A buyer's agent protects your best interests. Buying a home is often one of the largest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. It does not cost you anything to be represented by a professional buyer's agent like myself and it could save you thousands. Sellers have agents working for them and home buyers should too!

Why choose me as your buyer's agent? As a dedicated buyer's agent, I perform services for you that a seller's agent can't - such as showing you reasons not to buy a certain property; negotiating the best price and terms for you; including contingencies in the contract that protect you, rather than the seller; and keeping confidential any information that could hurt your bargaining position. If there are better-priced homes in the area, I will also give you an unbiased opinion and show you those homes.

From house hunting to closing, I am here for you every step of the way - don't leave home without me! For independent representation, contact your ESP Partner.

• The services that a Realtor provides
• The Agency Relationship
• Realtors Code of Ethics
• Standards of Business Practices for Realtors
• Choose a Realtor wisely - be Choosy!

Links to the Canadian Real Estate Association
• Pledge of Competition, Principles of Competition
• Privacy Code:

REALTOR SERVICES

Members of the Canadian Real Estate Association are required to abide by a strict Code Of Ethics and Standards Of Business Practice, which serves to protect the public. One of the ethical obligations embodied in the Code requires that Realtors® disclose who they are representing in a Real Estate transaction.

THE AGENCY RELATIONSHIP

REALTORS work within a legal relationship called AGENCY. The Agency relationship exists between you, the CLIENT and the Brokerage, your AGENT.

The essence of the Agency relationship is that the Agent has the authority to represent the Client in dealings with others. Agents are obligated to protect and promote the interests of their clients as they would their own. Specifically, the Agent has the following Fiduciary Duties:

1. Loyalty: The Agent must protect the Client's negotiating position at all times, and disclose all known facts which may arise that may affect or influence the Client's decision.
2. Obedience: The Agent must obey all lawful instructions of the Client.
3. Confidentiality: The Agent has an obligation to keep the confidences of the client.
4. Reasonable Care and Skill: In performing all assigned duties.
5. Full Disclosure: Of information that might affect the Value of the property.
6. Full Accounting: For all money and property placed in the Agent's hands while acting for the Client.

CREA’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice has been the measure of professionalism in organized real estate for over 40 years. The first code was approved in 1913 at the convention of the National Association of Real Estate Boards held in Winnipeg. The first Code of Ethics specifically prepared for members of The Canadian Real Estate Association was approved by members in 1959.

The Code establishes a standard of conduct, which in many respects exceeds basic legal requirements. This standard ensures that that the rights and interests of consumers of real estate services are protected. As a condition of membership, all REALTORS agree to abide by the Code.

Some of the requirements of the Code include:

1. REALTORS must disclose in writing whom they are representing as an agent in the transaction. Parties to a transaction must be told what their agency relationship is to the REALTOR.
   Definitions, terminology and presumed agency relationships vary from province to province. Most jurisdictions have their own forms for complying with disclosure requirements, which have been drafted to accommodate agency relationships as they exist in your province or territory.
2. All financial arrangements between REALTORS and others (e.g. referral fees, compensation from more than one party, rebates or profits on expenditures) must be fully disclosed to clients;
3. REALTORS cannot acquire an interest in property (either directly or indirectly) without disclosing the fact that they are real estate professionals;
4. REALTORS cannot use the terms of an agreement of purchase and sale to negotiate commission. While the Code of Ethics establishes obligations that may be higher than those mandated by law, in any instance where the Code of Ethics and the law conflict, the obligations of the law must take precedence.

A REALTOR’s ethical obligations are based on moral integrity, competent service to clients and customers, and dedication to the interest and welfare of the public. The Code has been amended many times to reflect changes in the real estate marketplace, the needs of property owners and the perceptions and values of society. For more than forty years, through a variety of updates, the CREA Code of Ethics is unchanged in demanding high standards of professional conduct to protect the interests of clients and customers and safeguard the rights of consumers of real estate services.

