Ask about their actual production
How many buyers did they represent last year, in which neighbourhoods, and at what price points? A large share of licensees complete very few transactions annually, and offer strategy is a skill built through repetition.
Watch how they handle bad news
A good agent tells you when a house is overpriced, when the foundation issue is serious, and when your budget does not match your list. An agent who agrees with everything is selling you a transaction, not advice.
- Do they give you sold comparables unprompted?
- Do they explain the downside of a property?
- Do they ask what your financing looks like?
Check the representation paperwork
Understand what you are signing, including the term, the geographic area, and how the agreement ends. A confident agent will explain it plainly and keep the term short.
Get your financing sorted first
The strongest thing you can bring to an agent is a real pre-approval with documents reviewed, not an online estimate. It sets the search range accurately and lets you write firm offers when competition demands it.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a buyer pay their agent in Ontario?
- Traditionally the seller's brokerage shares commission with the buyer's brokerage, but the representation agreement sets the terms, so read it.
- Should I get pre-approved before I start looking?
- Yes. It defines your range, holds a rate, and identifies documentation problems while there is still time to fix them.
Talk to a Toronto private mortgage specialist
We arrange equity-based financing across Toronto and the GTA, whether you need a first position from a private lender or a second mortgage behind the bank you already have.