Featured News
Paragon’s new mobile version, Paragon Connect, coming June 22: What you need to know
Next week, Paragon will launch a mobile, collaboration-focused version of the platform called Paragon Connect.
Paragon Connect is a simplified interface designed to work on your mobile devices.
How do I access Paragon Connect?
If you’re using a mobile device, like an iOS or Android-based tablet or phone, you can access Paragon from REBGV.ca or the direct web address:
Paragon Residential: bcres.paragonrels.com
Paragon Commercial: bccls.paragonrels.com
The system will detect your device and ask you if you’d like to use Paragon Connect. If you select the option to “remember my choice”, you’ll default to the selection you made next time you access Paragon on that device.
If you’d like to access both Paragon Connect and the traditional interface on your device, make sure you leave this box unchecked.
While designed for mobile, you can also access the new interface from your laptop or desktop by choosing the “Resources” button on the navigation bar at the top of the Paragon home screen. On a laptop or desktop, your system will always default to the traditional Paragon interface.
What’s different about Paragon Connect?
This new version is intended to complement Paragon’s existing interface rather than replace it. It’ll provide a more streamlined experience on the go where you can:
- search for listings and share them with your clients;
- view client activity on Collaboration Centre;
- see activity on your seller’s listings;
- view and reply to comments;
- search and view hotsheets;
- save searches and set up Collab Center notifications;
- access your listings cart;
- access your contact manager; and
- view tour and open house information.
This new interface is not an app. It’s a responsive web app that's accessible on any device.
How can I learn to use Paragon Connect?
The first time you log in to Paragon Connect, you’ll see an overlay that will show you how to navigate the new interface.
We’re also working on training materials, including a helpful quick start guide, that we’ll release in the coming weeks.
Questions? Contact Help Desk at 604-730-3020.
ICYMI: Improvements coming to your Data Input Form in July
We’ll implement several improvements to your Data Input Form in July. The changes are based on feedback from members in recent years. Here are the details:
- The REALTOR® Remarks will expand to 500 characters, up from the current 300 characters. This long-standing request will allow you to communicate more information to other members about disclosures, delays in showings, delays in offers, showing instructions, and more.
- Many fields are increasing the number of selections you can include. You’ll be able to select a max of two options for foundation type (field 230) and driveway finish (field 248), a max of four options for floor finish (field 272), and up to 10 options for amenities (field 330).
- We'll include a field to report square footage for a second detached residence on a property (i.e., a laneway or coach house).
- You'll have space to add six additional rooms for a total of 36 rooms, up from the current 30. There'll also be a change to the way you enter room information on the Data Input Form. See below for an example:
FLOOR LEVEL |
ROOM NAME |
| MEASUREMENT X MEASUREMENT | |
- A new field called “ABOVE MAIN 2” will be included to report finished floor area square footage for an additional floor above the main floor. You’ll also see the “ABOVE MAIN 2” option when entering bathroom information.
- Page six of the form, which deals with strata information like bylaws, fees, and restrictions, has been redesigned for a cleaner layout. It’ll also include a new field for stratas that allow short-term rentals.
- Field 146 regarding GST being included in the sale price will become mandatory if the age type in field 144 is either new (NE) or under construction (UC).
- There'll be a new option (pellet) for fuel/heating (field 262).
Questions? Call James Lindow at 604-730-3085 or email jlindow@rebgv.org.
Reporting your sale stuff
Hooray, your listing just sold! What a relief. No more reflected stress from your clients asking why their place hasn’t yet traded hands, when offers will be coming in, what the sale price might be, if there’ll be multiple offers, if they can contact you at 2 a.m. to ask if they got the best price, whether they made a mistake, and/or about everything that still needs to be done.
I’ve been banging the MLS® drum for a long time now, and this is another column in that same vein.
