Riversdale's block-to-block price variation makes neutrality even more important here than in a uniform neighbourhood, since one spouse could reasonably argue for a higher comparable a few doors away while the other points to a lower one just as close, and only a documented, hand-reviewed valuation settles that argument.
An agent with a personal or referral relationship to one spouse creates exactly the appearance of bias that can later be challenged, whether or not any actual favouritism occurred, so choosing someone with no prior connection to either party is worth the extra step, even where legal fees on the file already run $800 to $1,500.
Riversdale's redevelopment means comparables move fast, and a neutral, current number keeps both spouses working from the same facts. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.