The First 10 Seconds At The Door
Door knocking does not fail at the door. It fails in the first sentence.
August 12, 2026
Kenneth Toppin
Active Realtor · 16 Years · Top 1% in Canada · $400M+ Sold
01 — The Problem
The Problem
You knock, someone opens, and you lead with your name and your brokerage. In that moment you have confirmed every assumption they had about why you are there. The first ten seconds decide whether this is a conversation or a rejection, and most agents spend them talking about themselves.
02 — In The Field
A Real-World Example
An agent knocks 40 doors opening with "Hi, I'm with ABC Realty, are you thinking of selling?" — two conversations. The next week he opens with "Hi, I'm the agent who sold 42 Maple — did you see what it went for?" — fourteen conversations and three follow-up appointments from the same number of doors.
03 — Take Action
Three Things To Do
Lead with the neighbourhood, not yourself
Reference a specific address, a specific sale, a specific number. You are delivering local information, not asking for business.
Never open with the listing question
"Are you thinking of selling?" invites a no. Ask something they can answer without commitment — what they thought of the sale price, how long they have been on the street.
Ask for the email, not the listing
The goal of a door is a contact you can market to for two years, not a signature today.
Watch The Video
Watch Kenneth Explain This
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Kenneth Toppin
Active Realtor · 16 Years · Top 1% in Canada · $400M+ Sold