WHY USE A REALTOR® TO BUY YOUR HOME?
Buying real estate is a complex matter. At first it might seem that by checking local picture books or online sites you could quickly find the right home at the right price.
On the Internet, you can learn about the home buying process and even begin to look at potential neighbourhoods and properties. You’ll find properties advertised on dozens of Canadian websites, but your REALTOR® can provide you with additional information, such as whether the home you’re interested in is actually under a flight path to the local airport or right next door to a marijuana grow house.
But a basic rule in real estate is that all properties are unique. No two properties -- even two identical models on the same street -- are precisely and exactly alike. Homes differ and so do contract terms, financing options, inspection requirements and closing costs. Also, no two transactions are alike.
In this maze of forms, financing, inspections, marketing, pricing and negotiating, it makes sense to work with professionals who know the community and much more. Those professionals are the local REALTORS® who serve your area. A REALTOR works for you and must, by law, look after your best interests.
THE REALTOR® COMMITMENT
You’re trusting a REALTOR® with your most valuable possession, your home. REALTORS® take this responsibility very seriously. Here’s what we promise you:
1. Your REALTOR® is highly trained
REALTOR® training is so rigorous that a large portion of our candidates fail the pre-registration Courses. Those who do pass must master a long, diverse list of subjects ranging from housing construction to family law.
2. Your REALTOR® is continuously trained
We keep pace with the times. All Licensed REALTORS® must take continuing education courses to make sure their knowledge on subjects like legal issues and technology are up to date.
3. Your REALTOR® does everything by the book
A licensed REALTOR® must be registered under provincial laws that govern exactly how real estate can and cannot be traded. These regulations are your legal guarantee of professional behavior.
4. Your REALTOR® is an ethical businessperson
REALTORS® must adhere to the extensive Code of Ethics of the Canadian Real Estate Association. Several provinces have additional Codes of Ethics governing REALTOR® behaviour. Your interests must always be put first.
5. Your dealings with a REALTOR® are insured
For your peace of mind, provincial regulators sponsor consumer protection programs that may require, for instance, that REALTORS® maintain Errors and Omissions Insurance. Often deposits consumers make in real estate transactions are also insured under these programs.
6. Opportunity for recourse
Should you have concerns about the professional behavior of a REALTOR®, provincial regulators and your local real estate board or association take these matters very seriously and work quickly to resolve any issues.
7. Your REALTOR® works with the powerful Multiple Listing Service
The MLS is the single most powerful tool for buying and selling a home. Your REALTOR® can provide you with exclusive features of the local MLS® system, such as immediate notification when new properties are listed. You don’t have to wait for it to be posted on a web site.