Featured News
Meet the candidates for our 2021 Board of Directors election
Voting opens in our 2021 Board of Directors election on Friday, January 15. We’ll send you an email that morning with a link to this year's voting website.
Voting will be open from January 15–21, with the results announced January 22. Please note the shorter voting period for this year’s election.
During the voting period, you’ll find election resources on Paragon and the www.rebgv.ca home page. Just look for the REBGV Votes button (pictured above) on these websites. We'll also send you regular emails, reminding you to vote.
There are 15 members running to fill five vacancies this year—four two-year terms and one one-year term, as follows (with recommended candidates noted – see below):
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Troy Abromaitis |
Raman Bayanzadeh |
Louise Boutin |
Andrew Chan |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Kevin Chiang |
Diana Dickey |
Andrew Do |
Ellen Hsu |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Steve Jamieson |
Chantal Kowalski |
Leslie McDonnell |
Jennifer Quart |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Arnold Shuchat |
Reggie Tanzola |
Sam Wyatt |
You can review the candidates' profiles in detail on our website.
Recommended candidates explained
The Board Development Committee (BDC) recommends candidates for the REBGV election. The BDC’s mandate is to guide a year-round process to ensure there are candidates with the necessary competence, character, and commitment to choose from in each election.
To learn more about the election and candidate recommendation processes, please review these resources:
What good governance means, according to expert Richard Powers
In November we spoke with Richard Powers, a governance expert from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
In our conversation, Powers shared what he considers good governance and how organizations that have a strong governance system in place are better placed to succeed in the marketplace.
REBGV: What is good governance?
Richard: Great question to start off with! I think good governance is when an organization has the policies and processes in place that allow it to fulfill its mission. This touches on several things including having a board that knows what they’re doing, that’s familiar with governance models.
It also means that you have a competent management team in place that allows for the successful completion of a strategic plan and the capability to operationalize that place to ensure that the organization meets its goals and objectives in fulfillment of its mission.
REBGV: What are some of the emerging best practices in governance today?
Richard: Today most boards now are recognizing that a board built around specific skill sets will place them in the best position to fulfill their mission.
So, skill sets, deciding exactly, or defining exactly what those skill sets are; recruiting for those skill sets and then having succession plans in place so that those skill sets are maintained into the future.
I think also that some of the emerging best practices have to come around diversity. Our boards typically have not represented the diverse culture that we have. Canada has the most diverse culture in the world, but our boards have not reflected that. Today the focus is BIPOC; Black, indigenous, people of colour, and that’s certainly a good start, but there’s other aspects of diversity that we have to take into account as well, such as educational levels, age, and culture. All these other things as well that we really haven’t focused on.
Up until recently, the focus in Canada has been around gender and we are making some very good inroads on that. The gender balance on boards is much improved than it was 10 years ago, but we still have a lot of work to do.
The final part would be that boards have been trained around governance models, and they understand whether this is a working board, or a governance board. Most organizations will strive to become a governance board, where there’s a clear separation between what management does and what the board does. These are all sorts of emerging best practices that we’re seeing in governance today.
REBGV: Why is director succession planning important?
Richard: Once you’ve gone through the exercise of determining what skill sets are needed on the board and gone to the trouble of recruiting to those skill sets, succession becomes very important because, to the extent that you feel those skill sets are still necessary on the board, you want to maintain them.
We do that typically through a skills matrix, where the skill sets of each director are plotted in a chart, and we know that if you’re leaving the board, the board will miss these certain skill sets. Are they to be picked up by somebody else on the board? Or, in terms of recruitment, should we be recruiting to replace those skill sets?
The process of succession planning as well can be assisted by having what we call an ‘evergreen policy’ in place – where we invite non-directors to participate in our committees. Two things happen there: one, you get to test drive these potential candidates and they get to test drive you as well, “is this an organization I’d like to be involved in?”
What further comes from that is you have an opportunity to work with these people over time and assess and determine whether they would be candidates for a board position in the future. You know their skill sets and this makes it easier on the nominations committee to assess these skill sets and to keep succession moving forward.