The MLS® system is the best tool we’ve ever created. While benefiting us, it’s also enabled a significant public good, namely, an accurate database of property information including current listings, sales, and expired and terminated listings. In addition to the value of such a vast database of property information, there’s also the worth of its timeliness, meaning there isn’t another database of property information with newer information in it—at least, as far as I know. Time is money, as they say.
The buyers, sellers, owners, and many others we serve rely on this data to make one of the most important decisions of their lives. They need to feel confident that when their REALTOR® shows them all the latest sales, what they see is, indeed, the latest information. Imagine the potential catastrophe (and legal/Council) exposure any of us might encounter if a sale was made eight days ago, but hadn’t been reported to the Board in a timely manner? Maybe that sale information, if we had had access to it, might have swayed a seller or buyer to do something differently. Imagine, for a minute, what these buyers and sellers might do if they felt they had now made the wrong decision in light of the new (late) information? A potentially messy and stressful situation for all.
This is why the Rules of Cooperation, Rule 5.01, requires brokerages to report non-subject/firm deals for properties listed on the MLS® system within five days of those deals going firm or being accepted with no conditions in the contract. It’s a long rule—as shown below—and is the relevant bit for today’s column:
5.01 Reporting Sales
(a) The Listing Brokerage is responsible and accountable for the accuracy of sales information submitted to the Board for inclusion in the Board's MLS® System. IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LISTING BROKERAGE TO CHECK ALL SALES AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED ON THE MLS® SYSTEM AND TO ENSURE THEIR COMPLETE ACCURACY.
(b) Sale prices must be reported exclusive of taxes.
(c) An important part of the inherent value of the MLS® System is the transaction data accumulated for sales of listed properties. It is the responsibility of all Members to ensure, regardless of their business model, that property sales information for properties listed on the MLS® System be reported to the Board. In general, sales shall be reported to the MLS® Department by the Listing Brokerage, on the Sales Report Form together with a legible copy of the Contract of Purchase and Sale within five (5) calendar days of the contract becoming unconditional. Members are not permitted to avoid these reporting responsibilities by, for example, cancelling a listing between receipt (or anticipated receipt) and acceptance of an offer, or encouraging a seller to do so.
Note section (c) of the rule requires that the sale be reported to the Board via a properly completed and executed sales report within five calendar days “of the contract becoming unconditional.” A late report lessens the value and utility of your MLS® data and may expose members and their clients to harm if the information would have been an essential ingredient in a decision they made (or would have made.)
Stuff happens and brokerage staff get busy. We understand this. But the standard remains, whether or not it’s been met. Similar to all standards, it’s all fine until it isn’t. If a sales report is made late, no one notices and no apparent harm is done, then nothing is likely to happen. But if a sales report is made late and there is fallout later, watch out.
I suggest you keep an eye on the MLS® system five days after your sale to check if it’s been reported to the Board. If it hasn’t, a gentle follow-up reminder to the person who inputs these sales would be appropriate.
Some members input, into R/Remarks, comments like “$old,” “New Owner,” “Rhymes with gold,” “Starts with S and ends with D,” “F1rm,” “F1rm Deal,” “S-O-L-D,” “Subjects removed off market.”
Please note: the Board allows only “Accepted offer pending processing” in the R/Remarks. Not anything else, no matter how creative. Our data-checker system is pretty good at sniffing out comments crossing the line, but not all, so if you see one please let us know and we’ll contact the brokerage to get the remark changed or removed. I’m advised by MLS® department staff that 90 per cent of sales are processed the day the Board receives that sales report from the brokerage.
As an aside, MLS® department staff are currently following up on 534 expired/terminated residential listings from 2019/2020. These listings will be matched against LTSA sales data to confirm whether a sale took place during what should've been the life of the listing. Unreported sales will be discussed with the listing brokerage and appropriate action taken.
BC moves to phase two of its restart plan: COVID-19 safety protocols for REALTORS® remain in place for now
The BC government moved to phase two of its restart plan this week, lifting some restrictions that’ve been in place since late last year.
