Choosing a realtor is one of the few decisions in a home purchase or sale that's almost entirely within your control, and it's worth treating with real care — the right agent affects your negotiating position, how smoothly your transaction goes, and how well-informed your decisions are along the way. Here's what actually matters, beyond a friendly first impression.

Understand Representation Types First

Under Ontario's Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), effective since December 2023, a realtor can represent you as a client (with full fiduciary duties) or as a customer (with more limited obligations), and can also act as a designated representative in multiple representation situations where the brokerage represents both the buyer and seller in the same transaction. Understand which relationship you're entering into, and ask your realtor to explain it clearly before you sign any representation agreement.

Local Market Knowledge Beats General Experience

An agent who works your specific target neighbourhoods or property type regularly will generally have a sharper sense of realistic pricing, typical negotiating room, and building-specific or street-specific quirks than someone with broad but generalist GTA experience. Ask direct questions: how many transactions have they closed in this specific area or property type recently, and can they speak knowledgeably about the buildings or streets you're considering?

Communication Style and Availability

Real estate moves fast, especially in a competitive multiple-offer situation — see our guide to bidding wars for how quickly decisions sometimes need to happen. Ask how an agent prefers to communicate, how quickly they typically respond, and whether you'll be working directly with them or primarily with a team member. Neither model is inherently better, but you should know which one you're getting into before you commit.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Sign

  • How many transactions have you closed in the past 12 months, and in what areas or property types?
  • Will I be working directly with you, or with a team?
  • How do you typically communicate, and how quickly should I expect a response?
  • Can you walk me through your approach to a multiple-offer situation, or to pricing a listing?
  • What does your representation agreement actually commit me to, and for how long?

What a Buyer Representation Agreement Actually Means

Since TRESA came into effect, buyers are generally asked to sign a written representation agreement before an agent can show them properties. See our buyer representation agreement guide for what this actually commits you to, and what to check before signing.

FAQ

Do I have to sign an agreement before an agent will show me homes?

Under current Ontario rules, most brokerages require a written buyer representation agreement before showing properties — see our dedicated guide for what it typically includes.

Should I choose an agent who specializes in one neighbourhood?

Not necessarily exclusively, but an agent with recent, regular activity in your target area or property type generally brings sharper local pricing and negotiating insight than a purely generalist agent.

What's the difference between a client and a customer under TRESA?

A client relationship comes with full fiduciary duties from the realtor; a customer relationship involves more limited obligations. Ask your realtor to explain clearly which relationship applies to you.

Can one agent represent both the buyer and seller in the same deal?

Yes, in a multiple representation situation under TRESA, typically through designated representation within the same brokerage — ask your agent to explain how this works and what it means for you specifically.

Is a bigger, more well-known team always the better choice?

Not necessarily — what matters most is who you'll actually be working with day-to-day and how well they communicate, not simply the size or name recognition of the team or brokerage.

Ready to talk to a local team? Contact us to get started, or browse current GTA listings on Condohill in the meantime.

Sources

Ontario's Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), 2020, in effect since December 1, 2023. This is general information, not legal advice.