The CREA Code of Ethics

Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. Through the REALTOR, the land resource of the nation reaches its highest use and private land ownership its widest distribution. The REALTOR is instrumental in moulding the form of his or her community and the living and working conditions of its people. Such functions impose grave social responsibilities which REALTORS can meet only by diligent preparation, and considering it a civic duty to dedicate themselves to the fulfillment of a REALTOR's obligations to society. The REALTOR therefore must be zealous to maintain, and continually strive to improve, the professional standards of his or her calling:

• by keeping informed as to developments and trends in real estate,
• by endeavouring to protect the public against fraud, misrepresentation or unethical practice in connection with real estate transactions,
• by rendering services and opinions based only on the REALTOR's knowledge, training, qualifications and experience in real estate,
• by seeking no unfair advantage over, nor injuring directly or indirectly, the reputation of, nor publicly disparaging the business practice of other REALTORS, and
• by being loyal to the REALTOR's Real Estate Board and Provincial/Territorial Association and
• active in their work.

In the interpretation of his or her obligations, the REALTOR can take no safer guide than that which has been embodied in the Golden Rule - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

No inducement of profit and no instructions from clients or customers can ever justify departure from the ideals of fair dealing and high integrity resulting from adherence to a lofty standard of moral conduct in business relations.

Accepting this standard as his or her own, each REALTOR pledges to observe the spirit of the Code in all dealings and to conduct business in accordance with the Standards of Business Practice as adopted by The Canadian Real Estate Association.

ARTICLE 1
REALTORS shall endeavour to be informed regarding the essential facts, which affect current market conditions in order to be in a position to counsel their clients and/or to assist customers in a responsible manner.

ARTICLE 2
A REALTOR shall protect and promote the interests of his or her client. This primary obligation does not relieve the REALTOR of the responsibility of dealing fairly with all parties to the transaction.

ARTICLE 3
A REALTOR shall fully disclose in writing to, and is advised to seek written acknowledgment of disclosure from, all parties to a transaction regarding the role and the nature of service the REALTOR will be providing to the client versus the customer or other party to the transaction. The REALTOR shall also disclose his or her role to other REALTORS involved in the transaction.

ARTICLE 4
A REALTOR has an obligation to discover facts pertaining to every property for which the REALTOR accepts an agency which a reasonably prudent REALTOR would discover in order to fulfil the obligation to avoid error, misrepresentation or concealment of pertinent facts.

ARTICLE 5
REALTORS should ensure written representation agreements whenever possible in order to avoid misunderstandings with their clients and customers.

ARTICLE 6
REALTORS shall ensure that agreements regarding real estate transactions are in writing in clear and understandable language, expressing the specific terms, conditions, obligations and commitments of the parties to the agreement. A copy of each final agreement shall be furnished to each party upon their signing or initialing, and shall be dealt with in accordance with the instructions of the parties involved.

ARTICLE 7
The REALTOR shall, prior to the signing of any agreement, fully inform the signing party regarding the type of expenses for which he/she may be normally liable.

ARTICLE 8
A REALTOR shall not accept compensation from more than one party to a transaction without the written consent of his or her client(s).

ARTICLE 9
REALTORS shall disclose to a client or customer if there is any financial benefit the REALTOR or his/her firm may receive as a result of recommending real estate products or services to that party.

ARTICLE 10
A REALTOR shall not accept any rebate or profit on expenditures made for a client without the client's consent or accept any rebate or profit on expenditures for a customer without the customer's knowledge.

ARTICLE 11
The REALTOR shall not discourage parties to a transaction from seeking legal counsel.

ARTICLE 12
The REALTOR shall not knowingly permit any property in his or her charge to be used for unlawful purposes.

ARTICLE 13
A REALTOR shall not present an offer or acquire an interest in property either directly or indirectly for himself or herself, any member of his or her immediate family or any entity in which the REALTOR has a financial interest, without making the REALTOR's position known to the seller in writing. In selling/leasing property owned by the REALTOR, or in which the REALTOR has an interest, the interest shall be revealed to the buyer/tenant in writing.

