Owners who want the simplest, fully-loaded leasing engagement with no separate ad invoices or vendor decisions to manage.
Option B
Reduced Fee + Pass-through
Per successful lease, plus ad spend at cost.
The owner funds advertising spend at our cost (no markups), and pays a reduced success fee equal to seventy percent of one month of contracted rent on placement. Same nine-pillar leasing execution. Lower fee on the back end.
- Reduced success fee on signed lease, only when placed.
- Owner funds advertising at cost. No markups, no minimums.
- Itemized ad receipts and source-by-source attribution.
- Same photography, screening, and lease execution as Full Service.
- Owner approves ad budget and channel mix before launch.
- Tenant Replacement Guarantee included for the first six months.
Best for
Multi-unit owners and PMC partners who want full control over advertising spend, channel mix, and reporting cadence.
Both options carry zero upfront cost. The success fee is invoiced once on placement and is the only fee owed for the leasing engagement. Institutional lease-up engagements are quoted per RFP. All fees exclude applicable GST/HST.
§ 03 · The fee schedule
$0.
Due upfront. Always.
You pay nothing to engage MoveSmart. The only fee on a standard leasing engagement is a one-time success fee, charged when a qualified tenant signs the lease, typically one month rent equivalent.
Full schedule of fees
Effective 2026 · CAD
Standard leasing success fee
Single condo, townhouse, or single-family home. Charged once, on signed lease, to a qualified tenant we placed.
One month rent equivalent
Setup, onboarding, photography, syndication
Account creation, document collection, professional photos, 40+ portal listing.
$0
Monthly retainer or management %
We are a leasing brokerage. There is no recurring fee.
Not charged
Tenant Replacement Guarantee
If a tenant we placed breaks the lease in the first six months, we re-lease at no additional success fee.
Included
Rent Protection (optional add-on)
Guaranteed rental income coverage underwritten through our insurance partner. Owner opts in.
Quoted by partner
Paid advertising beyond standard syndication
Optional boosted listings, premium portal placements, or targeted social campaigns. Owner pre-approves.
Pass-through at cost
Institutional lease-up (PMC, builder, developer)
Multi-unit lease-up programs, project-based engagements, custom service scope.
Custom RFP
Engagement exit
Either party. No exit fee, no clawback on a placement already earned.
30-day notice
Standard leasing success fee
Single condo, townhouse, or single-family home. Charged once, on signed lease, to a qualified tenant we placed.
One month rent equivalent
Setup, onboarding, photography, syndication
Account creation, document collection, professional photos, 40+ portal listing.
$0
Monthly retainer or management %
We are a leasing brokerage. There is no recurring fee.
Not charged
Tenant Replacement Guarantee
If a tenant we placed breaks the lease in the first six months, we re-lease at no additional success fee.
Included
Rent Protection (optional add-on)
Guaranteed rental income coverage underwritten through our insurance partner. Owner opts in.
Quoted by partner
Paid advertising beyond standard syndication
Optional boosted listings, premium portal placements, or targeted social campaigns. Owner pre-approves.
Pass-through at cost
Institutional lease-up (PMC, builder, developer)
Multi-unit lease-up programs, project-based engagements, custom service scope.
Custom RFP
Engagement exit
Either party. No exit fee, no clawback on a placement already earned.
30-day notice
Pricing is tailored to property type, location, and engagement scope. Your advisor will confirm the exact success fee in writing before any work begins. All fees exclude applicable GST/HST.
§ 04 · What the success fee includes
Every leasing service we offer, in one fee.
Most brokerages itemize photography, syndication, and screening as separate line items. We don’t. The success fee covers all nine pillars of our leasing service. Add-ons are clearly labelled and never assumed.
Marketing photography & video
Professional camera, wide-angle lens, edited gallery, optional 3D walkthrough.
Included in success fee
[ Included ]
MLS + 40+ portal syndication
Realtor.ca, Zumper, Zolo, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, and our agent network.
Included in success fee
[ Included ]
Tenant screening & background
Credit, employment, income, reference, and prior-tenancy verification.
Included in success fee
[ Included ]
Showings & applicant management
Coordinated viewings, qualification calls, applicant shortlist with our recommendation.
Included in success fee
[ Included ]
Lease drafting & e-signing
Provincially compliant lease, schedules, addenda, and digital execution.
Included in success fee
[ Included ]
Move-in coordination & key handover
Move-in inspection, condition report, key/fob delivery to tenant.
Included in success fee
[ Included ]
Rent Protection package
Optional guaranteed rental income coverage underwritten through our insurance partner.
Quoted separately by partner
[ Optional add-on ]
Paid advertising beyond standard
Optional boosted listings, premium portal placements, or targeted social campaigns.
At cost - owner pre-approves
[ Pass-through ]
Institutional lease-up engagements
Multi-unit programs for property management companies, builders, and developers.
Custom RFP - contact for quote
[ Optional add-on ]
Pass-through, never markup. When an owner opts into paid advertising or partner services, the cost is passed through at the price the vendor charges us. We do not earn a margin on add-ons.
Optional protection add-ons
Three protection pathways, all optional.
We do not collect rent or hold reserves on your behalf. Instead, we surface three categories of optional protection through vetted partners. You decide whether to enroll, and the cost and terms come from the partner directly.
Rent protection pathways
Optional guaranteed rental income coverage through vetted partner programs. Surfaced at the right moment in your leasing flow once a tenant is qualified, so you can opt in before move-in.
Damage protection pathways
Partner pathways for accidental property damage coverage above the security deposit. Useful for owners who want a protection layer without entering an ongoing management agreement.
