Most buyers choose their REALTOR the same way they pick a contractor off a flyer — someone a friend mentioned, someone with a lot of yard signs in the neighbourhood, or whoever came up first in a Google search. In Ottawa's real estate market, that approach can cost you. The difference between a sharp, experienced agent and an average one shows up in the offer price you pay, the conditions that protect you, and the property issues you find out about before closing instead of after.
The average Ottawa home sold for $692,584 in March 2026, according to the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB). On a transaction of that size, your REALTOR's local knowledge, negotiation skill, and market judgment have real dollar consequences. This is not the place to default to whoever is most convenient.
In Ontario, all real estate professionals are licensed and regulated by the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), which came into full effect in December 2023. TRESA changed how agents must interact with buyers around disclosure, representation, and written agreements. Before you hire anyone, you should understand what TRESA requires and whether the agent you are speaking with can explain it clearly.
We have helped hundreds of Ottawa buyers through the home buying process. The ones with the smoothest experience consistently share one thing: they took the time to actually interview their agent before committing.
📋 Getting ready to interview agents? Download our free Ottawa REALTOR Interview Checklist — all 10 questions to compare up to three agents. Get it at yourhomeinottawa.ca.
What Should You Ask Before Hiring a REALTOR in Ottawa?
Before any conversation, go to reco.on.ca and verify the agent's licence using the public RECO registry. This takes about 30 seconds and confirms they hold a valid licence in good standing in Ontario. Once you have done that, the following ten questions will tell you most of what you need to know.
Question 1: How Many Ottawa Buyers Have You Represented in the Past 12 Months?
This question cuts through the vague experience claims that appear on every agent's website. Volume matters, but so does recency. An agent who has held a licence since 2008 but completed three buyer transactions last year has far less current market knowledge than someone licensed in 2019 who completed 24.
Ask specifically: how many Ottawa buyer transactions in the past 12 months, at what price points, and in which neighbourhoods? You want the agent to be active in your price range and target area right now, not in the market from five years ago.
What good looks like: an agent handling 12 to 25 buyer transactions per year is active enough to have current knowledge without being so volume-driven that they delegate client communication. Specific numbers, specific neighbourhoods, specific price ranges.
Red flag: answers about total years licensed or vague claims about "hundreds of transactions" without any reference to recent activity.
Question 2: How Do You Handle Multiple Offer Situations?
Ottawa has been in balanced territory through early 2026, but multiple offer situations still occur regularly on well-priced detached homes in all across the city. How an agent prepares you for and guides you through a competing offer scenario is one of the clearest tests of their competence.
Ask them to walk you through what they do before, during, and after offer night. What information do they gather about other buyers in advance? How do they structure your deposit and conditions to make your offer competitive without sacrificing protections you actually need? What is their view on escalation clauses in the current Ottawa market?
What good looks like: a specific, practised process. Not a phrase. "We need to come in strong" is a slogan, not a strategy.
Red flag: an agent who advises you to remove conditions without explaining why.
Question 3: What Do You Know About the Ottawa Neighbourhoods I'm Considering?
Ottawa is a collection of distinct communities with meaningfully different housing stock, pricing dynamics, school catchments, transit access, and infrastructure characteristics. An agent who genuinely knows Barrhaven should be able to distinguish Longfields from Half Moon Bay. An agent who knows Kanata should understand what proximity to major tech employers does to competition in certain pockets of the market.
Ask them to tell you something about your target area that you could not find on a real estate website. The answer will tell you whether their local knowledge is real or rehearsed.
For buyers looking at older Ottawa homes built before 1980, ask specifically whether the agent is familiar with Leda clay — a sensitive marine clay found throughout many Ottawa neighbourhoods that can cause foundation movement and uneven settling. An experienced Ottawa agent should know this term and what to watch for. If they look blank, that is meaningful information.
Question 4: How Does Your Compensation Work, and What Does TRESA Require?
Under Ontario's Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), agents are required to disclose in writing how they are compensated before you sign any representation agreement. This was a significant regulatory change that came into effect in December 2023, and it is designed to give buyers full transparency before they commit.
In most Ottawa transactions, the buyer's agent is compensated through the commission structure in the seller's listing agreement, meaning the buyer does not pay their agent's fee directly. However, TRESA requires your agent to explain in writing whether there are any scenarios where you might be responsible for their fee, which can apply in certain private sale or off-market situations.
