Agent Will

There’s a little document/brochure floating around out there that if you are looking to buy or sell a property you will be required to sign. That form is called the “Working with a Realtor” brochure.

What it is: A document that describes the relationship you as a buyer, seller, or any interested party must acknowledge receiving, reading, and understanding. It details the different relationships clients and realtors can have as well as the duties and responsibilities of each party. It also discloses to the buyer/seller what private information is collected and how it may be used. In conducting a real estate transaction a of personal and private information is collected. For example your name, address, phone number, financial status, interest, and likely details of an even more personal nature such as why you are buying or selling. This brochure details how that information is to be treated. In other words it may not be sold to third parties but some will be shared by nature of the transaction with the real estate board, different levels of government, and any party necessary to completion of the transaction such as your mortgage broker/bank and lawyer/notary).

What it isn’t: It is NOT a contract. It does not obligate you to work with that realtor nor does it bind you in any way to having a relationship with that realtor. It does not obligate you to buy/sell anything.

It is merely an informative brochure which you must sign prior to the presentation of any contract (listing, purchase, or lease). Any contract also has an acknowledgement that you have received, read, and understood the contents of that brochure.

Ideally you should be covering this in the first few minutes of meeting any realtor. The simple fact is that through natural discourse with a realtor you are likely to share some information which is private. This is especially true when visiting open houses. Remember that the agent at an open house represents the Seller and has a duty to share any information learned which may grant an advantage to the seller in a negotiation. When you attend an open house you do not have any agency relationship with the agent hosting so be careful what you might say.

Additionally, by way of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s Rules of Co-operation regarding VOW (Virtual Office Website) services, which is provided here on the “Property Listings” tab, anyone signing up to be a member must read this document. It is included in the Terms of Service.

Below is the “Working with a Realtor” Brochure:

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