Why Realtors?

A Realtor is a specialist

Often these days, with access to the Internet and information about real estate readily available, people chose to sell a home or to buy a home without using a REALTOR. Of course, some people chose to represent themselves in court without using a lawyer. However, as is the case with the legal system, in the real estate world, most people want to be able to rely on an expert to guide them through the system, and with good reason.

REALTORS in British Columbia get their training through rigorous courses from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. Much of this training focuses on ethics, real estate and contract law. After being licensed, a REALTOR is required to be involved in continuous professional development programs, and all REALTORS are regulated by their real estate board, in this case the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) and by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA).

REALTORS are insured such that if something does go wrong with your real estate transaction, there is opportunity for recourse.

Your REALTOR is your key to the MLS system. As a seller, your REALTOR puts your property into the MLS system so it is accessible to buyers worldwide. As a buyer, your REALTOR can get you in to view any property in the MLS system.

Your REALTOR knows the local market, a critical factor in buying or selling, particularly in an active market such as Nanaimo’s.

Your REALTOR is your representative, there to promote and protect your interests, from negotiating your purchase or sale, to writing a solid contract, and to managing the steady stream of information and paperwork that is necessary for a completed deal.

You will have an ongoing working relationship with your REALTOR for at least a couple months, and probably longer, so as with any other professional, it pays to shop around and find someone with whom you are comfortable and in whom you have complete confidence.

In most real estate transactions, buyers and sellers should each have their own REALTOR. Both parties should have the best representation they can get. Obviously, one person cannot negotiate for both parties, and in point of fact, can negotiate for neither party, yet gets paid commission for both ends of the sale. As a buyer, if you see a property you are interested in, take the time to find a REALTOR you are comfortable with to work on your behalf.

Useful Links

Information from the Canadian Real Estate Association on what REALTORS do and on buying and selling in general
http://www.howrealtorshelp.ca/swf/

Information on working with a REALTOR
http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/buyers/why_use.htm