In any profession, there is a range of competence among the salespeople throughout British Columbia. But with due diligence you can minimize the risk and increase the benefit greatly from the skills of a knowledgeable realtor. When your buying or selling real estate relating to your business, the right realtor will make all the difference in the world! Now a days a realtor is obligated to share all the information in his dealings. All disclosures of who is acting for whom is spelled out word for word. In today’s market the seller still pays the real estate commission, which is shared with any other realtor involved in the transaction. In other words, each realtor is acting exclusively for the benefit of the buyer and seller. However, in the older days it used to be that both the realtors were acting on behalf of the seller as he or she was paying their commission. That has now changed in recent years. Some agents now working with buyers will enter into a buyers agency contract which gives them the exclusive right to work with that buyer.



A local real estate agent is regulated by provincial and government real estate legislation. Agents have to successfully complete an approved real estate agent testing course and renew their license annually.

Here’s how to select your next realtor! Ask your friends, ask your neighbors and ask your relatives for the names of agents they have dealt with in the past. Ask them who they would recommend in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, New West, Maple Ridge or Abbotsford to assist in the home buying or selling task. Going to an open house is an opportunity for you to meet realtors in your area. Check the newspaper ads that may list the names and phone numbers of agents who are currently active in your area. See a “for sale" sign? Phone the number and ask to speak with that agent. Check the internet and check your local real estate firms in your area.

After you’ve met several agents who could potentially meet your needs, pick one. You should give the agent your exclusive business if you have the confidence in him or her. They will devote considerable time and energy to your needs. Keep your real estate agent informed of any open houses in which you would like to attend. Your agent would like to be there to represent your interests. Don’t be persuaded by other agents trying to sell you the home with high pressure. Your agent that you’ve selected has the power to work for you, so give him or her a call! If you attend an open house advise the realtor that you have an agent that your currently working with. Your realtor can act as an buffer between you and this listing real estate sales person. That way, the selling agent will never have an opportunity to meet you and cannot influence you with aggressive salesmanship. This arms length negotiation position is an important tactic for you to utilize. Without an agent searching for you, you seriously minimize your range of selection and the prospect of concluding the deal at a price that is attractive to you!

Typically the seller pays the realtor a commission. This commission is negotiable. Some are fixed percentages and some are variable on a percentage. There are different commission structures for residential properties. If there is more then one realtor involved the commission is split. This split can be altered to suit the selling agent as he or she may have more expenses. The Split Could be a 55% 45% split to the selling broker.

If you are to have a dispute with a realtor, keep a record of all your correspondence. Try and outline the complaint. Try and resolve the issue with the realtor FIRST! And if it doesn’t go well, speak to the manager of his or her office. If complain is more serious, complain to the local real estate board in Surrey, British Columbia.