How to Interview Real Estate Brokers and Agents
A useful agent interview takes about 30 minutes and covers four areas: their recent local sales, their proposed plan for your transaction, how they communicate, and what the contract actually says. Anything longer is usually a sales pitch; anything shorter and you have not collected enough information to compare candidates.
Below is the script we recommend clients use — even when they are interviewing us. The point of an interview is to make a defensible decision, not to be flattered.
Twelve questions to ask every agent
- How many transactions did you close in the last 12 months?
- How many of those were in my neighbourhood or property type?
- Can I see your last five comparable closings (with addresses)?
- Are you full-time, and is real estate your primary income?
- Will I be working with you, or with a teammate — and which parts?
- What is your written marketing plan for my listing? (Sellers)
- How will you source listings for me, including off-market? (Buyers)
- What is your typical response time, and your after-hours coverage?
- What commission do you propose, and how is it split with the cooperating brokerage?
- What is the length of the agreement you’re asking me to sign?
- What does the cancellation clause look like if it isn’t working?
- Who else do you bring to the table — stager, mortgage broker, lawyer, inspector?
What good answers sound like
Specific numbers, not adjectives. “I closed 24 transactions last year, 18 of them in this postal code” is a good answer; “I’m one of the top agents in the area” is not. Look for an agent who can name comparable streets, current days-on-market, and the last three sale prices on your block from memory — that is what hyperlocal expertise sounds like.
On marketing, a sample listing presentation showing past photography, floor plans, and video work tells you more than any slide of statistics.
Documents to request before you sign
- Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) showing how the suggested list price was derived.
- Sample listing or buyer-representation agreement with the proposed commission and term filled in.
- RECO disclosure forms the agent will require you to sign.
- Written marketing plan (for sellers) or written search plan (for buyers).
Red flags worth a second look
Be cautious of an agent who pushes for a much higher list price than other agents you interviewed, who refuses to put commission in writing, who cannot produce recent comparable sales, or who pressures you to sign before you’ve had time to read. None of these on their own is automatically disqualifying — together, they usually are.
If you are interviewing in Toronto specifically, our Toronto agent page shows the kinds of recent sales and neighbourhoods we work in.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should I interview the broker of record or just an agent?
- An agent (sales representative) handles your transaction; the broker of record supervises the brokerage. For most residential deals you’re interviewing the agent. Ask about broker support if you need a layer of escalation.
- Can I record the interview?
- Yes, with the agent’s consent. It can be useful to compare answers across candidates without relying on memory.
- How soon should I decide?
- Give yourself at least 24 hours after the last interview. Sleeping on it is a real-world filter for high-pressure tactics.
Related Reading
Work With a Top Toronto Real Estate Agent
Filipe & Isabel Ferreira and the Team Filipehave helped families across Toronto and the GTA for over 20 years. Whether you’re starting your search, we’ll walk you through every step. Call (647) 298-9299 or book a free consultation.