REALTOR® benefits universal across the country
CREA's national advertising campaign is in full swing — check out howrealtorshelp.ca to watch the testimonials and the TV ad that's got everyone talking.
Next month, our Board is going to launch our own REALTOR® Value Toolkit first to brokers and then to the general membership. This training toolkit will help members better explain their value to clients.
And in Ontario, the Ontario Real Estate Board (OREA) released an article recently about the value of working with a REALTOR® that got picked up by a number of Ontario community newspapers.
With OREA's permission, here is a reprint of that article from the perspective of consumers in the real estate market.
We changed all references to Ontario to British Columbia — because the requirements of organized real estate and REALTOR® benefits are universal across Canada. Feel free to use this article with prospective clients and/or in your personal marketing.
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Make use of a REALTOR® to buy or sell property
Thinking of buying or selling a home? Before you take one of the most important steps of your life, be sure to consult a REALTOR®.
A REALTOR®'s expertise and experience are invaluable and can guide you through the details of the complicated buying or selling process. His or her knowledge of the housing market can help you make the best possible choice. REALTORS® are extremely dedicated individuals whose professional obligation is to serve the best interests of their clients.
REALTORS® are uniquely qualified to serve your home ownership needs, and it takes a lot for these individuals to become real estate professionals.
Before receiving a real estate license in BC, an individual must complete the intensive Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course delivered by the University of British Columbia on behalf of the Real Estate Council of BC. But that's only the beginning. Upon completing the licensing course, registrants are required to be registered and successfully complete a five-day in-class course delivered by the BC Real Estate Association (BCREA). In addition, all registrants must continue to attend courses throughout their careers in order to maintain their license and professional designation.
In order to be called a "REALTOR®," a licensed real estate professional must become a member of a local real estate board as well as the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and BCREA. When you work with a REALTOR®, you can expect strict adherence to provincial law as well as to a national code of ethics, standards of business practice and local rules and regulations ensuring you'll receive the highest level of service, honesty and integrity. In fact, REALTORS® are governed by the legal concept of "agency." An agent is legally obligated to look after the best interests of the person he or she represents. The agent must be loyal to that person.
What a REALTOR® offers
Rigorous training and high standards are not the only things that make a REALTOR® so valuable — his or her expertise extends into every aspect of home ownership. REALTORS® know how best to sell or buy a home, and their intimate knowledge of the real estate market will ensure that you get the best price possible. They will gladly clarify any legal terminology or government regulations for you.
For sellers, REALTORS® develop a marketing plan that can include scheduling open houses, placing advertising if desired and listing your property. They can pre-screen buyers so that only those who are truly interested and qualified view your home.
When it comes time to negotiate a price, a REALTOR® can act as a mediator between you and the buyer. This will allow you to remain at "arm's length" during the often stressful negotiation process. Assistance in evaluating financing options and mortgage rates is also yours for the asking. But a REALTOR® not only helps you to buy or sell a home. He or she can also provide you with a list of lenders, lawyers, mortgage brokers and other professionals whose expertise you may need to complete a real estate transaction. When you work with a REALTOR®, you're working with a professional who has a strong commitment to quality education, ongoing training and top-notch customer service.
Your REALTOR® will work hard to determine exactly what you want in a home, and will go to extraordinary lengths to meet your needs. You can expect a high level of service and a strong sense of loyalty. In fact, a large proportion of home owners use the same REALTOR® for each new house they purchase because of the relationship that they have developed. Before you take that big step of buying or selling your home, enlist the services of a REALTOR®.
