What should a Canadian realtor’s review request include?
Use a short, optional invitation to describe the client’s own experience, one suitable review link and a clear sender. Check permission for the actual message and channel before sending. Then record the request so another reminder does not go out after a review, a refusal or an unsubscribe.
Our suggested workflow is day 0 after closing or key handover, day 7 if no review has arrived and a final email on day 21. These are editable working dates, not a legal timetable or a promise of results. The Canadian Review & Testimonial Collection System supplies three emails and a manual tracker for this approach.
Check the message and the permission first
The CRTC’s CASL FAQ explains that application depends on the message’s content and purpose. A promotional review request can be a commercial electronic message; a purely non-commercial survey can be different. Do not assume that calling a message a thank-you makes it exempt.
For a commercial message, establish the applicable consent basis, identification and unsubscribe process. The CRTC’s implied-consent guidance describes time-limited existing-business-relationship situations. Verify the actual sender, relevant event and dates rather than starting a generic two-year clock for every person in an old database. Our kit uses express SMS consent as its working standard.
Record the permission evidence in the approved brokerage system. The review tracker records requests and outcomes; it is not a consent register. If the basis for contact is unclear, resolve it before putting the person into a sequence.
Use a short sequence with explicit stop rules
| When | Action | Before sending |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Thank the client and offer one review link | Confirm timing, permission and platform eligibility |
| Day 7 | One gentle reminder if no review is recorded | Check for a review, reply, refusal or unsubscribe |
| Day 21 | Final email if still appropriate | Stop the sequence after this message |
| Day 30 | Reconcile the internal tracker | This is not a fourth client nudge |
Do not stack email and text reminders on the same person simply because both templates exist. Choose the channel that fits the agreed communication. The kit’s third SMS is a thank-you, not a day-21 request.
Ask for their experience, without steering the rating
SAMPLE OPENING / NOT A COMPLETE SEND-READY MESSAGE
“Thank you for working with me on your move. If you would like to share your experience, you can leave an honest review here: [review link]. It is completely optional.”
Add the actual sender identification, contact and unsubscribe information required for your message. The CRTC regulations set out identification details and address constrained-message formats. A short text still needs a functioning process; a placeholder website link or an unmonitored STOP number will not do the work.
Google’s review policy prohibits incentivized reviews and selectively soliciting positive reviews. Use a consistent invitation based on genuine eligibility, not a prior satisfaction score. Do not offer a gift for posting or supply a five-star review for the client to copy.
Track outcomes without turning the spreadsheet into a contact engine
Keep a small record: client name, closing date, platform, date asked, follow-up stage, whether received, rating and a restrained working note. The kit has 100 blank entry rows, four dropdown columns and formula summaries. It neither sends messages nor checks the review websites.
FICTIONAL ARITHMETIC / NOT A PERFORMANCE CLAIM
Five dated requests and three received reviews give 3 ÷ 5 = 60%. Received ratings of 5, 4 and 3 average 4.0. A missing rating is not zero stars. This tiny example checks the formulas; it is not an expected conversion rate.
Review the unanswered rows internally at 30 days. A colour is a reminder to reconcile your record, not authority to contact someone again. Keep consent and suppression records separately in the approved process.
Make the next action clear
Before each send, check the platform for a review, read any reply and update the tracker. Stop after a review, a refusal or a withdrawal. A client who declines has supplied an answer, even when that answer is not the outcome you wanted.
Use the platform comparison to choose a destination and the response guide for the next step. If the client volunteers a video, move to a separate recording and publication permission workflow.
Official sources checked October 19, 2026: CRTC CASL FAQ; Implied consent; Identification requirements; Google review policy. Recheck current guidance before using a template. General information, not legal advice.