I was just re-reading your story about the mls.ca hot button
from the August issue of REM.

My comment, as a sales representative for the past 15 years,
is that we as an industry are in fact giving away our valuable information. We
spend our time, our money, we do our research to amass this data, and then pass
this gift onto the consumer freely.

My idea is that we make this site available only to buyers
and sellers who are under contract with a Realtor. Once they have signed a
contract, CREA can issue a pass code for these consumers to access mls.ca for
the term of the contract.

For the consumer who is not under contract with a Realtor,
they can still access this site on a paying basis. This fee could cover the
cost of running the site and reduce our expenses as salespeople. This concept
would work in favour of all agents and make our jobs much easier, as all buyers
and sellers would be under contract so there is no question of which client is
working with which Realtor.

On several occasions this year I have shown my own listings
to potential buyers who have contacted me from mls.ca. I asked if they were
under contract with an agent and all have said no. Then the next day I get a
call from an agent who is registering an offer, representing that same buyer.
The explanation from the agent is usually along the lines of, “They did not
know I had to show them the property,” and “They were not clear on how agency
worked.”

I absolutely believe that this system would solve most of
these issues and make life a lot easier for our industry.

David Zalepa
Sales representative
Prudential By The Lake
Realty
Burlington,
Ont.