This is an encouraging sign of progress in the fight against COVID-19. Please note, however, that the pandemic safety protocols developed for real estate will remain in place for now.
Your Board is consulting with the provincial government, the regulator, WorkSafe BC and BCREA on a real estate-specific re-opening plan. From this consultation, we expect government to announce updated safety guidelines for the profession in July or August.
“Our Realtor community has shown great care and professionalism throughout the pandemic, quickly adapting practices to serve clients as safely as possible,” said Taylor Biggar, REBGV Chair. “While we’re seeing progress every day, we must continue to follow the advice from our public health officials and regulators and do our part to bring the pandemic to an end.”
With this in mind, please continue to limit in-person interactions as much as possible and refrain from holding open houses until new safety guidelines are implemented.
We’ll provide you with more information on the re-opening plan for real estate as soon as we can.
FINTRAC updates, faster permits process coming in Vancouver, and $5,600 grants to green your home
June 1 FINTRAC changes update
Here’s our summary covering all the FINTRAC changes that took effect June 1.
Faster, easier process for development and building permits coming in Vancouver
Vancouver City Council is working to streamline processing times for development and building permits.
Federal government offers $5,600 grants to make homes energy efficient
The federal government is offering 700,000 grants of up to $5,600 through the Canada Greener Homes Grant to encourage home owners to make their homes more energy-efficient.
Watch and share our latest market insights video and other stats resources
Watch our latest market insights video, featuring Board Economist Keith Stewart, and share it with your clients and on your social media accounts.
Other shareable housing market resources:
Our May 2021 stats package provides an overall view, summarizing the sale, new listing, and price trends happening in today's market.
Our Stats Centre Reports provide a neighbourhood-level overview of market activity, so you and your clients can focus on the activity happening in the area they’re looking to buy or sell.
Use REBGV Stats Centre to build your own client-specific charts and graphs or develop fresh social media content for your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Got a client who’s curious about how long it might take their Richmond townhome to sell, or what the average price per square foot is for apartments in Kitsilano? REBGV Stats Centre has a graph for that.
Share these REBGV.org articles with your clients:
- How will the new mortgage stress test rules impact Metro Vancouver real estate?
- Here are seven strata terms you should know
- Stratas: Maintenance fees and special levies
- Speculation and vacancy tax relief for non-existent homes
Other notable media coverage:
Take our latest quiz and test your knowledge on contingent listings
Did you know that many of our Professional Conduct cases involve the improper handling of contingent listings?
A contingency can cover items like restricted showing times, who may attend offer presentations, when the offers will be presented, or circumstances where a party may receive a reduced commission.
Do you know how to address these situations? Take our new quiz to find out!
Test Your Knowledge
Our new Test Your Knowledge quiz series will help you identify and correct knowledge gaps in a no-consequence environment.
Complete these 10-question quizzes anonymously. If it’s not a passing score, you’ll see information about a course you can take to learn more about that topic.
If you missed them, try our other quizzes:
Questions? Email education@rebgv.org.
Who’ll be the next REALTORS Care® Award recipient?
Watch our REALTORS Care® Award presentation premiere live on Facebook on Tuesday, June 22 at 10 a.m. to find out who'll be named this year's REALTORS Care® Award recipient!
The member receiving this award has made incredible contributions to the community and profession.
So who’s this year's recipient? Board Chair Taylor Biggar will reveal the REALTOR® who has initiated and participated in a variety of charitable events to help make life better for others during a challenging year.
Watch the REALTORS Care® Award presentation here. Remember to hit the 'Get Reminder' button so you're notified before the presentation starts!
We've embedded the premiere below as well:
About the REALTORS Care® Award
The REALTORS Care® Award recognizes the contributions Realtors and their companies make to our communities. These are the charitable all-stars in our profession who consistently raise funds, volunteer for worthy causes, and do other good deeds in their communities. Past recipients include Debi Pearce, Jody Squires, Laura-Leah Shaw, John Patricelli, Ron Antalek, Sing Yeo, and many more.
