How to Choose a Realtor in Calgary: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Updated October 30, 2026 · Written by Justin Warthe, Team Lead, The Top Calgary Real Estate Team

Calgary has thousands of licensed real estate professionals and most of them will tell you they are the right choice. A few questions, asked the same way of two or three agents, cut through that quickly. Here are the 12 we would ask if we were hiring a realtor in Calgary, what a good answer sounds like, and the red flags to walk away from.

Quick answer: Choose a Calgary realtor by checking four things: recent sales in your community and price range, the volume and recency of their Google reviews, whether a team covers for them when they are unavailable, and the quality of their written plan for your sale or search. Verify the licence on RECA's public register, interview two or three agents with the same questions, and do not pick the one with the highest evaluation. The Top Calgary Real Estate Team has 179 five-star Google reviews and answers all 12 questions below in writing; book a call to compare us.

Key takeaways

• Ask every agent the same questions and compare the answers. Consistency is the point.
• Verify the licence on the Real Estate Council of Alberta's public register. Every real estate professional in Alberta must be licensed.
• The highest evaluation is a warning sign, not a selling point. Ask each agent to justify their number with comparable sales.
• Speed of response during your first contact predicts speed of response when an offer is on the table.

The 12 questions

1. How many homes did you sell in my community and price range in the last 12 months?

A good answer is a specific list with addresses, produced quickly. A vague answer ("lots, all over the city") means they do not have the local pricing knowledge your sale or purchase needs.

2. Are you licensed, and can I verify it?

Every Alberta real estate professional must be licensed with RECA. Search their name on RECA's public licence register and confirm the licence is active. Also confirm which brokerage they are with.

3. Are you full-time, and who covers when you are unavailable?

Part-time agents miss showings and offers. Solo agents go on holiday. A team with shared systems means someone is always available; ask who that is and meet them.

4. What are your average sale-to-list ratio and days on market compared with CREB®'s?

CREB® publishes the city-wide figures monthly (97.4% and 44 days in September 2026). An agent should know their own numbers and how they compare.

5. How will you price my home, and what is the evidence?

You want to see comparable sales, active competition and a strategy for the first two weeks. If the number is higher than the others, ask why, and ask what happens if it does not sell at that price.

6. What does your marketing include, specifically?

Professional photography, video, floor plans, staging advice, Realtor.ca, social and email campaigns, and a buyer database. Then look at one of their current listings; that is how yours will look.

7. Do you have access to off-market or coming-soon listings for buyers?

For buyers, this is the biggest single advantage an agent can offer. Ask how it works and how many of their recent buyer clients bought that way.

8. How do you handle multiple offers, and can you give me a recent example?

Negotiation is a skill. A good agent can walk you through a recent situation on either side and explain what they did and why.

9. What are your fees, what do they include, and is there a cancellation clause?

Fees are negotiable in Alberta. Get the fee schedule in writing, confirm what is included, and read the listing or buyer agreement's term and cancellation provisions. See our guide to realtor fees in Calgary.

10. Who will I actually communicate with day to day?

On some teams you never hear from the person who signed you. Ask who handles showings, feedback, offers and conditions, and how you reach them.

11. What do your recent clients say?

Read the Google reviews, including the most recent ones, and ask to speak to two recent clients. Volume and recency matter more than a handful of old testimonials.

12. Why should I choose you over the other agents I am interviewing?

Listen for specifics about your situation, not a rehearsed pitch. The best agents will also tell you honestly when they are not the right fit.

Red flags

• The highest evaluation with no comparables to support it.
• Pressure to sign today, or a long listing agreement with no cancellation clause.
• No recent sales in your area or price range.
• Slow replies to your first messages.
• Marketing described in adjectives rather than deliverables.
• A discount fee with no explanation of what has been removed.

How we answer these questions

Our answers to the 12 questions, in writing, before you sign anything:

Local sales in every Calgary quadrant and the surrounding towns; a 10-REALTOR® team so someone always answers; a written pricing plan with comparables; marketing that includes photography, video, floor plans and a pre-launch to our buyer database; off-market access for buyers; one lead negotiator on every offer; a written fee schedule; and 179 public Google reviews you can read right now.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a realtor is licensed in Alberta?

Search the agent's name on the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) public licence register. Every real estate professional in Alberta must hold an active RECA licence and be registered with a brokerage.

How many realtors should I interview?

Two or three, asked the same questions. Enough to compare answers on local sales, pricing evidence, marketing, availability and fees, without turning the decision into a second job.

Should I choose the realtor who gives the highest home evaluation?

No. An inflated evaluation leads to price reductions and a stale listing. Ask each agent to show the comparable sales behind their number and choose the one whose evidence is strongest.

Is a real estate team better than a single agent?

A team provides coverage (someone is always available for showings, offers and questions) and specialists for marketing and paperwork; a solo agent provides a single point of contact. Ask who you will deal with day to day either way.

What questions should I ask a realtor before hiring them?

Recent sales in your area and price range, licence and brokerage, full-time status and coverage, sale-to-list ratio and days on market, pricing evidence, specific marketing deliverables, off-market access, negotiation examples, fees and cancellation terms, day-to-day contact, recent client references, and why they are the right fit.

About The Top Calgary Real Estate Team

The Top Calgary Real Estate Team is a Calgary real estate team brokered by Real Broker and led by Justin Warthe. The team has sold more than $1 billion of Calgary and area real estate, has 179 five-star Google reviews, and helps clients buy or sell a home about every 48 hours. Our office is at 1913 34 Ave SW in Marda Loop, and we work across Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Strathmore, High River and the surrounding acreage country. Read our client reviews or book a call.

This page is general information, not legal, mortgage, tax or appraisal advice. A market evaluation from a REALTOR® is an opinion of value, not an appraisal. Benchmark prices are from the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) for September 2026 and change monthly.

Keep reading: Calgary realtor hub: how to choose · Realtor fees in Calgary explained · Top listing agents in Calgary · Calgary buyer's agent · Client reviews