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How Ontario Realtors Get Leads: Ten Channels Compared

Nov 8, 2026

Start with the appointment you want. An Ontario agent looking for a first buyer consultation can meet people at an open house. An agent seeking listings in one neighbourhood might spend that same afternoon preparing a pricing discussion for past clients. The right channel depends on who has a reason to speak with you and when.

Which channels put you in touch with people you already know?

1. Past clients and personal referrals. A former client can introduce you to a neighbour with a concrete question. Keep a note of who made the introduction and whether it became a meeting. For commercial newsletters, keep consent records and honour withdrawals. Realtor newsletter guide
2. Professional relationships. Mortgage professionals, lawyers and other advisers may meet people who need an agent. Agree on how to make an introduction with the person’s permission. Give the referring professional a clear description of the work you handle.
3. Neighbourhood outreach. Community events and relevant local updates take repeated effort. Choose an area where you can answer specific questions about housing types and the selling process. Track conversations in that area alongside distribution costs.

Which channels reach buyers or sellers who are already looking?

4. Open houses. Visitors can walk through a property and tell you what fits or falls short. Offer the requested listing information and let visitors choose separately whether to receive future marketing.
5. Google Business Profile and reviews. People searching for your name may want to verify who you are. Google permits individual practitioner profiles under defined conditions, including a public-facing role and direct contact at the verified location during stated hours. Check eligibility before creating a second profile at a brokerage. Google Business Profile guidelines
6. Your website and local search. A neighbourhood guide can answer questions that recur on showings. Name the area, the property type and the decision the page helps with. Record whether readers ask for a consultation. Local keyword research for service businesses
7. Paid search. A focused search ad can reach someone looking for a service now. Match the landing page to the query. A person searching for a listing agent in Vaughan needs an explanation of your selling service and a way to request a meeting.

Which channels introduce you to people earlier in the decision?

8. Short-form video. A tour or a short explanation can make your work familiar before someone needs an agent. Build each video around one question, such as what details to compare in two condo listings. Get the necessary permissions for footage. RECO online advertising bulletin (PDF)
9. Facebook and Instagram ads. A buyer tour request and a seller pricing review are distinct offers. Budget for the campaign and for someone to respond. Follow the housing category rules when applicable. Meta ads for GTA realtors
10. Portals and paid lead providers. Before paying, find out what the consumer requested, who else receives the inquiry and how disputes over duplicates are resolved. A quick supply of names can still require substantial staff time to produce a kept appointment.

How should a new agent choose between ten channels?

Start with a channel you can work personally and one that builds a useful asset. For example, an agent hosting buyer open houses might turn recurring questions into a neighbourhood guide. An established listing agent with a consented client list might send a monthly local issue and offer a pricing review to readers who reply. Decide who owns follow-up before adding another source.

Across channels, review brokerage identification and claims against RECO’s advertising requirements. Keep permission to use identifying client or property information with the material it covers. For promotional email or text, establish the applicable consent basis and include identification and unsubscribe information. RECO advertising requirements · ISED consent guidance

How do you decide which lead source deserves more time?

For each source, log hours, direct spend, suitable inquiries, held meetings and signed clients. Keep buyer and seller groups separate. Compare groups old enough to have progressed through the same part of the sales cycle. A referral from last winter and a paid inquiry from yesterday have had very different opportunities to close.

Ask clients how they first heard of you and what prompted them to book. Their answers may identify two contributors: a neighbour made the introduction and a neighbourhood video gave them confidence to call. Keep both observations when choosing next month’s priorities.

Discuss your GTA real estate lead sources with Torred if you want to decide which channel deserves your next few hours or your next advertising dollar.