"Find a good realtor" is easy advice and hard to act on. Every listing has an agent's name on it, every agent's website says they know the market, and from the outside it's genuinely difficult to tell who's actually going to fight for your price versus who's going to list your home and hope. Here's what actually separates the two, and what to ask before you hire anyone in London Ontario.
Realtor, Agent, or Broker — Does It Matter?
You'll see all three terms used loosely, and in casual conversation people mean the same thing by them. Legally in Ontario there are real distinctions in licensing and experience between a real estate agent and a real estate broker — worth understanding before you hire, and covered in full in our broker vs. agent breakdown. The short version: the title on a business card tells you less than their actual track record in your specific neighbourhood.
What Separates a Good Realtor From a Busy One?
Being busy and being good aren't the same thing — track record, communication, and pricing discipline are what actually matter. A few specifics:
| What to Look For | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Neighbourhood-level data, not just city averages | London's 39 neighbourhoods don't move together — Oakridge held a 19-day median time on market in June 2026 while the citywide market cooled. A realtor quoting only city-wide stats isn't looking closely enough. |
| Straight answers on pricing | An agent who tells you what you want to hear on list price is setting you up for a stale listing. See why listings get terminated for what happens when pricing drifts from reality. |
| Responsiveness before you've signed anything | How an agent communicates during your first few emails or calls is usually exactly how they'll communicate mid-transaction, when it matters more. |
| A negotiation record, not just a sales pitch | Ask for specifics: recent list-to-sale ratios, how many of their listings sold above asking, how they've handled multiple-offer situations either way. |
Why Does Local Market Knowledge Matter More Than a Citywide Average?
Because London's neighbourhoods don't move together, and a citywide number can hide what's actually happening on your street. Oakridge behaves differently than Byron, Westmount, or Whitehills — down to how many days homes actually sit and what percentage sell above asking. Our interactive Neighbourhood Heat Map tracks this block by block across all of London, and our monthly market updates track how conditions shift over time. If a realtor can't speak to your specific neighbourhood without looking it up, that's worth noticing.
What Questions Should You Ask Before You Hire a Realtor?
| Question | What You're Really Testing For |
|---|---|
| How many homes have you sold in this specific neighbourhood? | Depth over breadth — citywide volume doesn't guarantee local pricing accuracy. |
| What's your current list-to-sale ratio? | Whether their pricing advice tends to hold up against what buyers actually pay. |
| How will you market my home beyond the MLS listing? | Whether they have an actual plan, or are relying on the listing to do all the work. |
| How quickly do you respond, and who do I deal with day-to-day? | Whether you're working with them, or getting passed to a team member you haven't met. |
Should You Choose a Realtor Who Specializes in One Area?
Yes, if that area is where you're buying or selling — depth beats breadth. Our work centres on Oakridge, West London, and Whitehills, with deep coverage of Byron, Westmount, Riverbend, and Lambeth — seven neighbourhoods tracked daily on the same live heat map and market updates linked above, not looked up on request. Justin has walked families through this exact "who should I hire" decision dozens of times; the ones who ask the questions above before signing anything tend to end up happiest with the result.
Ready to talk specifics about your neighbourhood, your timeline, and what your home is actually worth right now? Get in touch, or start with a no-pressure home evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a good realtor in London Ontario?
Look past how busy an agent appears and focus on neighbourhood-level knowledge, straight answers on pricing, responsiveness before you've even signed anything, and a track record you can verify — list-to-sale ratios and recent local sales, not just overall volume.
What is the difference between a real estate agent and a realtor in Ontario?
In everyday use the terms are often interchangeable, but Ontario law draws real distinctions between agents and brokers around licensing and experience level. See our full broker vs. agent breakdown for the specifics.
Does it matter if my realtor specializes in a specific London Ontario neighbourhood?
Yes. London's neighbourhoods don't move together — days on market, list-to-sale ratios, and pricing pressure vary block by block. A realtor who focuses on your specific area, rather than covering the whole city evenly, typically prices and negotiates more accurately.
What questions should I ask before hiring a realtor in London Ontario?
Ask how many homes they've sold in your specific neighbourhood, their current list-to-sale ratio, how they plan to market your home beyond the MLS listing, and who you'll actually be dealing with day-to-day.
Justin Skrypnyk
Real Estate Broker | Sutton Group Chapman Realty Inc., Brokerage | Oakridge, London Ontario
Justin Skrypnyk is a Real Estate Broker serving Oakridge and West London. He writes regularly about the London Ontario market to help buyers and sellers make well-informed decisions.