Can the Seller Tell You What Others Bid? Ontario’s Open Offer Process
You’re entitled to the number of competing offers — but not always the price
In an Ontario bidding war, can the seller tell me what others offered?
They can, but they don’t have to. According to RECO (reco.on.ca), since TRESA came fully into force on December 1, 2023, a seller may choose an open offer process and authorize their agent to disclose some of the content of competing offers — but that’s the seller’s choice, not an obligation. The one thing you’re entitled to know is the number of competing offers; price and terms may or may not be shared, and any personal identifying information can never be disclosed.
Sources: Real Estate Council of Ontario (reco.on.ca, About Open Offers / Competing Offers); Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA), Phase 2 in force December 1, 2023.
Many buyers assume Ontario has always been “blind” — nobody knows what anyone else bid. In late 2023, TRESA changed that: a seller can now choose to make some offer content public. But that doesn’t mean you’ll see the other prices when you compete. Here is exactly what the open offer process changed, what you’re entitled to know, and what you’ll never see.
→
→
→
→
What TRESA changed: from default-confidential to seller’s-choice
ℹ️The open offer process is chosen listing-by-listing, not switched on province-wide. The same buyer can face completely different disclosure rules on different homes — have your agent confirm with the listing brokerage which process applies before you offer.
What you ARE entitled to: the number of offers
What you MIGHT NOT know: the price and terms
⚠️Don’t assume bidding has become transparent just because you heard “offers can be disclosed now.” The large majority of sellers still keep content private. Knowing your own ceiling beats hoping to see a rival’s bid.
What is NEVER disclosed: personal information
💡 Remember three things: you’re entitled to the number; the content (including price) is the seller’s call; personal information is off-limits to everyone. Building your offer strategy on the assumption that you’ll see the other bids is risky — most of the time you won’t.
What this means for buyers in practice
Since you probably won’t see the competing prices, the right move isn’t to guess what others bid — it’s to decide your ceiling first: the most you’ll pay for this home, independent of what competition you can or can’t see. Ask for the number of competing offers as a heat gauge, but base your final number on your own budget, your valuation of the home, and your financing. If the seller has opened the process, treat that as bonus information — not the foundation of your decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must an Ontario seller tell me what others offered?
No. According to RECO, a seller may choose an open offer process to disclose some competing-offer content, but it’s the seller’s option, not an obligation. The only thing you’re entitled to is the number of competing offers.
When did TRESA’s open offer process take effect?
TRESA Phase 2 came into force on December 1, 2023, introducing the open offer process that lets a seller authorize disclosure of competing-offer content (reco.on.ca).
Can a buyer’s personal information be disclosed?
No. According to RECO, personal or identifying information in an offer can never be shared, whether or not the seller chooses to disclose offer content.
If the seller says offers will be open, will I see every bid?
Not necessarily. Even when a seller opens the process, buyers shouldn’t expect to see offer content, and if shared it may not include the price — and the seller can change their mind at any time.
Arthur Zhao
Real Estate Broker · FRI · ABR · SRS · PSA · MCNE · E-PRO · CLHMS & GUILD Elite · REAIS
VP & Branch Manager, Bay Street Group Inc.
Get expert answers on buying, selling, and renting in the GTA
Discover more from GTA Real Estate Broker | Arthur Zhao
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
