In order for me to give you the best service I can, I'll need to know a lot of information about what kind of home you want, that suits all your needs. On the other hand, there is a lot of new information that you'll need to understand.
The home buying process is fairly simple but there are some lesser-known things that you should understand about our industry. One of my goals is to make the process of buying a home as enjoyable as possible, and from past experience I can tell you that anyone who has had an unpleasant real estate experience generally relates it to not understanding the process. "No one ever told me that" is a phrase we hear too often.
As everyone knows, the seller of the home pays realtors on a commission basis. However, there are strict guidelines that are imposed by the Calgary Real Estate Board. The following is intended to take some of the guesswork and presumption out of our relationship.
- The selling realtor is determined as the realtor who introduces the buyer to the property. In other words the first realtor to physically show you the property. This is known as introduction to the property.
- An open house is not regarded as introduction. This isn't to say I want you to go around to open houses and find the right one for me to sell you. On the contrary, I want to be with you throught the search process, but if you happen to see an open house that looks interesting and you decided to go in for a quick look, just let the hosting realtor know you are working with me.
- A new home showhome is not considered an open house, and as such I must attend with you to register you with the builder.
- Each realtor is basically an independent business person and as such are the primary beneficiary to the selling commissions. It can be misleading for someone to suggest that the ownership or other members of the office "will get something," as a way to make you feel comfortable in dealing with them.
- If you see a sign or advertisement that you want more information on, call me. I can easily get the information you need and avoid any misunderstanding.
- Showhome sale representatives may be realtors or sometimes simply an employee of the new home builder. If is is a realtor, beware of an offer to "show you some other models." This may be an attempt at claiming "introduction." In the case of the non-realtor who is a showhome host, you must understand that their loyalty rests purely with the builder and they DO NOT have a code of ethics or higher authority to answer to.
- If you are looking at homes with a realtor you don't like, STOP immediately. If you won't be comfortable having this person represent your interests, don't allow yourself to be "introduced" to anymore homes.
- Make sure you read and understand the booklet "Agency Disclosure Acknowledgement," and let me know right away if you have any questions or concerns.
In the eyes of the real estate industry, your actions will be determined who gets the right to represent you and ultimatley earn a fee for their efforts. By understanding these issues, you can ensure that you are fully represented by the PERSON of your choice.
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