Working with a Realtor

Who’s working for you?

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 working for them. Or, some buyers choose to contact the
seller’s agent directly. Under this arrangement the REALTOR is working for
the seller, and must do what is best for the seller, but may provide many valuable
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 agent and the co-operating agent must do what is best for
the seller even though the sub-agent may provide many valuable services to the buyer.
If the seller and the buyer have the same agent, this is multiple representation and the
REALTOR is working for both the seller and the buyer.

Code of Ethics

REALTORS believe it is important that the people they work with understand
their agency relationship. That’s why agency disclosure is included in a self-
imposed 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 enter
into a written agency agreement with any sellers or buyers they are representing.