“I don’t like all these rules and regulations.”
I thought long and hard about who I should address this annual article to, and it came to me as I read the Letters to the editor in the last REM – the Realtor who complained about the nuisance of FINTRAC forms, to the point that he wouldn’t use them.
“Whoa!” I said. I started thinking about all the forms that have been devised to help us as Realtors, not to be detrimental to us.
We, as Realtors across this beautiful country of ours, have the privilege of practising real estate sales. We must do it in the manner prescribed by CREA and our governing bodies and individual real estate boards. If we follow these regulations, generally we will not to get sued by any parties, inclusive of the governmental regulators.
The writer to the editor complains about paperwork necessary to complete a transaction. Too bad, I say. Too bad that you don’t practice in California where an agreement can be over an inch thick – then you would have something to complain about.
Rules and regulations are there to protect us and save us from litigation, fines and/or imprisonment.
So I, on behalf of all the brokers and registrants in Canada, I thank the regulators for the guidance and understanding that you have committed yourselves to. Many of us do this on a volunteer basis. Those who receive compensation for administrating the rules and guidelines are well deserving of that payment.
To the broker and management teams across Canada, I take my hat off to all of you who dutifully administer the rules and ensure safe practices in our industry.
And last, but not least, to our wonderful administration teams who assist us in enforcing the rules of conduct, you are the core of our individual successes. And yet as often as not, you take the brunt of registrants’ abuse and loathing, when you are simply following the directives set down and are asked to follow diligently.
Many of us in management simply don’t understand when we are asked to “overlook” an error or a blatant irregularity. Would you ask the traffic cop to overlook your speeding at 140 mph in a 50 mph zone? Think they’d let you off without a fine or court appearance?
A final note to those who deem it unnecessary to follow the rules: just don’t do it and find yourselves in a mess of litigation and fines. You decide. Yes, you decide that those who guide us with integrity are steering our professional conduct. Without integrity, we have nothing.
Stan Albert, broker/manager, ABR, ASA at Re/Max Premier in Vaughan, Ont. is now celebrating his 40th year as an active Realtor and invites your comments and suggestions for future articles at stanalb@rogers.com.
Stan Albert, ABR, ASA is a consultant with Re/Max Premier in Vaughan, Ont. He can be reached for consultation by email. Stan is now celebrating his 45th year as an active real estate professional.