Other News
REBGV mourns the loss of Ian Abbott
We’re deeply saddened to share that long-time REBGV staff member Ian Abbott passed away on June 1.
Ian worked in our IT and Education departments for nearly two decades. He had extensive knowledge of our MLS® technology systems and spent many hours training members at office meetings or in the classroom.
The thousands of members who interacted with Ian will recall his customer-first attitude and ever-present sense of humour. He was always one friendly phone call away.
We’ll share a tribute to Ian in our next newsletter.
Review the latest disciplinary decisions
Stay on top of the work your Board does to uphold and enforce professional standards within the profession and resolve disputes between members.
Our Arbitration Committee's latest decision is available here (case #179).
The Real Estate Council of BC regularly publishes their disciplinary decisions. You can review the latest decision below.
Register for one of our upcoming virtual events!
We're adding new member events all the time. Register for one of our upcoming virtual member engagements - here are the details:
Autoprop: What REALTORS® need to know
Autoprop is one of the key business tools we provide. It’s a central hub for your real estate data that allows you to convert zoning, school catchment, permit, and other property information into comprehensive, branded reports for your clients.
On June 23, learn more about what you can do with this powerful tool! Autoprop’s Jusleen Phagura will lead a session that reviews the features, data, and reports you can use, along with a preview of some of the improvements they’re working to deliver.
Errors and Omissions: Mitigating risks and preventing mistakes
Join us online for an informative session focusing on the benefits that the Real Estate Errors and Omissions Insurance Corporation (REEOIC) provides to members, along with some of the most common claims they receive. REBGV past Chair Calvin Lindberg will moderate this session.
Our expert panel includes:
- Leslie Howatt, executive officer, REEOIC
- Chris Johnston, lawyer, REEOIC
- Dave Peerless, president and managing broker, Dexter Realty
Our guests will share their experiences and anecdotes while highlighting the value REEOIC brings to brokerages and Realtors. Learn about the most common mistakes Realtors make and how REEOIC assists them by providing lawyers and limiting their exposure to large financial penalties.
Discussion topics include:
- REEOIC update and background.
- The Indemnity Plan – what’s covered and what isn’t.
- Claims update.
- Why we get claims and how to avoid them.
- What to do when you have a claim.
Transportation 2040: Vancouver's long-range vision for curbside spaces
Transportation is a critical part of how cities work. As the City of Vancouver and the region continues to grow, technology also continues to quickly evolve in our transportation systems.
Good planning is the key to keeping the city moving. A key part of this is good management of our curbside space - for parking, loading, bikeshare, and other uses.
Join us for a discussion with Vancouver’s Director of Transportation, Paul Storer, on the city’s 2040 Transportation Plan, with a focus on managing parking in Vancouver.
A market update: Shifting migration and purchasing trends
REBGV’s Economist Keith Stewart makes his first presentation to members on July 29! Join us as Keith offers updates and insights into the market, including:
- Recent changes in migration patterns and their effect on the market.
- How COVID-19 has changed the market, and how it hasn’t.
- How the Millennial demographic will shape the market over the next five years.
- How buyers might react to the reopening of the economy.
Paragon tip: Setting saved searches without using the date range operator
Paragon’s saved searches for email and Collab Centre notifications have been affected of late when members use the date range operator to create them.
Instead of using the date range operator field to select a timeframe (i.e. 30 days back), click on the calendar icon beside ‘Search Date – Begin’ to set the range back to your desired setting.
Next, leave ‘Search Date – End’ blank to keep the search ongoing and proceed to save the search.
Here’s a walkthrough document that shows you how to do this.
Remember, this issue occurs only when you use the date range operator to set up a saved search for notifications.
Questions? Call the Help Desk at 604-730-3020 or email support@rebgv.org.