REBGV: Should organizations have a committee that recruits, evaluates, and recommends candidates who have skills most needed on your board?
Richard: This builds off the last comments that I made. I think it’s imperative that a board have a governance and nominations committee, so that the jobs around both of those, governance, determining what we need, and nominations, finding it, dovetail.
They work well together. So, oftentimes it’s not separate committees, it’s a combined governance and nominations committee.
A board that plans for succession, at all levels, at the senior management level, at the board level, and at the committee level, will fare better in the future than others that don’t.
One of the most important, if not the most important job of a board, is to hire the CEO. I think their second-most important job is to have a succession plan for the board and for senior management.
It’s just good governance. Otherwise, the board gets caught up where they don’t have a succession plan, they don’t have the skill sets necessary on the board, and their functionality, their ability to monitor and to govern the organization becomes weaker. So, it’s just very important that the skill sets are maintained, and you do that through a very rigorous and robust succession plan.
Keeping the Competition Act in mind
As REALTORS®, you’re constantly searching for innovative ways to distinguish yourself from your competition. Your quest for the proverbial “leg up”, however, must be balanced against your obligations under the Competition Act. Violating the Competition Act can result in severe penalties, including significant fines and jail terms.
The Competition Act is federal legislation designed to promote fair competition in the marketplace. It applies to virtually all sectors of business – including real estate boards, firms, Brokers, independent contractors and salespeople.
Failure to recognize and avoid anti-competitive conduct can result in criminal prosecution, Competition Tribunal proceedings and civil court actions for damages.
We strongly encourage you to visit the Competition Compliance Centre on the Canadian Real Estate Association’s (CREA’s) www.realtorlink.ca home page and review their Real Estate Competition Guide. Access this area via the button on the bottom right corner of the page.
CREA’s legal department has created a series of four animated videos covering key competition issues for Realtors. The videos are titled ‘Collusion & Conspiracy’, ‘Don’t Mislead’, ‘Setting Your Prices’, and ‘Doing Business with Competitors’.
The relevant provisions of the Competition Act can be simplified to three basic rules:
- Don’t collude. Make independent business decisions without discussion or consultation with competitors.
- Don’t discriminate against or refuse to do business with competitors or other persons because of their pricing policies.
- Don’t mislead the public in your advertising.
If you’re not familiar with the basic rules of the Competition Act, you could find yourself in hot water. Comments made in casual conversation may seem harmless, but could contravene the legislation.
The Competition Guide warns particularly about what is called “loose language,” defined as any conversation or phrase that can be interpreted as anticompetitive by nature.
Investigations can be time consuming and extremely expensive. For this reason alone, compliance with the Competition Act involves avoiding conduct that creates the appearance of illegal activity as much as conduct that actually constitutes illegal activity.
Here are a few examples of statements that can suggest or imply involvement in anticompetitive activity:
“This is the rate that everyone charges.”
“I’d like to lower the commission, but no Board member will show your house unless the commission is X per cent.”
“Before you list with ABC Realty, you should know that no one will work on their listings.”
In relations with clients, Brokers and Realtors should explain and justify their pricing and other business policies in terms of the value their office provides. Promote your firm’s track record, detail your marketing or negotiating expertise, explain the functions and the value of the services performed by a real estate professional, and defend your qualifications. Use the language of competition, not conspiracy.
A copy of the Competition Act is available at
Green shoots, new beginnings
There’s evidence of spring with some green shoots appearing in my garden. Last autumn, in the middle of a monsoon, I planted about three dozen daffodil bulbs and a bazillion crocuses and snowdrops. I’m more of a vintage car guy than a gardener, but the pandemic has changed us, likely forever, so I thought I’d pretty up the place with flowers. Does this mean I’ll become a rabid composter in the future? Who knows, although I doubt it. As for the green shoots, I’m gratified to now see them poking up through the flowerbed’s soil. I used to say “dirt,” until I was corrected by my mother who still has strong opinions on just about everything. “It’s soil dear, not dirt. One’s hands become dirty when working in the garden. Soil, on the other hand, is something in which plants grow.”
