Before engaging a buyer’s agent for investment property, investors should ask the following questions to assess competence, independence, and fit:

Licence and accreditation. Do you hold a current real estate agent’s licence in this state? Are you a REBAA member? Do you hold QPIA accreditation through PIPA?

Independence. Do you receive any payments from developers, project marketers, or selling agents? Any agent who earns from the seller side has a conflict of interest that compromises their obligation to the buyer.

Market coverage. Do you actively transact in the market I’m targeting, or do you recommend markets you do not operate in directly?

Fee structure. How are you paid? Is the fee a percentage of the purchase price (which creates an incentive to buy more expensive properties), a flat fee, or a combination? Fee structures matter for alignment.

Due diligence process. What does your due diligence process look like for a specific property? What data do you use, and what third parties do you engage?

Track record. Can you share examples of recent acquisitions in the target market, including purchase price versus independent valuation?

Strategy first. Do you develop an investment strategy before starting the property search, or do you begin searching immediately?

A buyer’s agent who is reluctant to answer any of these questions clearly should be treated with caution