Quick Answer
What questions should I ask a Coquitlam realtor before hiring?
Before signing a listing agreement or buyer-rep contract, ask: (1) Show me 3 recent sales in my neighbourhood. (2) Who will personally handle my listing — you or a team member? (3) What Craig Johnston, Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® and 47+ year Tri-Cities resident, can walk you through the local context. Free Strategy Call ends with a written one-page plan in 24 hours.
Quick Answer
Before signing a listing agreement or buyer-rep contract, ask: (1) Show me 3 recent sales in my neighbourhood. (2) Who will personally handle my listing — you or a team member? (3) What's your average days-on-market and sale-to-list ratio? (4) What's your commission and is it negotiable? (5) What's your marketing plan for my specific home? (6) Can you share independent reviews? (7) What's the easiest way to reach you and your typical response time? Strong realtors welcome these. Weak ones deflect.
Finding an agent and choosing one are two different jobs. This page is about the first — where good candidates actually come from. Once you have a shortlist, evaluating them is its own step.
Referrals
A referral from a friend, neighbour or colleague who recently bought or sold nearby is the strongest starting point — you get an unfiltered account of what the agent was actually like to work with.
Reviews
Public reviews show patterns over time — responsiveness, honesty, how problems were handled. Look for volume and consistency, not a single glowing line, and read the wording, not just the star count.
Sold signs
The agents whose names recur on sold signs and active listings in your specific pocket already know your micro-market. Local activity is a practical signal that's easy to observe on any walk.
Open houses
An open house is a low-pressure way to watch an agent work before you commit to anything. How they greet, listen and answer tells you plenty about how they would represent you.
Search
Online searches and brokerage sites surface names, but treat them as a starting list. Verify licensing and read further before you reach out — a name is a lead, not a decision.
Next step
Once you have two or three candidates, the real work is evaluating them well. See how to choose a Coquitlam REALTOR® below — the framework that actually separates them.
The goal of this stage is simply a solid shortlist — a few agents worth a proper conversation — not a final pick made on the spot.
Craig is happy to be one of the names you compare. The best way to judge any agent, including him, is a short no-pressure call where you ask the questions that matter to your move.
Verified · Buyer / Seller · Choose a REALTOR
1. Specialization matters
Coquitlam has 15+ Burke Mountain developments, 5+ Westwood Plateau communities, distinct school catchments, and unique neighbourhood character per zone. A REALTOR® who works your specific neighbourhood weekly knows the active listings, recent solds, and which streets trade differently.
2. Lived knowledge beats a sales pitch
Look for a REALTOR® who has actually lived in Coquitlam — preferably for years or decades. Lived knowledge of school catchments, traffic patterns, and neighbourhood character cannot be faked.
3. Track record verification
Ask: how many transactions completed in Coquitlam in the past 12 months? In your specific neighbourhood? Verify against published Greater Vancouver REALTORS® awards and recognition.
4. Communication style fit
Real estate transactions span 30-90+ days. You will spend more time with this person than most service providers. Confirm the communication cadence and channel match yours.
5. References from buyers like you
Ask for references from clients with similar situations: first-time buyer / move-up family / downsizer / investor. Each profile has different priorities.
6. Negotiation philosophy
Ask: 'Tell me about a recent negotiation where you had to manage the buyer's expectations or push back on the other side.' The answer reveals their actual approach.
7. Network depth
A strong Coquitlam REALTOR® has working relationships with local mortgage brokers, lawyers, inspectors, contractors. The right introductions save you time and money.
8. Avoid these red flags
Pressuring you to write before you're ready · Refusing to provide written CMAs · Vague answers about commission structure · No verified online reviews · Cannot name specific Coquitlam streets or developments without checking notes
The agent you pick shapes your whole experience and your result. Six things that separate a good fit from a poor one.
Look for
An agent who truly knows Coquitlam — its pockets, catchments and micro-markets — brings insight a generalist cannot. Local knowledge shows up in pricing, negotiation and the little things that matter.
Look for
Ask about recent, relevant experience and speak to past clients. Results and references tell you far more than a polished pitch or a big billboard.
Look for
You will work closely together, so their style and responsiveness matter. Decide how you want to be kept informed and confirm they actually work that way.
Look for
For sellers especially, ask exactly how a home will be presented and promoted. A specific plan beats vague promises of "maximum exposure" every time.
Look for
The best agents tell you what you need to hear about price and condition, not just what you want to hear. Straight talk protects your outcome; flattery costs you.
Look for
Beyond credentials, trust and rapport matter. You want someone whose judgment you believe in and who genuinely has your interests at heart, not just a transaction.
Choosing an agent is really about judgment and trust as much as credentials. Interview more than one, ask direct questions, and notice who gives you straight, well-reasoned answers rather than easy reassurance. The right professional makes a complex process feel manageable and leaves you confident you are being well served at every step.
A practical tip: pay attention to how an agent treats the first conversation. Do they listen to your goals and situation before pitching, or launch straight into a sales script? The one who seeks to understand what you actually need — before telling you what they do — is usually the one who will represent your interests best once the stakes are real.
Frequently asked
Before signing a listing agreement or buyer-rep contract, ask: (1) Show me 3 recent sales in my neighbourhood. (2) Who will personally handle my listing — you or a team member? (3) What's your average days-on-market and sale-to-list ratio? (4) What's your commission and is it negotiable? (5) What's your marketing plan for my specific home? (6) Can you share independent reviews? (7) What's the easiest way to reach you and your typical response time? Strong realtors welcome these. Weak ones deflect.
Keep exploring
Best realtor Coquitlam
Independent reviews, sales record, neighbourhood specialty.
Q&A
The 8 questions that filter out the noise.
Q&A
What representation actually costs a buyer.
Q&A
What it actually costs to hire a Coquitlam realtor.
Next step
Book a 20-minute strategy call with Craig. No commitment, no pressure — just a clear read on your specific buying or selling question.
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