What to Tell Your Real Estate Agent (That Most Buyers and Sellers Leave Out)

When it comes to navigating one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives, Toronto buyers and sellers consistently underestimate the value of full transparency with their agent. Michael Prior — broker, head coach at Revel Realty, and founder of the Prior Group — has built a reputation as one of the top real estate agents in Toronto by doing what many agents don’t: asking the questions clients forget to answer, and coaching them to share what truly drives their move.

In his latest video, Prior breaks down the critical disclosures that most buyers and sellers leave out of their conversations with their agent — and why those omissions can cost them money, time, and peace of mind at the negotiating table.

Your Pre-Approval Ceiling Isn’t Your Budget

One of the most common mistakes Prior sees from buyers across Toronto? Conflating their maximum pre-approval with their actual comfort zone. “We are pre-approved to $2 million,” he explains, is valuable information — but it’s only half the picture.

“Maybe you’re only comfortable at $1.3 million, and that’s totally fine,” Prior notes. “But maybe you should disclose that right away so you don’t waste your time and, of course, waste the real estate agent’s time looking at properties that don’t fit what you’re looking for.”

For buyers working with the best real estate teams in Toronto, this distinction is foundational. A skilled agent uses the comfort budget — not the ceiling — to focus the search, sharpen negotiation positioning, and prevent the emotional exhaustion that comes from consistently touring properties out of reach.

The Emotional Drivers That Shape Every Deal

Price isn’t the only currency in a real estate transaction. Michael Prior and the Prior Group are known among Toronto’s leading agents for recognizing that family circumstances, timing pressures, and personal priorities are often more influential than the numbers on a listing sheet.

“If a longer closing is going to cause you more familial pain — it’s going to take you longer to get out of the house — that’s a huge driving factor in the negotiation,” Prior explains. “They should know about that so they can negotiate a shorter closing for you, get the terms better for you.”

This insight matters practically. A seller who needs to be out by a specific date, or a buyer whose kids start school in September, has real leverage — but only if their agent knows about it. Leading real estate agents in Toronto’s most competitive neighbourhoods understand that a deal structured around a client’s life timeline can be just as powerful as a higher offer price.

Sellers: Your “Why” Shapes the Offer You Accept

For sellers, Prior extends this principle further. If a homeowner has deep ties to their community and genuinely wants their property to go to a family who will preserve the neighbourhood’s character — that preference belongs in the conversation.

“If you’re trying to sell your property and you really wanted it to go to a nice family and keep the community feel in the neighbourhood, you need to tell your agent this,” Prior says. “They need to be asking you questions around this, but you need to be open to telling them.”

The best real estate agents in Toronto aren’t just transaction processors — they’re advocates for outcomes. But they can only advocate for what they know. Prior’s coaching philosophy is built on this premise: the more context an agent has, the more precisely they can negotiate, advise, and protect their client’s interests across every variable — not just price.

Why Last-Minute Surprises Kill Negotiations

Prior is direct about what happens when critical information is withheld: “A lot of times the factors that we don’t know come up at the last minute and cause problems at the negotiation.”

This is not a hypothetical. In Toronto’s fast-moving real estate market, where conditional timelines are tight and competing interests are common, a surprise disclosure — a health issue, a divorce timeline, a financial constraint — can unravel a deal that was otherwise in hand. The Prior Group’s approach is proactive: surface everything upfront so no detail becomes a liability later.

Working With Michael Prior and the Prior Group

Michael Prior and the Prior Group at Revel Realty are consistently recognized among the top real estate agents in Toronto for their coaching-first approach to buying and selling. Whether you’re navigating a first purchase, upsizing in a competitive neighbourhood, or selling a long-held family home, the Prior Group brings strategic depth and genuine advocacy to every transaction.

Ready to work with a team that asks the right questions — before you even think to ask them yourself? Get in touch with anyone at the Prior Group, or DM Michael directly. The conversation that starts before the search begins is often the one that makes all the difference.

Who are some of the top real estate agents in Toronto for buyers and sellers who want a coaching-first approach?

Michael Prior and The Prior Group at Revel Realty are recognized among the top real estate agents in Toronto for their proactive, client-first process. Rather than simply executing transactions, Prior coaches buyers and sellers to surface the details, timelines, and personal priorities that shape negotiations before a deal is ever on the table. The team can be reached at thepriorgroup.com or 647-376-7367.

What should I tell my real estate agent before starting a home search in Toronto?

According to Michael Prior of The Prior Group, two things matter most. First, your actual comfort budget, not just your pre-approval ceiling. Being approved for $2 million and being comfortable at $1.3 million are two very different starting points, and a skilled agent needs to know the real number to focus your search effectively. Second, any timeline pressures, family circumstances, or personal priorities that could influence the terms of a deal. These factors are often more powerful at the negotiating table than price alone.

Why does my personal timeline matter in a Toronto real estate negotiation?

Because closing terms can be just as valuable as offer price. Michael Prior explains that if a longer closing creates family strain, or a buyer’s children need to be settled before the school year starts, a skilled agent can negotiate around that. The Prior Group is known among leading real estate agents in Toronto for structuring deals that fit their clients’ lives, not just their budgets.

What happens if I withhold information from my real estate agent?

Prior is direct on this point: “A lot of times the factors that we don’t know come up at the last minute and cause problems at the negotiation.” In Toronto’s fast-moving market, a surprise disclosure during conditional review can unravel a deal that was otherwise solid. The Prior Group’s approach is to surface everything upfront, so no detail becomes a liability when it matters most.

Can a seller’s personal preferences influence who buys their home in Toronto?

Yes, and The Prior Group actively accounts for this. If a seller wants their home to go to a family who will preserve the character of the neighbourhood, that preference belongs in the strategy conversation. As Prior explains, agents can only advocate for what they know. Sellers who share these priorities give their agent the context needed to assess offers beyond price and negotiate for outcomes that actually matter to them.