Members approve three resolutions at our May 7 virtual AGM

Thanks to the 181 members who participated in our annual general meeting (AGM) online on Tuesday, May 7!

We moved this year’s AGM to a virtual meeting to comply with the current restrictions on large gatherings in our province.

Members voted during the meeting to approve all three of the Special Resolutions that the Board of Directors proposed this year. Special Resolutions require two-thirds member approval to pass. Here’s a summary:

Special Resolution 1 – Approved by 92% of voting members

Gives Board staff the autonomy to update different administrative forms, like membership forms, without requiring approval from the Board of Directors.

Special Resolution 2 – Approved by 99% of voting members

Clarifies wording in our professional conduct appeal procedures that may be considered ambiguous.

Special Resolution 3 – Approved by 93% of voting members

Changes the title of the REBGV president to “chair,” vice-president to "vice-chair," president-elect to "chair-elect," and past president to "past chair."

Click here to read more about these resolutions in this year’s AGM package.

Watch our video presentations

Click here to view REBGV President Ashley Smith's video presentation from the AGM.

Click here to view CEO Brad Scott's video presentation from the AGM.

On May 8, Colette Gerber became the Chair of REBGV's Board of Directors for the 2020/2021 term.

We’d like to thank Ashley Smith for her tremendous dedication during her term this past year!

Introducing your new Chair and Board of Directors

REALTOR® Colette Gerber began her one-year term as Chair of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver's (REBGV) Board of Directors on May 8.

"I move into this role amid a public health crisis. The Realtor community that we represent at REBGV is working to embrace new practices and innovations to help the public meet their housing needs in a responsible way," Gerber said. "I look forward to doing what I can to help the real estate profession guide, inform, and serve the public through these challenging times."

Colette became a Realtor in 2008. Before joining the real estate profession, she had a lengthy career in management, finance, and luxury residential development. She's also volunteered with and supported a number of charitable and community organisations across the region, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation, YMCA Metro Vancouver, and the Dunbar Vision Implementation Committee.

We'd like to thank outgoing Chair Ashley Smith for her leadership during the 2019/2020 term.

Supporting Colette during her term will be Chair-Elect Taylor Biggar and Vice-Chair Daniel John.

Directors 2020-21

Colette Gerber, Chair — Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

Taylor Biggar, Chair-Elect — Oakwyn Realty

Daniel John, Vice-Chair — Sutton Group – Seafair Realty

Ashley Smith, Past Chair — Oakwyn Realty

Doug Dang — Amex Broadway West Realty

Brian Friedrich — Appointed Director

Bob Ingratta — Appointed Director

Leslie McDonnell — RE/MAX Select Properties

Michael Mitsiadis — Royal Pacific Realty Corp

Cybele Negris — Appointed Director

Jennifer Quart — RE/MAX Westcoast

Danielle Roy — Five Sails Realty

Arnold Shuchat — Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

Jason Wood — Pacific Evergreen Realty Ltd.

Watch our new video on how to safely conduct in-person showings

Watch our newest video that offers tips on how to safely and responsibly conduct in-person showings during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Our 2018 Professional Excellence Award winner Josh Bath walks you through some steps to consider taking to protect yourself and your clients when conducting an in-person showing given today's circumstances. 

Stick to the basics

I think you, more than I, have a much better understanding of how things are going in our current real estate market. 

Listening to a recent major broadcast news story, I was irritated to see the reporter taking on a gleeful tone when he said your collected efforts had resulted in an April sales number not seen since 1982. 

Woo-hoo, as they say. 

I remember those days with a lot of pain, but I also remember things did eventually improve so that, nearly 40 years later, I look can back with more pleasure than pain on the ups and downs of the market over the years. (If you want a bird’s-eye view of how things have gone since the late 1970s, check out the Board’s home price graph, 1977 to present.)

“Stick to the basics,” seems appropriate advice for our current malaise. Mind you, there are some bright spots out there. In April, I heard of more than one instance of multiple offers, and members said they believed there’s still an underlying strength to the market. They think, and I agree, we just need to get back to a month or two of semi-normalcy for that strength to manifest itself in stronger sales numbers. And, while the April sales numbers were low, the listing inventory was also low, and it continues to drop. This is understandable. Who in their right mind would want to put their home on the market right now if they didn’t have to? 

This leaves me to make two observations. First, there’s a good chance recently listed sellers are very motivated—meaning they’ve listed in this market and therefore already know they’re going to have to be flexible if they want to attract serious buyers. Second, with inventory at its current low level, we don’t appear to be getting the double whammy of low sales and massive inventory. That, as we discovered 38 years ago, is what knocks a market onto its backside for years. With good, showable, and well-priced listings as scarce as hens’ teeth, those buyers who are serious don’t have huge numbers of listings to scan before they settle on one or two to look at (virtually, of course). Maybe this is the glue that will keep things together. So, stick to the basics then.