This harbinger of spring got me thinking: are there also green shoots of another kind out there?
Yes. Despite the best efforts of some to convince us the new variant of the virus will infect us all, I think there’s good news to be had if we look for it. Most of us are anxiously awaiting the “jab” so we can get back to some sense of normalcy. So, it’s great the vaccine is on the horizon, unlike during the first several months of the pandemic. This is very good news indeed. And, there’s more: we just came through the busiest December ever, with over 2,400 properties listed and nearly 3,100 properties sold. Not bad during a pandemic when some are really hurting and we’re in a partial lockdown. I predict we’ll stay busy, since a listing inventory of 8,000 usually means just about anything listed has an excellent chance of being snapped up, pronto. How cool would it be to start the year off with a bang by upping your listing inventory so everyone else beats a path to your door?
So with the new year beginning, it’s time to take stock and plan ahead. Optimists like this exercise; pessimists, not so much.
Think about the areas of your life that are most important to you. For many, this would be self, family, and work. Are there improvements to be made? I can’t imagine there wouldn’t be. In taking stock, you could, perhaps, think of three things you do really well, along with three things you could improve.
Keep the list to just the top three—anything more can sap your motivation to do anything at all. Focus first on the three things you’re good at,and consider if there is a way to do more of these in 2021. Then think about what you’re not so good at; is there a way to do less of these in 2021?
It’s always easier to think about what you do well rather than what you could improve on. As a start, I’d bet that most of us could think of some interactions we’ve had with colleagues and clients that could have gone better. If your inner Mr. Grumpus Maximus came out more than he should have, can you do things differently next year to keep him in his cage? Understanding the things (and people) who press your buttons is a start. Recognizing when your buttons are being pressed is a first step to better controlling the grumps. (Note to self: take your own advice.) And, of course, we could all do with a bit more of Dr. Bonnie Henry’s philosophy: namely, be kinder to everyone.
So much for self-improvement advice—at least, with the space I have here.
I think we have all learned in 2020 how much we have taken family for granted. It’s been tough on many of us not to have been able to see and hug them whenever we wanted. When we’re able to do so again (by my guess, in late spring), I suggest you plan a family dinner or event—and then plan another one for the summer. If your family is elsewhere, you could substitute friends for family. We need human contact to stay grounded and human. And, if there’s a family member you can mend a fence or two with this year, why not give this a shot too? Even if things don’t work out, you’ll be able to look in the mirror and say you tried.
So much for family.
Your business is, perhaps, easier to get a handle on because it’s more clinical than emotional. If 2020 was a great year for you, keep doing the same things. If it wasn’t, don’t do the same things again. Simple, right?
Old habits die hard though. It can be hard to change gears. How good are you at prospecting for business? Take a look at 2020 and distill, from all your work, the things you did that have a direct connection to a commission cheque. Do those more in 2021.
Or, are you pretty good at prospecting, meaning you’re dealing with lots of people but your efforts aren’t resulting in sales or listings? Maybe you need to work on your closing skills. It’s like golfing: you can be a great driver but consistently lose games by being a lousy putter. Getting someone to say yes is an art. Those who are good at it have learned that people’s fear of making a mistake is usually what prevents them from saying yes. If closing is your challenge, think about how you can improve your skill at isolating the fears people have and then offering them a reasonable solution to the fears that inhibit a yes.
How many times have you heard, “I want to think about it;” “I want to talk to someone else;” “It’s too much money;” or “It’s not enough money”? People have been saying those things since before humanity learned to write. Do you dread hearing these phrases because you don’t know how to respond? Talk to your successful colleagues and ask them how they deal with those objections and the other ones that pop up all the time. Then script out reasonable responses and memorize them.