More data available to you with Autoprop’s latest update
Autoprop is a central hub for your real estate data. It allows you to convert zoning, school catchment, permit, and other property information into comprehensive, branded reports. It’s available to you as part of your membership with the Board.
Autoprop recently added new data to its database, including floodplain information (where municipalities make it available), and zoning information for the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.
They’ve also enhanced integrations used to create comparable reports:
- You can now add a property to the comparable using the property’s MLS® number.
- The radius search has been expanded to have an unlimited range.
Attend our free Autoprop event June 23
We’re hosting a free session on Autoprop for members on June 23 at 10:30 a.m. Learn more about this powerful tool and earn one self-directed PDP hour all at once!
Click here to register.
Questions about Autoprop? Call the Help Desk at 604-730-3020 or visit Autoprop’s website.
Obituary: Daljit Singh Sandhu
Former REALTOR® Daljit Singh Sandhu passed away in May. He was 85.
Daljit was born and raised in Punjab, India. He married his wife, Jasbir Kaur, in 1959 while working as a civil engineer. He was a senior draftsman by 1964, but he left the field to work for Indian Railways before moving to Canada with his family in 1974.
In Vancouver, Daljit worked for Osborne Propellers before earning his real estate licence. He was first licensed with Wall and Redekop Realty Ltd. in 1984. He also worked for the Canadian Permanent Trust Company and Coldwell Banker before finishing his career at Amex-Fraseridge Realty. He retired in 2014.
Daljit was deeply involved with the Sikh community and Sikh organizations locally and globally. He was a founding member of the World Sikh Organization, an umbrella organization that’s worked with the United Nations. He also helped found the Sikh Sewak Society of Canada in 1985, the Khalsa Credit Union in 1986, and the first Khalsa School in Canada in 1987.
Locally, Daljit Singh served two terms as the president of the Khalsa Diwan Society where he was also a marriage commissioner from 1979–92. He was also a founding member of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in 2007.
Daljit Singh is survived by his wife Jasbir Kaur; his daughters Satwinder Dollie Kaur (Robert Speights), Balwinder Kaur (Jagjit S. Sidhu), Rajwinder Kaur (Raghbir S. Bindra) and Kulwinder Kaur; and his sons Meharban Singh and Amandeep Singh (Dr. Kaleena Patel). He will be sorely missed by his 11 grandchildren, Harleen, Jasmine, Ramneek, Simrit, Isaac, Jeevan, Samuel, Raushan, Arjun, Anand, and Samik, and by his great-grandson Zayden.
The Sandhu family wishes to sincerely thank the staff at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and St. Paul’s Hospital for their professional and compassionate care throughout the years. The family appreciates donations in Daljit Singh’s memory to VGH Foundation Cardiac Care.
Obituary: Mike Reilly
REALTOR® Mike Reilly passed away in May at age 64.
Mike was born and raised in Vancouver. He began his career in real estate with Block Bros. Realty in 1979. In 1983, he started Multiple Realty, using his natural love for technology to develop specialized systems and offer in-house mortgage brokerage services to his clients.
During his career, he was a managing broker at United Realty RCK and Associates Ltd., Sutton Group – West Coast Realty, and most recently, Luxmore Realty. Mike was also a real estate developer. Starting in East Vancouver, he and his partners developed strata properties across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
Mike also served on the Board's Arbitration Committee for eight years between 2013-2021.
Outside of real estate, Mike enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a devoted husband and father, and he loved to be outdoors swimming, boating, fishing, cycling, gardening, and going for long walks with his family. He also enjoyed their adventures travelling together, particularly in San Diego and Hawaii.
Mike had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and he loved to create things. He invented The Frog Boat, overseeing everything from the design and manufacturing to the marketing and sales of his invention across North America.
Mike will be dearly missed and always remembered by his family, friends, clients, and colleagues. He is survived by his wife Diane, and their children Michelle and David. Donations are always welcome to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.