In my last column, I made some unorthodox prospecting suggestions to help jump start your creativity. Building on those, here are some more:

1. In my time I’ve picked up one or two co-lists and buyer referrals by keeping an eye open for colleagues working in markets far removed from where they usually work. I’d go to the MLS® system (the catalogue, back in the day) and troll through it to identify all the properties listed by colleagues from far away. You know the drill—sometimes you have a relative or friend who wants you to sell their home for them. It can be hard to say no, and besides, you tell yourself, it won’t be that hard to get it sold. But pretty soon, the reality of working in an area you’re not in tune with sets in. So why not call these colleagues to pitch them for a co-list? You might just find a colleague who’s thoroughly fed up with driving to their faraway listing, not to mention dealing with their now irritated seller’s unrealistic expectations.
2. Perhaps you notice a normally distant colleague from another area is working with a buyer who wants a new home in your area. “Why?” you wonder. Probably because your colleague is trying to get their house listed in their area and to do that, they need to take the sellers out to look at places for sale so they know they’ll be able to get something when their place sells. The problem is your colleague isn’t all that familiar with the pulse of your local market. And because your colleague may not have many contacts in your area, their ability to bring good product to their buyer’s table isn’t what it should be. You could ask your increasingly tired and perhaps frustrated buyer-agent colleague if you can take over the buyer and pay the referral. There’s no harm in asking as long as you’ve considered potential agency conflicts first if you have listings in the area.
3. I know there aren’t many for-rent ads these days, but there are some, and they can lead to listings. If you see a for-rent ad, you have to wonder what that landlord is going to do if they can’t find a tenant. These days, tenants are often strapped for cash, so perhaps they’re staying where they are, not looking for a move. This doesn’t help a hard-pressed landlord who is, perhaps, facing their own financial pressures from mortgages, property taxes, strata fees, and regular maintenance. Why not call the landlord and make your pitch: “I see you have your place for rent. Have you had any success yet? No? What’ll you do if you can’t rent it? Have you considered selling it?” Bingo! You might end up with a listing, just because you made the call. (Remember, though, before you call, check the Do Not Call List to see if the number is privacy protected.) 

This isn’t rocket science, as they say. Sure, you’ve met brilliant colleagues who seem to effortlessly bag listings and make sales, month after month. (There’s nothing “effortless” about it, I’m sorry to say.) And you’ve also probably met colleagues who don’t appear to have any talent or personal magnetism, yet still they do very well. What’s been the secret of their success, given they aren’t exactly sizzling with personality? It’s probably their dogged determination combined with a stick-to-the-basics approach. Every day, they prospect for new business. And, they don’t take no for an answer.

So, keep your chin up, stick to the basics, and remember: every day we’re closer to the end of this COVID-thing.

Top Tip

A broker recently asked for clarification on ending tenancies. His understanding is that the “notice clock” for buyers wanting vacant possession doesn’t start ticking until the first day after the health emergency has been lifted, meaning a 60-day notice would take effect starting then. He was concerned there may be Realtors and sellers who think, because there’s a four-month suspension of tenant evictions that, for notices already given, the tenant would have to leave immediately after the health emergency is lifted.

We reached out to LandlordBC - here’s the response we received:

As it currently stands, any notice that was served prior to the Ministerial Order M089 (signed March 30, 2020) is still considered effective and landlords are able to apply for an order of possession. That being said, enforcement through the Supreme Court of an order of possession issued prior to or during this state of emergency is prohibited. If a tenant were issued a notice to end tenancy prior to this update coming into effect they should still vacate on the effective date on the Notice to End Tenancy. If they do not the landlord can apply for and obtain an order of possession which can be enforced through the Supreme Court and a bailiff once the Provincial State of Emergency is lifted. With all that in mind, while this Ministerial Order is in place landlords may not serve any new Notice to End Tenancy.

Pets, public hearings, and climate emergency requirements

 

Stratas must allow pets in some circumstances 

If a strata property owner, or one of their family members, requires a support pet, a strata corporation must accommodate them, according to this new BC Human Rights Tribunal decision.  

Read more. 

Electronic public hearings allowed during pandemic 

REALTORS® and their clients often attend and make presentations at municipal public hearings on topics ranging from the height of residential towers to house size on farmland. Now hearings will be online during the pandemic. 

Read more. 

Climate emergency requirements for Vancouver homes 

If your client is building a new home or substantially renovating a home in Vancouver, there are new energy-efficiency requirements for residential buildings three storeys or less. 

Read more. 

COVID-19 info and resources for you, your employees, and your clients

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives and the way we do business.

To help, we’ve compiled information and resources to help you understand how to operate in today’s market and what government assistance is available for you, your employees, and your clients.

REALTOR® resources

Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O)  Learn more

Conveyancing during COVID-19  Learn more

Provincial government's rental support measures, landlord restrictions, and eviction moratorium rules  Learn more

Realtors are an essential service  Learn more

REBGV strongly recommends no Open Houses  Learn more

MLS® rule change for showings  Learn more

COVID-19 FAQ: Dealing with contracts and disclosure requirements  Learn more

COVID-19 and the housing market  Learn more

Social media updates 

For the latest information on COVID-19 and how it's affecting Board operations, the profession, and the market, follow us on social media.

• REBGV Facebook page
• REBGV Realtors’ Facebook Group
• Linkedin
• Twitter
• Instagram

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Client resources

We’ve created a series of articles to help buyers and sellers understand what to expect during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:

• Adapting and innovating: How REALTORS® are guiding and advising their clients in today’s market
• Metro Vancouver REALTORS® lend helping hand during pandemic
• How to show a home safely during COVID-19
• What to expect when working with a REALTOR® today

We encourage you to share these articles with your clients or on your social media accounts.