AGENCY - REPRESENTATION

It is important that you understand who the REALTOR® is working for. For

example, both the seller and the buyer may have their own agent which means

they each have a REALTOR® who is representing them.

Or, some buyers choose to contact the seller's agent directly. Under this

arrangement the REALTOR® is representing the seller, and must do what is best

for the seller, but may provide many valuable customer services to the buyer.

A REALTOR® working with a buyer may even be a “sub-agent” of the seller.

Under sub-agency, both the listing brokerage and the co-operating brokerage

must do what is best for the seller even though the sub-agent may provide many

valuable customer services to the buyer.

If the brokerage represents both the seller and the buyer, this is multiple

representation.

 

 

REALTORS® believe it is important that the people they work with understand

their agency relationship. That’s why requirements and obligations for

representation and customer service are included in a Code of Ethics which is

administered by the Real Estate Council of Ontario.

The Code requires REALTORS® to disclose in writing the nature of the services they

are providing, and encourages REALTORS® to obtain written acknowledgement of

that disclosure. The Code also requires REALTORS® to submit written

representation and customer service agreements to buyers and sellers.