Other things you can think about to improve your business include considering expense control and time management. Troll through your banking and brokerage statements: are there efficiencies to be found? As for time management, I offer the advice a mentor once gave me: Work when you work. Don’t play at working. Meaning, give 100 per cent of yourself to your work when you are working so you can give 100 per cent of yourself to playing when you are playing. Again, easier said than done, but worth a shot.
So much for business.
We’re on the path to recovery. There are still bumps ahead but believe me, a recovery is coming. When it does arrive and things loosen up, take the time to think about the joys that life can bring. I’ve been taking these for granted. No longer. How about you?
I wish you the very best of success and health in 2021.
Top Tip video: Why we have Standard Forms
In the video below, Kim discusses the purpose and importance of Standard Forms.
A deeper look at this year's property assessments, the end of 'best terms pricing', affordability and more
A deeper look at this year's property assessments
Most BC property owners received their 2021 property assessment notices in the mail, which reflects the assessed value of their property as of July 1, 2021. Find which areas saw increases and decreases.
New BC cabinet, parliamentary secretaries
Is your MLA suddenly an important minister? Premier John Horgan has selected his new cabinet and parliamentary secretaries. Here’s a list, including the constituencies they represent.
BC Strata insurers to end ‘best terms pricing’
In response to rapidly increasing insurance premiums, insurers have agreed to end the practice of best terms pricing in January 2021.
Taxes and incentives: Three federal government proposals to make homeownership affordable
Proposals include taxing foreign non-resident owners, taxing short-term rentals through digital platforms, and an improved First-Time Home Buyer Incentive.
REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive donations help seven Metro Vancouver charities
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) recently distributed its share of the money raised during the revamped REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive to seven charities that provide shelter and relief to residents across Metro Vancouver.
Thanks to your generosity, REBGV raised about $35,000 and Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) members raised about $15,000 during the campaign!
Because of this, we gave $5,000 to the following charities on behalf of all REBGV members:
- The Budzey, Vancouver
- Christmas Hamper Society, Maple Ridge/Pit Meadows
- Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
- North Shore Women’s Centre
- Salvation Army, Richmond
- Sheway, Vancouver
- Union Gospel Mission, New Westminster
These are much-needed funds for these worthy causes.
“Thank you so much for your generosity to SHEWAY! Your donation will support vulnerable pregnant women and mothers with infants who face significant barriers to healthy parenting including poverty, homelessness, and addiction struggles,” said Lilly Thomas, Annual Giving Officer, VGH & UBC Foundation. “We’re very grateful to the REALTORS® of Greater Vancouver for recognizing and supporting this vital resource in our community.”
The REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive is a 26-year-old campaign that’s done in partnership with FVREB. In a traditional year, more than 18,000 REALTORS across the region would work with their clients and a network of charitable organizations across the Lower Mainland to collect and distribute blankets and lightly used clothing.
Given that most charities aren’t collecting clothing items right now due to COVID-19 safety concerns, we adapted the campaign and raised funds through an online fundraising drive that ran from November 23-30.
After consulting our Realtor volunteers, we set an initial goal of raising $15,000, with the hope that members would embrace and support the campaign’s new format.
What you need to know about self-directed courses at REBGV
REALTORS® can earn up to six of the 18 hours required for your two-year Professional Development Program (PDP) cycle by participating in self-directed offerings. This can include brokerage training, attending certain REBGV events, or completing one of our self-directed courses.
Here are some examples of our self-directed courses:
- Maximizing Your Business Tax Deductions (for REALTORS®)
- Business Etiquette for REALTORS®
- Introduction to Personal Real Estate Corporations (PREC)
- Maximizing the Tax Savings for Your Personal Real Estate Corporation (PREC)
Self-directed versus accredited courses
Self-directed courses focus more on things that benefit your individual business, whereas accredited courses cover broader topics like risk management and contracts.
When you register for a course with us, always check to see whether it’s accredited or self-directed. You must earn at least 12 of the hours from accredited courses, which means you can only apply a maximum of six hours from self-directed courses.
Our course catalogue clearly identifies whether a course is accredited or self-directed. You can also filter by category using the menu on the left side of the screen.
