Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make, and yet a lot of buyers and sellers spend more time researching a new washing machine than they do vetting the person who's going to represent them in a six or seven-figure transaction. I've been a residential real estate agent since 2014, starting my career in Vancouver before moving to Campbell River and Quadra Island in 2019, and that shift taught me a lot about what "trustworthy" actually looks like in a smaller market versus a big city.
Do I Really Need A Real Estate Agent?
The good news is that most agents in this area are genuinely professional. But I'd be lying if I said I hadn't come across some questionable behaviour over the years, and I think it's worth talking about honestly so you know what to watch for. What Should You Expect From Your Real Estate Agent?
The Local Market Is Different Than You Think
One thing people moving here from bigger cities don't always expect is how much local knowledge actually matters in Campbell River and especially on Quadra Island. A huge number of properties here run on water wells and septic systems, which is something you almost never deal with in a big city market like Vancouver. These aren't small details.
Older septic systems, particularly on waterfront properties, can run into serious problems with newer setback regulations. A system that was perfectly legal when it was installed may not meet current requirements, and that can affect what you're allowed to build, renovate, or even how the property is valued. This isn't something every agent has hands-on experience with. I've personally sat through a lot of these inspections over the years, and honestly, I still learn something new almost every time. An agent who hasn't spent real time with well and septic properties simply won't know what questions to ask, and that's the kind of gap that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars down the road.
If you're buying or selling anything with a well or septic system, ask your agent directly how many of these transactions they've handled and what kind of inspections they typically recommend. Their answer will tell you a lot.
Watch for Dual Agency Conflicts
Dual agency, where one agent or brokerage represents both the buyer and the seller in the same deal, is NOT legal here, and it creates a conflict of interest that not every agent handles well. When one person is technically supposed to advocate for both sides, someone's interests are going to get less attention, even if the agent has good intentions. Always ask who the agent works for.
I've seen situations where this wasn't handled transparently, and it put one side of the deal at a real disadvantage. If your agent brings you a property that they or someone at their brokerage also represents on the seller's side, ask exactly how that conflict is going to be managed and who is really looking out for you. A trustworthy agent will explain this clearly upfront instead of glossing over it.
Full Disclosure of Defects Isn't Optional
This one should go without saying, but I've encountered cases where known issues with a property weren't disclosed properly. Whether it's water damage, foundation problems, or an aging septic field, sellers and their agents have a responsibility to disclose known material defects. When that doesn't happen, it's the buyer who ends up paying the price, sometimes literally, months or years later.
If you're buying, don't just take the listing at face value. Ask pointed questions, get proper inspections, and pay attention if your agent seems hesitant to dig into the property's history.
How to Actually Vet an Agent Before You Hire One
Here's what I tell friends and family when they ask me how to pick an agent, whether they're buying their first place or selling a home they've owned for twenty years.
Are they too busy for you? A good agent is busy because they're good at their job, but there's a difference between busy and unavailable. If it takes days to get a response before you've even hired them, that's exactly how it's going to feel once you're under contract with deadlines.
Who's actually going to handle your file? Some agents work solo. Others have a team of assistants or partner agents who do a lot of the actual legwork. There's nothing wrong with either approach, but you should know upfront who you'll actually be dealing with day to day, so there are no surprises later.
Check their online reviews. Past clients will tell you things an agent never will about themselves. Look for patterns, not just star ratings. If multiple people mention poor communication or feeling pressured, take that seriously. My reviews
Pay attention to trust from the very first conversation. Real estate is a people business, plain and simple. If you don't feel a sense of trust fairly early on, that's worth paying attention to. It doesn't need to be instant best-friend chemistry, but if something feels off in those first conversations, it usually doesn't get better once you're deep into a transaction.
The Ego Problem
I'll be honest about something that bothers me in this industry: there are agents out there with big egos who don't return calls promptly and who make deals more difficult than they need to be. I've dealt with agents on the other side of a transaction who were genuinely unpleasant to work with, and it made the whole process harder for everyone involved, including their own clients.
Here's my take on it. This isn't a popularity contest, and nobody needs their agent to be their best friend. But it's also not brain surgery. At the end of the day, we're matching buyers with sellers. That's the job. I always aim to have both sides walk away from closing feeling like the deal was handled fairly and professionally. An agent who treats every negotiation like a battle to win, rather than a deal to close well for everyone, is usually more interested in their own ego than in getting you the best outcome.
What This Means for You
If you're looking for an agent in Campbell River or on Quadra Island, don't just go with whoever has the most yard signs around town. Ask about their experience with local property types, especially anything involving wells or septic systems. Ask direct questions about how they handle conflicts of interest. Check their reviews. And pay attention to how they make you feel in those very first conversations, because that's usually a pretty accurate preview of what working together is actually going to be like.
Most agents here do good, honest work. But knowing what to look for, and what to be cautious about, puts you in a much stronger position either way. How Much Does A Real Estate Agent Cost?
https://www.romankrzaczek.ca/
https://heyleo.com/roman
how to find me? my office
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