Are you losing trust in realtors?
Posted April 12, 2016 7:52 am.
Last Updated April 12, 2016 8:23 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Do you trust your realtor?
With shady agents making headlines for all the wrong reasons over the past few months, the reputation of the real estate market in Metro Vancouver has certainly taken a hit.
But one local realtor suggests cases of misconduct are the exception, not the rule.
“I can tell you most realtors and the real estate board do their utmost to make sure that their clients needs and interests are taken care of, putting their clients’ needs first,” says Aaron Jasper with Royal LePage.
However Jasper, a former municipal politician in Vancouver, admits the negative headlines are having an impact.
“I think any incident or story of a realtor or a brokerage that is not doing right by their clients is concerning. Obviously, I can’t speak to the specifics of any complaints, but I’m glad to hear that the board has taken some proactive steps to ensure that realtors are putting their interests aside and making sure the clients are the priority,” he tells NEWS 1130.
When it comes to trust, Jasper believes the Real Estate Council of BC is doing what it can to restore confidence in the market.
“I think the council had no choice but to take measures. The recent stories of misconduct by realtors is concerning. Our profession does offer a very valuable service to our clients and in the years I’ve been in the business, my dealings with fellow agents and brokerages has always left me impressed with the level of professionalism. Anything that erodes that public confidence is concerning.”
Whether you are buying or selling a home, Jasper has some tips to ensure you are getting a reputable realtor.
“Take the time interview at least three different realtors or brokerages and find out what they experience is,” he says.
If you are approached directly by a real estate agent with clients eager to buy your home, Jasper encourages home owners to get an independent assessment of their property to get a true sense of the current market value of property.
“Don’t just take the word of the first realtor that comes knocking on your door,” he says. “Do your homework and don’t be afraid to file a complaint with the Real Estate Council if you feel you have not been dealt with fairly if you feel that you have not been dealt with fairly by the realtor you work with.”