What good looks like: a clear, written explanation delivered before you sign a Buyer Representation Agreement (BRA). Confidence in explaining TRESA signals that the agent operates a compliant, current practice.
Red flag: vague verbal answers about compensation, dismissiveness about disclosure requirements, or an agent who seems unfamiliar with what TRESA requires. This legislation has governed their profession for over two years.
Question 5: Are You a Full-Time Real Estate Professional?
Part-time agents exist in every market, and this is not automatically a reason to walk away. But availability matters. Good Ottawa listings can attract multiple offers within 48 to 72 hours of appearing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). If your agent cannot attend a showing on short notice or cannot reach your mortgage broker quickly when an offer deadline is approaching, that creates real risk in a time-sensitive process.
Ask directly: is real estate your primary occupation, and what percentage of your income comes from it?
What good looks like: a professional whose primary business is real estate, with the systems and availability to respond to time-sensitive situations without delay.
Question 6: What Is Your Communication Style and How Available Are You?
Some buyers want frequent check-ins and want to understand every step. Others prefer to hear only when something requires action. Neither preference is wrong, but it needs to match your agent's natural working style. A mismatch here creates frustration throughout the process.
Ask how they typically communicate: calls, texts, or email. Ask what hours they are reachable. Ask specifically what happens if they are unavailable when something urgent comes up, and who on their team or brokerage covers for them.
We operate as a team deliberately. When a situation is time-sensitive and one of us is occupied, our clients are never left waiting for information that matters.
Question 7: What Should I Know About Buyer Representation Agreements in Ontario?
Since December 2023, TRESA requires that a signed Buyer Representation Agreement be in place before an agent can formally represent you in a transaction. The BRA specifies the geographic area covered, the property types included, the term of the agreement, and the compensation structure. It is a legal document.
A good agent should be able to walk you through the BRA clearly, explain each section, and answer your questions about exit provisions. You have every right to read it carefully and to negotiate its terms before signing.
Watch for agents who pressure you to sign quickly or who cannot answer your questions about it confidently. Under TRESA, agents can provide certain services before a BRA is signed. A professional who needs you to commit before you have had time to review what you are signing is not approaching this correctly.
Question 8: What Ottawa-Specific Property Issues Should I Be Watching For?
This is the question that separates genuinely local practitioners from agents who could work in any Canadian city.
Leda clay is a sensitive marine clay found throughout micro areas in Ottawa and surrounding areas. It causes foundation movement and settling. Stair-step cracks in brick masonry, doors that stick, and uneven floors are warning signs worth investigating.
Radon levels in Ottawa are above the national average due to local geology. Health Canada identifies radon as the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in Canada. Although not generally common or requested, a radon test during your conditional period costs $150 to $200, and is something you may want to consider depending on your health concerns and the property location.
Vermiculite insulation appears in some Ottawa homes built before 1990, particularly in attics. Vermiculite from certain mines during that era may contain asbestos fibres. If you see loose, pebble-like insulation in grey-brown tones, do not disturb it. A qualified inspector should test it before any work.
Carpenter ants are prevalent in Ottawa, particularly in homes near wooded areas in the west end and Greenbelt-adjacent neighbourhoods. Active carpenter ant presence can signal moisture damage in wood framing.
A sharp Ottawa agent will know all of these without being prompted. Ask. If they draw blanks on two or more, their local expertise is thinner than their marketing suggests.
Question 9: How Do You Approach Pricing Analysis and Offer Strategy?
Your agent's ability to read comparable sales and translate that into an effective offer price is one of their most consequential skills. Ask them to explain how they would approach pricing a home you are interested in before writing an offer.
What good looks like: a methodical approach using recent comparable sales (not active listings), adjustments for condition and features, an understanding of how days on market context affects negotiating position, and a read on seller motivation.
Red flag: An agent who uses the listing price as their reference point. That is the seller's number. Your agent's job is to arrive at an independent value using recent sold comparables and then tell you what that number means for how you offer, not to anchor off whatever the seller put on the sign.
Question 10: Can You Connect Me With Three Recent Ottawa Buyers I Can Speak With?
References are underused by buyers and under offered by agents. Any experienced, confident agent should be able to provide three references from buyers they have worked with in the past six months, ideally on transactions in your price range and target area.
