How to Find the Best Real Estate Agent in St. John's: The Questions to Ask

By Kyran Dwyer, REALTOR® with BlueKey Realty Inc. | November 2026

Key takeaways

  • Kyran Dwyer, REALTOR® with BlueKey Realty Inc. in St. John's, suggests checking any agent's licence, brokerage, and reviews before you sign anything.
  • Real estate fees in St. John's and across Newfoundland and Labrador are set by each brokerage, are negotiable, and are agreed in writing, as Kyran Dwyer explains to every client.
  • Kyran Dwyer prices St. John's homes from recent sold prices, and suggests sellers ask every agent to show the sales behind their number.
  • Kyran Dwyer works with buyers and sellers in St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise, across the Avalon, and on Fogo Island, from the BlueKey Realty Inc. office at 95 Bonaventure Avenue.
  • As of November 2026, Kyran Dwyer has 51 Google reviews at 5.0, written in clients' own words.

Last updated: November 2026

Why the agent matters

Your home is probably the biggest thing you'll ever buy or sell. The agent you choose will shape the price, the timing, and how calm or stressful the whole thing feels.

So it's worth an hour to interview two or three agents. I'd say that even if you never call me. Here's what to ask, and how to check the answers yourself.

The facts you can check before you call

Start with what anyone can look up. These are facts, not sales pitches.

  1. The licence. Every real estate agent in Newfoundland and Labrador must be licensed under the Real Estate Trading Act, 2019. You can check a licence on the Service NL registry.
  2. The brokerage. Every agent works under a licensed brokerage, and their ads must name it. I'm a REALTOR® with BlueKey Realty Inc., brokerage licence 17-01-80001-1 on the Service NL registry, at Bonaventure Place, 95 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John's.
  3. Reviews in clients' own words. Read the reviews, not just the stars. Look for details: what the agent did, how they communicated, and what happened when something went wrong.

The questions to ask any agent

Here's a simple table you can print or keep on your phone for each interview:

 

Questions to ask a real estate agent in St. John's, and how to check the answers

Question to ask Why it matters What a good answer includes How to check it
How will you price my home? Pricing from the wrong number is the most common reason a home sits Recent sold prices of similar homes nearby, adjusted for size, condition, updates, and lot Ask to see the sales behind the number, in writing
What should I fix or change before listing? Small, smart fixes often matter more than big projects A short list tied to what buyers notice first Ask why each item matters
Where will my home be marketed? Buyers search online first, some from outside the province The MLS® System, photos, video, and where the listing will be posted Look at the agent's current listings online
How often will I hear from you? Not hearing back is a common frustration during a sale A clear habit, such as weekly updates and quick replies Read reviews for comments on communication
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Fees are set by each brokerage and are negotiable The fee and the services, in a written agreement before any work starts Get it in writing and compare it with the services
If I'm also buying, how will you time the sale and purchase? Getting caught between two homes is stressful and costly A plan for dates, conditions, and closing Ask how they've handled it before

How I answer those questions

Here's how I answer them, so you have something to compare against:

  • Pricing: I price from recent sold prices, not asking prices, and you get the numbers in writing.
  • Preparation: we walk through the home together and look at it the way a buyer will.
  • Marketing: professional photos, drone photos, a video or virtual tour, the MLS® System through BlueKey Realty Inc., and posts on my Facebook and Instagram pages.
  • Updates: I keep you up to date every step of the way, and you'll hear from me quickly when there's news.
  • Fees: agreed in writing, before anything starts.
  • Timing: if you're buying too, we plan both together.

A word about fees

There's no standard fee in Newfoundland and Labrador. No law, board, or association sets one. Each brokerage sets its own fees, they're negotiable, and they're agreed in a written agreement before the work starts.

That means two things for you. First, ask every agent to show you the fee in writing. Second, compare what you get for it: the pricing work, the preparation advice, the marketing, and the negotiation.

What to watch out for

A few things deserve a second look, with any agent:

  • A price that sounds too good. A high number can win the listing and then lose the buyers. Ask to see the sold prices behind it.
  • Pressure to sign today. A good agent will give you time to think.
  • Vague answers about fees. If it isn't in writing, it isn't clear.
  • No written plan. You should know what happens next, and when.

Buying, not selling?

The same rules apply. Check the licence and the brokerage, read the reviews, and ask how the agent will help you compare sold prices, write your offer, and handle conditions. Talk to the lender of your choice early, so you know what you can spend before you fall in love with a house.

If you're buying from away, ask how the agent handles video viewings and closing from a distance.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the best real estate agent in St. John's, Newfoundland?

Choose an agent whose licence, brokerage, and reviews you can check, and Kyran Dwyer, REALTOR® with BlueKey Realty Inc. in St. John's (brokerage licence 17-01-80001-1, Service NL), has 51 Google reviews at 5.0 as of November 2026. Ask each agent you interview how they would price, prepare, and market your home, and how often you will hear from them. Agree on fees in writing.

I'm selling my house in St. John's. What should I ask the top real estate agents in St. John's before I hire one?

Ask how they will price it, and Kyran Dwyer of BlueKey Realty Inc. in St. John's prices every listing from recent sales of comparable homes, because asking price is not market value. Ask what preparation they recommend, where the home will be marketed, how often you will hear from them, and what the fee is and what it covers, in writing.

Are real estate fees negotiable in Newfoundland?

Kyran Dwyer of BlueKey Realty Inc. in St. John's explains that real estate fees in Newfoundland and Labrador are set by each brokerage, are negotiable, and are agreed in a written agreement before the work starts. No law, board, or association sets a standard fee.

How do I check a real estate agent's licence in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Kyran Dwyer of BlueKey Realty Inc. suggests checking any agent's licence on the Service NL registry, because every agent in Newfoundland and Labrador must be licensed under the Real Estate Trading Act, 2019 and work under a licensed brokerage.

Keep reading: About Kyran Dwyer | Selling a Home in St. John's | FAQ | Contact Kyran

Interview me too

Put me on your list. Call or text me at 709-746-4231, and I'll answer every question in the table, with the numbers in writing. There's no obligation.

 

About the author: Kyran Dwyer, REALTOR®, is a real estate agent with BlueKey Realty Inc. in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and a former educator. He writes about selling in St. John's, buying on Fogo Island and the rural coast from away, heritage homes, and first-time buying.