Member Update February 5, 2021

February 05, 2021

New Ethics Guy® video: What we all can do to improve REALTOR® reputation

In his latest video, Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer discusses behaviour and attitudes necessary to improve our collective reputation with the public. In the fast pace of a busy market, like we’re seeing today, issues of ethics and professionalism become more visible to the public. 

A big part of professionalism relates to treating colleagues and their clients with courtesy and respect. That means promptly returning phone calls and texts from other Realtors, providing complete information in your listings, and ensuring prospective home buyers have equal opportunities to view and make offers on your listings.

Watch the video below to hear from Kim about how we can work together to improve public perception of Realtors.

Adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols is another major reputational issue for the profession today. The pandemic remains a public health crisis, and we must continue to do all that we can to slow the spread of this virus for the wellbeing of our clients, ourselves, and the long-term good of our community and profession.

Here are the most up to date safety protocols for the real estate profession:

The real estate boards and regulatory bodies in BC continue to call on Realtors to not hold open houses and to limit in-person interactions. Where possible, use technology-based solutions for activities such as showcasing a home, assessing neighbourhood amenities, and completing paperwork.

While home showings are still permitted, you’re expected to wear a mask at all times, to keep the number of people inside a home at once to six or less, and to ensure that people aren’t gathering outside of a home.

Police continue to investigate threatening, lewd messages and images sent to female REALTORS® - what you need to know

We’ve now heard from over two dozen female Realtors across the province who have received lewd and threatening calls and texts from what appears to be the same individual.

The perpetrator is using aliases and spoofed phone numbers when reaching out. He often begins conversations by saying his father, or his wife’s father, is moving into a home and he wants to sell the house.

His fake numbers have included area codes: 236, 445, 831, 604, and 778. More recently, he’s been blocking his phone number completely, or using apps like FaceTime.

There have been no reports of physical harm.

What to do if you’re contacted

If this person contacts you, note the date and time of the call, the phone number if applicable, and other details that may help identify this person.

We’re working with the police to coordinate information about this case. If this person has contacted you, please file a report with your local police and email Mark Moldowan at mmoldowan@rebgv.org with the case number.

If you’re reporting to the Vancouver Police Department, quote file number 2021-4768. If you live outside Vancouver, let your local police know about the VPD investigation, quoting the same file number.

Safety tips for Realtors

  • Always have another Realtor at your showing.
  • Jot down your client’s car descriptions, license plate numbers, and physical descriptions.
  • Trust your gut — if you sense someone is up to no good, cancel the appointment. Don’t meet with the person and stop communicating with them.
  • Do whatever it takes to remove yourself from an uncomfortable situation.
  • Always walk behind an attendee at a showing and show the house by directing, not leading, them.
  • Notify someone in your office or a friend that you’ll call every hour on the hour when conducting a showing. If you don’t call, they should notify police.

Please stay safe out there.

In the media

We’ve been in contact with multiple media outlets to inform as many people as possible about this situation.

Here is a selection of some of the coverage:

Take our personal safety course

We’ve developed a personal safety course for Realtors that covers various predatory behaviours, steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of getting into an unsafe situation, and how to protect yourself during an open house or when meeting a new client.

We'll offer the course on February 22 – click here to register today.

Regulators expand the use of administrative penalties

The Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) recently announced changes to expand the use of administrative penalties as a disciplinary tool to deal with rule violations within the profession. These changes took effect on February 1.

While these changes don't introduce new rules or requirements, they expand the number of rule violations that can result in an administrative penalty. They also increase the amount the regulators can charge.

These automatic fines will be imposed on real estate licensees for minor rule violations deemed to have caused little or no public harm. OSRE and Council believe this new approach will speed up the discipline process and allow Council to devote more investigative resources to the most serious infractions.

When OSRE first proposed these changes last year, your Board, along with BCREA and the other BC boards, sent this submission with our feedback and recommendations.

For more information on this change, you can review these links:

January 2021 stats resources to share with clients

As you’re all aware, the heightened demand we saw to close 2020 has carried into 2021. Share our stats resources on your websites and social media channels to give your clients the latest market information:

  • Click here for our January 2021 stats package.
  • Click here to see our January 2021 market insights video.
  • Click here to access January 2021 Stats Centre Reports.

The latest on the Cullen Commission

The BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) is preparing to testify at the Cullen Commission into money laundering on behalf of the profession. Watch a video update from BCREA here.