Call them. Ask how the agent communicated under pressure. Ask whether the agent spotted anything during the inspection or offer process that the buyer would not have caught on their own. Ask whether they would hire this agent again.
This takes ten minutes and tells you more than any online review platform.
What Red Flags Should I Watch For When Interviewing a REALTOR?
Several patterns consistently indicate a poor fit.
Pressure to sign the BRA before answering your questions. A good agent gives you time to think and asks you to commit only after you feel confident.
Inability to explain TRESA clearly. This legislation came into effect in December 2023. If an agent cannot explain what changed, they are behind on the rules governing their own profession.
Vague or verbal-only answers about compensation. Under TRESA, written compensation disclosure is required. Anything less is a compliance gap.
No references available from recent buyers. Experienced agents have clients who would be happy to speak on their behalf. If they cannot name three from the past six months, ask why.
No knowledge of Leda clay, radon, or Ottawa-specific inspection considerations. This is basic local knowledge for anyone actively working this market.
How Do You Verify a REALTOR's Licence in Ontario?
The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) maintains a public registry of all licensed real estate professionals in Ontario. Visit reco.on.ca and search by the agent's name or brokerage. You can confirm that their licence is current, active, and in good standing. If it is not, stop the conversation there.
This takes 30 seconds and should be the first thing you do before any agent interview.
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a REALTOR in Ottawa
Q: Do I have to sign a Buyer Representation Agreement before working with a REALTOR in Ontario?
A: Yes, under TRESA, agents in Ontario are required to have a signed Buyer Representation Agreement in place before they can formally represent you in a transaction. However, agents can answer general questions and show you properties before the BRA is signed. A good agent will explain the agreement clearly and answer all your questions before asking you to commit.
Q: How is a buyer's agent compensated in Ottawa?
A: In most Ottawa transactions, the buyer's agent is compensated through the commission structure in the seller's listing agreement, meaning the buyer does not pay their agent's fee directly. However, TRESA requires agents to disclose their compensation in writing before you sign a Buyer Representation Agreement. In some off-market or private sale situations, the buyer may be responsible for the fee. Always confirm this in writing before signing.
Q: What is TRESA and how does it affect me as a buyer in Ontario?
A: The Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA) is Ontario's legislation governing real estate professionals, which replaced the previous Real Estate and Business Brokers Act in December 2023. Under TRESA, agents must provide written disclosure of how they are compensated, must enter into written representation agreements before providing formal representation, and have specific duties of care to their clients. As a buyer, this means more transparency and more documentation than buyers received under the previous rules.
Q: How many REALTORs should I interview before choosing one?
A: We recommend speaking with at least two and ideally three agents before committing. Interview them separately, ask the same questions, and compare the specificity and confidence of their answers. Pay particular attention to how concretely they answer questions about your target area and price range. Also-Vibe Check. You need to feel it.
Q: What does it mean that an agent is RECO-registered?
A: The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) is the regulatory body that licenses all real estate professionals in Ontario. RECO registration means the agent has met Ontario's licensing requirements, holds active errors and omissions insurance, and is subject to RECO's professional conduct standards. You can verify any agent's registration at reco.on.ca.
Q: How can I check if a REALTOR is licensed in Ontario?
A: Visit reco.on.ca and search the agent's full name or brokerage. The public registry shows all active Ontario real estate licences. Confirm the status is current and active before your first meeting. If the licence is expired, suspended, or not found, stop the conversation there.
Summary
Choosing the right REALTOR in Ottawa is one of the most consequential decisions in your home buying process, and it is routinely underestimated. The ten questions above are designed to surface agents who know Ottawa specifically, operate transparently under TRESA, and have a real process for protecting your interests from first showing to closing day.
If you are ready to start that conversation, The Campbell-Maric Group would be glad to be on your interview list. Visit yourhomeinottawa.ca to get started.
📋 Planning to interview agents? Download our free Ottawa REALTOR Interview Checklist at yourhomeinottawa.ca — all 10 questions to compare up to three agents side by side.
About This Article
Published by The Campbell-Maric Group, an Ottawa real estate team serving buyers, sellers, and investors across the National Capital Region. We cover market conditions, buying and selling strategy, neighbourhood guides, and Ontario regulatory changes, written for people who want to make informed real estate decisions. Subscribe at yourhomeinottawa.ca.
