HOW REALTORS® HELP

How a Realtor works for you

Think of your Realtor as your trusted advisor.

Your Realtor can help you navigate potential pitfalls and fill in knowledge gaps you may have when searching for your first home.

Understanding the market and your home

Realtors help you value homes in a changing market. They assess market history and trends by reviewing the most recent home sale data on the Multiple Listing Service® and creating what’s known as a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA.

There’s much you’ll want to know about a neighbourhood as well. Are there schools nearby? How far is it to walk to the nearest amenities? You may also want to know if there are plans to re-develop or re-zone in your neighbourhood of choice. Your Realtor can help with that too.

There are a variety of considerations to examine about the home itself. For example, does it have a buried fuel storage tank, asbestos insulation, unauthorized rental suites, renovations done without a permit, moisture problems, unregistered easements or encroachments, and has the home ever been used as a grow-op or drug lab?

The answer to these questions can have significant financial and legal ramifications.

Helping you with process and paperwork

Realtors help you with the multitude of documents that you need to navigate when buying or selling a home. The contract is the central legal document within a real estate transaction. Realtors use standard contacts which have been prepared by lawyers and tested by Canadian courts.

When finalizing a transaction, it’s critical to know whether adequate financing is in place, when possession and legal title will be transferred, who’ll hold the deposit money, and what conditions will be included in the contract. Realtors are trained to help you with these details.

When you work with a Realtor, each stage of the transaction occurs in front of a well-regulated backdrop created over many years to protect the public. This includes: Realtor insurance, an assurance fund to protect deposits, and multiple avenues of recourse if someone feels their agent did not act within their professional and contractual obligations.

In real estate, professional representation is available at every step of the process. How much or little representation you require depends on your knowledge of real estate and the amount of time you have to dedicate to the process.

Buying a home is an excellent long-term investment. It’s also a milestone moment in your life. Having the expertise of a Realtor working for you will help ensure a smooth and successful experience for everyone involved.

Professional expertise

As professionals, Realtors:

• Work within the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice
• Provide you with protection against misadventure and fraud
• Stay current on information you need to know by participating in ongoing professional education programs
• Make the best possible use of the MLS® property database to help you sell your property or find your new home
• Have the marketing and negotiating skills that will help you make the right purchasing or selling decision

Professional services

Realtors each have their own business and service models. Typically, Realtors can:

• Help you adopt a sound negotiation strategy and negotiate on your behalf
• Assess market trends by reviewing current home sale data on the MLS®
• Advise on any development plans in the neighbourhood
• Review any past permits taken out for the property
• Assist with the many forms used in a transaction
• Help you determine an appropriate offer

Is your agent a Realtor?

Not all licensed or registered brokerages or real estate agents are Realtors. Realtor is a trademark identifying real estate licensees who are members of The Canadian Real Estate Association. Realtors adhere to a strict set of standards called the REALTOR® Code and Standards of Business Practice. The REALTOR® Code is a firm set of rules, describing our members’ commitment to high standards and their obligations to you.