Tenant insurance coordination
We require qualifying tenants to carry tenant content and liability insurance, and coordinate the policy reference into the lease packet on your behalf.
What is typically covered
- Loss of rent up to a defined cap when an enrolled tenant defaults
- Accidental damage above the security deposit when enrolled
- Tenant liability and content coverage attached to every lease
- Documented partner-pathway terms surfaced in your portal
What is not covered
- Ordinary wear and tear or maintenance issues
- Pre-existing damage at move-in (captured in the inspection)
- Periods after the engagement closes (move-in coordination ends our scope)
- Owner-side liability beyond what the partner program defines
Available where MoveSmart has direct underwriting partnerships. Subject to qualification, partner approval, and applicable state or province requirements. Partner pricing and terms are disclosed before enrollment.
What the fee covers
Every step photographed, every step paid for
The success fee covers all of these. Nothing is itemized later, nothing is invoiced upfront.
Pricing
Live comp analysis and a written price recommendation.
Marketing
Photography, virtual tour, and 20+ portal syndication.
Showings
Agent-led tours, in person and virtual.
Screening
Documented credit, employment, references, history.
Lease
Compliant lease, e-signed and archived.
Move-in
Inspection report and key handoff at move-in.
Pricing snapshot
What your unit should rent for
Live comparables across the markets we serve. Pick city and bedrooms, see the strategic asking rent and your net after a single leasing success fee. No signup, no email gate.
§ 05 · Worked examples
Three engagements. One pricing philosophy.
How the success-fee model lands across a single condo, a small portfolio, and an institutional lease-up program.
Engagement A
Single Toronto condo.
A two-bedroom condo at $3,200/month. Owner is relocating and needs a qualified tenant before closing on a new property.
- Fee structure
- Success fee equivalent to one month rent.
- Timing
- Invoiced once, on signed lease. Typically deducted from first month’s rent so nothing comes from your bank account.
- Due upfront
- $0
- Recurring
- None. We do not manage the unit after placement unless engaged separately.
Engagement B
Townhouse portfolio (4 units).
An owner with four townhouses across the GTA, three turning over within ninety days. A coordinated lease-up calendar reduces vacancy weeks.
- Fee structure
- Per-unit success fee with a portfolio discount applied. Quoted in writing before work begins.
- Timing
- Each fee invoiced as its corresponding unit is leased - not all upfront.
- Due upfront
- $0
- Recurring
- None.
Engagement C
Institutional lease-up.
A property management company or builder bringing 40+ units to market on a defined absorption schedule. Custom service scope: dedicated agent team, onsite leasing office option, weekly absorption reporting.
- Fee structure
- Custom pricing, structured per RFP - commonly a blend of monthly engagement allowance plus per-lease success fee.
- Timing
- Defined in master services agreement. Not billed against this published schedule.
- Due upfront
- Per RFP
- Recurring
- Per RFP
Every engagement is quoted in writing before work begins. No surprises, no escalators.
§ 06 · How we compare
Success-fee leasing vs. monthly management vs. doing it yourself.
We are not a property manager. We are a full-service leasing and tenant placement company. Here is how the three options actually compare on cost, alignment, and risk.
Upfront cost
- MoveSmart
- $0
- Traditional PM
- Setup + onboarding fee common
- Do-it-yourself
- Listing fees, screening tools, paid ads
Recurring monthly fee
- MoveSmart
- None - we are a leasing brokerage
- Traditional PM
- Percentage of monthly rent, every month
- Do-it-yourself
- None, but you carry the ongoing time cost
When you pay
- MoveSmart
- Once, on signed lease
- Traditional PM
- Every month for the life of the contract
- Do-it-yourself
- On every transaction - plus your hours
Vacancy alignment
- MoveSmart
- We earn nothing until a tenant signs
- Traditional PM
- Some plans charge during vacancy
- Do-it-yourself
- You absorb the entire vacancy cost
Tenant Replacement Guarantee
- MoveSmart
- Included - first six months
- Traditional PM
- Varies by provider
- Do-it-yourself
- You start over from scratch
Vendor markup on repairs
- MoveSmart
- Not applicable - we do not manage
- Traditional PM
- Often 10-20% markup
- Do-it-yourself
- None, but you source every vendor
Cancellation
- MoveSmart
- 30-day notice. No clawback.
- Traditional PM
- Often 60-120 days, with exit fees
- Do-it-yourself
- Anytime
§ 07 · Money-back & guarantees
We back the price with the paperwork.
Each guarantee is written into the leasing services agreement, not buried in a footer.
Note
01
Tenant Replacement Guarantee.
If a tenant we placed breaks the lease in the first six months, we re-lease the unit at no additional success fee. We carry advertising, screening, and lease prep again. Our economics absorb the cost, not yours.
Note
02
No-Placement, No-Fee Promise.
You owe nothing if we fail to place a qualified tenant. There is no kill-fee, no time-and-materials clawback, no minimum spend. Our risk is real and contractual - spelled out in writing before you sign anything.
Note
03
Transparent Exit.
Engagements end on 30-day written notice from either party. There is no exit fee, no clawback on a placement already earned, and we hand off all applicant records and signed documents within seven days.
§ 08 · Owners on our pricing
No surprise invoices. Ever.
What owners say about engaging a success-fee leasing brokerage instead of a percentage-based property manager.
Frequently Asked
Pricing & Fees - Frequently Asked
Still have questions?
Talk to a leasing advisor. No pressure, no obligation.
Get a written success-fee quote before you commit.
Open a free account and we’ll send a no-fee placement quote tailored to your address - typically back to you within one business day.