One of the greatest privileges I have as a realtor is helping Ontario families find a great place to call home. But with this privilege comes responsibility.
As home buyers and sellers, you expect that the agent by your side is held to the highest professional standards and can provide the level of service you deserve.
For years, the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has pushed to strengthen the real estate profession and tackle the issues that put consumers at risk. We’ve been advocating for better education for realtors, policies that will deter bad behaviour with stronger penalties, and the elimination of exemptions that leave consumers vulnerable.
OREA’s latest whitepaper, Continuing to Raise the Bar for Real Estate in Ontario, contains several policy proposals for the Ford government to implement in the final phase of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), the legislation that governs realtors in Ontario — with the goal of strengthening consumer protection.
Right now, outdated policies are putting consumers at risk. A 70-year-old exemption that was put in place to sell farms and livestock is still allowing auctioneers in Ontario to sell homes without following the same rules as licensed realtors. Ontarians deserve to have full confidence in the buying and selling process and the professional assisting them with the biggest financial transaction of their lives. It’s crucial that we push to remove this outdated exemption and ensure consumers are protected.
But it doesn’t end there. The next generation of realtors need better, more practical education so they are even more knowledgeable and better prepared to support consumers. Whether you’re a growing family needing more space or a retiree looking to downsize, you deserve a highly trained professional at your side who has the skills to navigate the complexities of the market.
It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch. If just one negligent agent is caught breaking the rules, it erodes consumer trust and tarnishes the reputation of thousands of hardworking realtors. While it’s in everyone’s best interest to focus on better education, OREA is also advocating for stronger penalties for any bad actors. We want to send the message that there is no place for unethical behaviour in real estate.
In an everchanging real estate landscape, it’s critical that Ontarians are protected. The Government of Ontario has the power to take bold action to improve the industry for both consumers and realtors, and they need to keep their foot on the gas.
OREA is committed to prioritizing consumer confidence. We look forward to continuing our work with the provincial government, and the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Todd McCarthy, to see TRESA through to the finish line.
— Rick Kedzior is President of the Ontario Real Estate Association