Do I just have my real estate agent ask about seller financing?

[Jamie Blair]

I own a couple investment properties, but they've all been traditionally funded with down payments from myself. There's a triplex I'm  quite interested in.......now I've read a lot about seller financing (or VTB in Canada, I'm in Canada!), but how does the conversation actually happen?? Do I have my real estate agent simply ask the selling agent if the sellers mortgage is paid off? That feels like an inappropriate question for some reason. Or do I have them simply ask if they're open to seller financing? I guess I'm a bit worried that the seller wouldn't even know what that is......and they would just say no without hearing any of the other details of the offer. 

Thanks for your feedback!