How to Contact a REALTOR®
The fastest way to contact a REALTOR® is by phone for time-sensitive showings or offers, and by email for everything else — a clear written record of what you asked for and what was promised back is worth keeping. Most full-time agents respond to phone calls within an hour during business hours and to emails within four hours.
If you are reaching out cold, the message that gets answered first is the one that tells the agent your timeline, your budget range, your area, and whether you’re a buyer, seller, or both. We answer dozens of these a week and the difference between a five-minute reply and a five-day reply is almost always how specific the first message was.
Phone, email, or web form — which is fastest
For an offer deadline, a showing request that has to happen today, or a contract question, call. For a market question or a search you want to set up, email or the contact form. Text is fine for clients you’ve already met but not as a first introduction — there is no easy way for the agent to verify who is on the other end.
What to include in your first message
- Your name and a phone number you actually answer.
- Whether you’re buying, selling, leasing, or investing.
- Your timeline (“moving in 3 months” vs. “sometime this year” matters).
- Your area or neighbourhoods of interest.
- Approximate budget range — a band, not a single number.
- Whether you have an existing buyer or listing agreement in place.
That last point matters: in Ontario, working with two agents at once on the same purchase can put you in breach of an existing buyer-representation agreement, which exposes you to a commission claim. Always disclose existing agreements up front.
What a reasonable response time looks like
A full-time agent should reply to a first contact within the same business day. A 24-hour delay is the upper edge of acceptable; longer than that, and you are seeing how they will treat you as a client. If your inquiry is urgent (offer expiring, listing going to multiple offers), say so in the subject line.
How to reach Team Filipe
You can reach Filipe & Isabel Ferreira directly at (647) 298-9299 or through the contact page. For a no-obligation home valuation, use the home evaluation form — it goes to the same inbox but flags the request so we can prepare comps before we call back.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it free to contact a REALTOR®?
- Yes. Talking to a REALTOR® costs nothing. You only owe a fee under a signed listing or buyer-representation agreement, and even then commissions are typically paid out of the seller’s proceeds at closing in residential resale.
- Do I have to commit to working with an agent just to talk?
- No. A first conversation is exploratory. You can interview multiple agents before signing anything, and you should.
- What if the agent never answers?
- Move on. Responsiveness in week one is the best preview of responsiveness during a transaction. There are too many qualified REALTORS® in the GTA to wait on one who is hard to reach.
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Work With a Top Toronto Real Estate Agent
Filipe & Isabel Ferreira and the Team Filipehave helped families across Toronto and the GTA for over 20 years. Whether you’re starting your search, we’ll walk you through every step. Call (647) 298-9299 or book a free consultation.