Questions? Email education@rebgv.org.
Other News
Police involved as individual targets, harasses and threatens multiple female REALTORS®
We’ve received reports from 13 members saying they’ve received explicit and threatening phone calls and violent images from the same individual. Of these reports, eight have contacted the police.
The victims report his voice sounds older, anywhere from 60-70 years of age. He may say he’s been referred and could suggest meeting at a separate location before viewing the listing.
This man initially sounds charming, but his actions are extremely disturbing.
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board is also aware of these incidents and is alerting their members.
If this person has contacted you, please file a report with your local police and email Fiona Youatt at fyouatt@rebgv.org with the case number and relevant information about the incident.
The police advise Realtors to let calls from unfamiliar numbers go to voicemail and not to open videos in emails from unknown senders. Doing this may act as a deterrent to the sender.
Please always keep your safety in mind and take extra precaution in screening anyone you choose to do business with.
If someone is harassing or threatening you, or if you believe you’re in danger, call 911.
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.
COVID-19 restrictions extended until February 5
On January 6, the Provincial Health Authorities announced that the current COVID-19 restrictions will be extended until February 5.
These restrictions include limiting home showings to six people or less and requiring attendees to use multiple layers of protection, like masks. Health officials are also advocating for Realtors to use virtual options as much as possible.
These restrictions were put into place in November 2020. You can read them here.
Resources
- Learn more about livestream open houses, how to enter one on Paragon, who can help you host one, and tips for making it effective.
- Review guidance on how to make showings safer and from BCREA and Council.
- Review a list of where to find personal protective equipment.
- Use signage we’ve developed to help you run a safe in-person showing when absolutely necessary. Click here for black and white versions.
Review the latest disciplinary decisions from Council
The Real Estate Council of BC regularly publishes their disciplinary decisions. You can review them below.
Start the year off right, register for one of our four online events in January!
Kick off the new year with us at one of our January member engagements. Here are the details:
Join us on Friday, January 15, at 10 a.m. for an update on the 2021 housing forecast with Brendon Ogmundson, BCREA’s chief economist. Learn Brendon’s five reasons to be optimistic about the real estate market in 2021!
You can register for this event here.
When REALTORS® start out in their careers, they typically focus on prospecting and finding clients, not on finances. However, part of being a successful Realtor is being an effective businessperson.
Kelly Fry of Keller Williams Elite Realty has been a Realtor for 10 years and a Medallion Club member since 2014. Before starting her career in real estate, she worked as an accountant and ran her own business.
Join us on Tuesday, January 19 at 10 a.m. when Kelly will share tips on how to manage your finances effectively as a Realtor, including:
- How to use accounting to make business decisions.
- Keeping business and personal expenses and credit separate.
- Setting and sticking to budgets.
- Using a Personal Real Estate Corporation (PREC) to keep costs down and save.
- Setting up a holding company for investment purposes and investing in real estate.
- Financing commercial space for your business.
Learn what it takes to be successful in the competitive world of commercial real estate from a panel of experts on January 20 at 9 a.m.
The expert panel is being facilitated by commercial REALTOR® Jessica Hathaway of Colliers International, and will also include:
- Shane Rigter, business development manager, NEXT Environmental;
- Craig Hennigar, senior director, Valuation and Advisory Services Group, Colliers International;
- Derek Townsend, owner/director, Citifund Capital; and
- Joshua Lintern, senior vice-president, Western Region Real Estate Industry Lead, Marsh Canada.
The panel will cover:
- commercial real estate in a post-COVID world;
- specialization in asset classes and product type;
- environmental site assessment reports and the latest regulatory updates;
- commercial appraisal reports;
- commercial mortgages; and
- the state of the commercial insurance market in real estate.
Register for this free event here.
Join us online on Wednesday, January 27 at 10 a.m. for the first of three Morning Talk Shows with Ashley Smith and Morgan Browne of Oakwyn Realty. They’ll share tips for how to generate leads and pivot your business during a pandemic.