ARTICLE 14
In providing an opinion of value of real property, a REALTOR shall not undertake to provide such an opinion if it is outside the REALTOR's field of experience to do so, unless this fact is disclosed to the client or unless assistance is obtained from another person who has experience in this area. A REALTOR shall not perform an appraisal contrary to the terms and conditions of any designation the REALTOR holds through The Canadian Real Estate Association. In all other circumstances, the REALTOR shall not provide an opinion of value on property in which the REALTOR has a present or contemplated interest without first disclosing this fact to the client. Fees charged for providing an opinion of value shall not be based on the amount of value reported.

ARTICLE 15
A REALTOR shall present all written offers and counter-offers as objectively and as quickly as possible.

ARTICLE 16
A REALTOR shall not advertise a property if such advertising has been restricted at the request of the seller/landlord. In any advertisement, the advertised or offered price of a property shall not be other than that which was agreed upon with the seller/landlord. (Also applies to Article 25.)

ARTICLE 17
A REALTOR is obliged to render a skilled and conscientious service, in conformity with standards of competence which are reasonably expected in the specific real estate disciplines in which the REALTOR engages. When a REALTOR is unable to render such service, either alone or with the aid of other REALTORS, the REALTOR should not accept the assignment or otherwise provide assistance in connection with the transaction.

ARTICLE 18
REALTORS shall ensure a true presentation in all advertising. Properties and services shall not be advertised without identifying the firm or, where applicable, the individual practitioner, in accordance with provincial licensing legislation.

ARTICLE 19
The REALTOR shall not deny professional services to any person for reasons of race, creed, colour, sex, familial status, age, or national origin. The REALTOR shall not be party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, creed, colour, sex, familial status, age or national origin.

ARTICLE 20
The REALTOR shall observe the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations established by the REALTOR's Real Estate Board and/or Association, in addition to the regulations, terms and conditions associated with any designation that the REALTOR may hold through membership in The Canadian Real Estate Association.

ARTICLE 21
The business of a REALTOR shall be conducted in strict accordance with all statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to that business.

ARTICLE 22
The REALTOR shall never publicly discredit a competitor. If the REALTOR's opinion is sought regarding a specific transaction, it should be rendered with strict professional integrity and courtesy.

ARTICLE 23
The agency or other contractual relationship of a competitor shall be respected by all REALTORS. Negotiations concerning exclusively listed property or with any party who is exclusively represented shall be carried on with the client's agent and not with the client directly, except with the consent of the client's agent.

ARTICLE 24
A REALTOR shall not seek information about a competitor's transaction to be used for the purpose of closing a transaction himself or herself, or for the purpose of interfering with any other contractual undertaking.

ARTICLE 25
Signs in respect of the sale, rent, lease, development or exchange should not be placed on any property by other than the listing broker unless authorized by the seller/landlord. REALTORS shall not interfere with another real estate broker's sign.

ARTICLE 26
Should a REALTOR be asked to co-operate in any way in connection with a disciplinary investigation or proceeding pertaining to alleged unethical practice, the REALTOR shall place all pertinent facts before the proper Committee of the Real Estate Board or Association to which the REALTOR belongs.

ARTICLE 27
In the event of a dispute between REALTORS associated with different firms of the same local Board/Association regarding the fee or commission earned or to be earned in connection with a real estate transaction, the dispute shall be submitted for arbitration in accordance with the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of their local Board/Association.

ARTICLE 28
In the event of a dispute between REALTORS associated with different firms and belonging to different local Boards/Associations, regarding the fee or commission earned or to be earned in connection with a real estate transaction, the dispute shall be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the By-Laws and Rules and Regulations of the appropriate Provincial/Territorial Association. Should the REALTORS belong to different Provincial/Territorial Associations, the dispute shall be arbitrated in accordance with the By-Laws and Rules and Regulations of The Canadian Real Estate Association.

ARTICLE 29
The business of a REALTOR shall be conducted so as to avoid controversies with other REALTORS.