How to Choose the Right REALTOR® in North Vancouver (Questions to Ask Before You Hire)
Notice I said the right REALTOR®, not the best one? There are a lot of good agents on the North Shore. The question isn’t who’s “best.” It’s who’s best for you, your home and what you’re going through right now. Here’s how I’d choose if I were in your shoes.
1. Make sure they’re licensed (it takes 30 seconds)
Every REALTOR® in BC must be licensed by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). You can look anyone up on the BCFSA website and see their licence status and any discipline history. It’s free and quick, and it’s worth doing for anyone you’re considering.
2. Look for real North Vancouver knowledge
North Van isn’t one market. A condo in Lower Lonsdale, a townhouse in Lynn Valley and a house in Edgemont behave very differently. There are even two separate municipalities, the City and the District of North Vancouver, with different taxes and rules. Ask:
Which neighbourhoods do you know best, and have you lived in any of them?
What have similar homes near mine actually sold for recently?
What’s happening in this part of the market right now?
A great local agent answers these from experience, not just from a printout.
3. Find out who you’ll actually be working with
Some agents run big teams, where you may meet the lead agent once and then deal with assistants. That works well for some people. Others want one person from start to finish. Neither is wrong, but you should know before you sign. Ask: “Who will I be talking to day-to-day? Who shows my home? Who negotiates my offer?”
4. Ask how they’d handle your situation
Your move isn’t generic, so their plan shouldn’t be either. If you’re downsizing after 30 years, settling an estate, going through a separation or buying your first home, ask the agent how they’ve handled that before. Listen for specifics, patience and practical help, not just a sales pitch.
5. For sellers: ask what happens before the listing goes live
A lot of a sale is won or lost before the photos are taken. Ask:
What would you fix, and what would you leave alone?
Will you stage it, and who pays?
Do you do a pre-listing inspection?
How will you price it, and what happens if the market tells us something different?
6. For buyers: ask how they protect you
Ask how they’ll help you understand value, review strata documents, arrange inspections and decide which subjects to include in an offer. And ask when they’d tell you to walk away.
7. Check what clients say
Read reviews on Google, REW.ca and the agent’s own site. Look for reviews that describe situations like yours, and pay attention to how people describe working with them, not just the star rating.
8. Trust your gut
You’ll be making big financial and emotional decisions with this person. If you don’t feel heard in the first conversation, keep looking.
Is Jacquie McCarnan the right REALTOR® for you?
In the spirit of no gatekeeping, here’s my honest answer.
I’m probably a great fit if you:
Want to work with one person directly, from the first chat to handing over the keys
Are going through a big life transition like downsizing, an estate, a separation or figuring out what comes next
Want practical, hands-on help getting your home ready (I’ve sorted, decluttered and even painted alongside clients)
Value a pre-listing inspection, which I pay for on my listings, so there are no surprises
Want someone who lives here: I live in Pemberton Heights and spent 10 years in Upper Lynn Valley
I might not be the right fit if you:
Want a large team with a different specialist for every step
Are looking for the agent with the biggest sales volume or the flashiest launch
I’ve been a licensed REALTOR® since 2016, I’m with Stilhavn Real Estate Services, and every week I send the High 5 Friday newsletter to keep my community up to date on North Shore real estate.
If you’d like to find out whether we’re a good fit, book a free 15-minute chat. No pressure. If I’m not the right person for you, I’ll tell you.
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