For their first show, Ashley and Morgan will interview Shawn Brown from West Haven Group, Kim Lee from Kim Lee Real Estate, and Jay McInnes Personal Real Estate Corporation to learn how they have navigated through 2020 and learn insights from their experiences.
The discussion will cover:
- How to have meaningful connections with your sphere of influence.
- How to take advantage of the digital landscape in a low-touch environment.
- Effective techniques for lead conversion.
- How to rise ahead during disruption.
- Getting and staying motivated.
- Systems you should consider to create an award-winning real estate business.
- Referral businesses - who, why and how?
- Successful social media strategies.
Register for this event here.
Obituary: Liana Yap
REALTOR® Liana Yap passed away in December. She was 52.
Liana was born in Singapore and moved to Vancouver with her family when she was nine years old. She graduated from UBC, earned her real estate license, and in 1994, began working for her father’s company Goddard and Smith International Realty Inc.
She also worked for Broadview Realty Ltd. before moving to Sutton Group – West Coast, where she’d been since 2002.
Liana was a natural people person who excelled at making connections with clients and colleagues alike. Her calm demeanor helped put people at ease, and she was a loyal, ethical, and devoted Realtor to her clients.
Outside of real estate, Liana had many passions. She was an explorer who loved to travel to new places and experience new cultures and foods. She enjoyed the outdoors and activities like kayaking, hiking, skiing, and scuba diving. Her favorite travel destination was Hawaii.
She also had a deep love for animals, especially her two Yorkies Tye and Tobey. She was a generous supporter of the SPCA and other animal rescue organizations. She was even planning to create her own dog sanctuary on Bowen Island.
Liana is survived by her parents, Diana and Jimmy, her sister Ariana, her beloved dog Tobey, many aunts, uncles and cousins in Singapore, Malaysia, Canada and the US, and her many friends, colleagues, and clients.
Liana's family thanks the BMT ward at Vancouver General Hospital and her doctors for taking such great care of her. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Bone Marrow Foundation.
Submit any 2020 sales errors or omissions by January 15 to count toward your Medallion Club total
Now is the time to review your 2020 sales to ensure your Medallion Club points accurately reflect your sales activity from last year. You have until Friday, January 15 to submit any errors or omissions to your 2020 sales – email sales@rebgv.org with the details. We’ll post the final year-end Medallion report confirming qualifiers and cut-offs after January 15.
We’re not holding our Medallion Gala this year because of COVID. We’ll share more information about how we’ll recognize 2020 Medallion qualifiers in the coming weeks – stay tuned.
Nominate a worthy colleague for our awards!
Nominate a worthy colleague for one of our awards!
We’re looking for nominees for our REALTORS Care® and Professional Excellence Awards. Let us know if you know of a worthy colleague who fits the description.
The Professional Excellence Award
The Professional Excellence Award recognizes members who have helped raise our profession throughout their careers.
Professionalism is about putting your clients’ interests first, making a commitment to lifelong learning, and volunteering your time and expertise. These qualities are what the Professional Excellence Award stands for.
Previous recipients include Josh Bath, Cal Lindberg, Sandra Wyant, and Rosemary Barnes (pictured above).
Click here to nominate a member for the Professional Excellence Award.
The REALTORS Care® Award
This award celebrate Realtors or real estate offices that consistently help others by raising funds, volunteering, or doing other good deeds in the community. They are community champions who are always looking to help those in need.
Previous recipients include Jody Squires, John Patricelli, Laura-Leigh Shaw, and Debi Pearce (pictured above).
Click here to nominate a member for the REALTORS Care® Award.
Display a third listing brokerage name on your Full Public and Full Realtor reports starting January 19
On January 19, you’ll be able to see a third Listing Brokerage Name on your Full Public and Full Realtor style reports for Paragon listings that have a third Listing Realtor. Previously, only two Listing Brokerages Names could be displayed, and a third brokerage, if there was one, was not displayed.
Questions? Contact our Help Desk at support@rebgv.org.