Featured News
Home showings permitted in our region under strict safety protocols
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a two-week order for the Lower Mainland on Saturday that restricts social gatherings in homes, suspends group indoor physical activities, limits travel, and requires businesses to screen all onsite workers daily.
Click here to read the order.
REALTORS® have been designated an essential service in this pandemic. Our understanding is that Saturday’s order doesn’t impact your ability to conduct a showing of a home so long as you strictly follow the safety protocols established for our profession to date.
This includes new guidance on how to make showings safer and the updated Safe Return to Work Checklist for Managing Brokers that Council, BCREA and OSRE released last week.
BC’s real estate boards and real estate regulatory bodies advised Realtors last week to stop holding open houses given the increasing COVID-19 caseload in our province.
Click here to read that announcement.
COVID-19 is an evolving issue in BC today. Please stay on top of the latest news regarding changing safety protocols and continue to do as much business as you can in a virtual environment.
Watch our video below for more details.
We’ll share more COVID-19 news with you as we receive it.
Members share insights at our first Member Meeting
Thanks to the nearly 200 members who joined our November 10 virtual Member Meeting. We shared details on the key strategic initiatives your Board is undertaking and received lots of your thoughts and feedback.
Attendees also told us what issue or priority they thought we should focus on in the future through a word cloud exercise which you can see above.
If you missed the meeting you can still join us for our next one on November 24. Register for the event here.
Enter your livestream open house links in Paragon
Given the worsening COVID-19 situation in our province, the real estate boards and regulators in BC are advising REALTORS® to not hold physical open houses and consider virtual alternatives.
Livestreaming has become a popular option for members to showcase homes through a live video feed.
You can add links to your Paragon listings that direct the public to your livestream showings. The links you add in Paragon flow through to REALTOR.ca, Realtylink.org and other listing websites.
Click here for a guide on how to do this.
Remember to only enter livestream showing and open house links, and not virtual tour links, in this section of Paragon. A virtual tour isn't a live video feed and shouldn’t be used in place of a livestream.
Live video feeds offer potential buyers interactivity with the host to, for example, ask to see a room again or to zoom in on a particular feature.
Virtual tours are pre-recorded videos that don't offer interactivity with potential buyers and should be entered in Paragon's virtual tour section.
If you need help entering your livestream open house or virtual tour link, call our Help Desk at 604-730-3020.
Get tips on holding virtual open houses
We recently held an event about hosting virtual open houses, featuring our Past-Chair Ashley Smith. Click below to watch the event for some helpful tips.
The latest on WEBForms: Clause manager enhancements and more
The WEBForms Working Group (WWG) released its latest report recently. Here are the highlights.
More enhancements to the clause manager
The clause manager has been enhanced to allow you to select where you insert a clause, instead of automatically adding it to the end of the text block you’re working on.
Also, any clauses you copy and paste from outside WEBForms will now keep their original formatting when printed or emailed.
A new process for new forms
Through working with the BC Real Estate Association on the last major new forms release in September 2020, the WWG developed a new process for future new forms releases. It outlines the expectations and tasks for all partners involved in a new forms release, including quality assurance protocols and clear timelines and milestones.
The WWG will present a draft of this new process at its next meeting. If you have comments, email Rob Reynar at rreynar@crea.ca.
Backlog update
The WWG has made significant progress in addressing new form and form change requests that had built up over the summer months. The group anticipates eliminating the backlog entirely in November, which will better position them to address new requests.
End of old WEBForms
The old version of WEBForms (aka WEBForms Legacy) will shut down for good on December 17, 2020.
Since last December, the old WEBForms has been in a read-only state and you’ve only been able to download PDFs of your past contracts. If you have old contracts that you want to save, please do so before December 17.
Questions? Contact our Help Desk at support@rebgv.org or CREA at support@crea.ca.
Words do, indeed, matter
The words we use to let others know what we think, want, or hope for do indeed, matter. Some people say absolutely nothing, despite using a blizzard of words to make their point. Just watch a political debate—on either side of the border—and you’ll see what I mean.
Few of us have perfected the art of clear communication. It’s fascinating to listen to and read how human beings communicate with each other. For example, police spokespeople are fond of using words like, “individual,” “deceased,” and “I can tell you.” They might say, “I can tell you three individuals perpetrated a break and enter, assaulting the store owner, who is now deceased from his injures.” Good grief. Wouldn’t it be clearer to say, “Three people robbed a store, attacked its owner, and killed him”? I could go on.
Since perfectly good words have now become loaded with other meanings, we should be aware of the possibility of getting things wrong and inadvertently offending someone. I could go on, but I like my job, so let’s turn our attention to how “surgical” our language ought to be when we write a note to our colleagues using REALTOR® Remarks (R/Remarks).
R/Remarks is the place where you notify colleagues there are special requirements for showings; for example, “wear a mask, put on gloves, only two people in the property at the same time, don’t use the toilet, and don’t let the cat out.” It’s also the place where you describe why your listing is a contingent one (read the Rules of Cooperation, Rule 3.20 for information).
ROC R3.22 sets the requirements for member access to listed properties. While the requirement for listings to be made available for showings has been suspended for the foreseeable future, don’t forget sellers’ instructions must be made in writing along with a heads-up being written in R/Remarks. Read the Rule, it’s a long one.
I also suggest you be absolutely clear in what you mean when writing a R/Remark. There are no standard clauses. Since we all communicate differently, what one member writes may not be understood in the same way by another member. For example, if you write, “First open house this weekend, November 14/15” does that mean there are no showings before November 15? I think not. If you write these words trying to tell colleagues there won’t be any showings before that weekend, your note should be clearer. For example, you could write, “First open house November 15, no showings before then.”
But we’re not done yet. Does “no showings, first open November 14” mean that no offers will be considered before November 14? No. The statement refers just to showings, not when the seller will consider an offer. What if a builder drives by and decides he likes the property? If he doesn’t care about the house itself, he could ask his agent to write an offer without even seeing inside the place.
ROC R4.02, is specific about delayed offer presentations, saying that unless otherwise instructed by the seller in writing using the Direction Regarding Presentation of Offers form (DRPO), offers must be presented “without delay.” That means the seller’s agent has to tell the seller about the builder’s offer. Read the rule.
If the seller wants to consider the offer, then the seller’s agent must follow ROC R3.22(c), which says, “prior to presenting the offer, inform all Cooperating Brokerages [for example, buyers’ agents] who have requested a viewing appointment, or who have requested in writing to be kept informed about offers, that an offer is scheduled for presentation.”
If the seller has signed a DRPO directing the presentation of offers to be delayed until a certain date, the R/Remarks must state the date (and time, if specified) when offers will be presented. A written direction that includes wording that contradicts this instruction, such as “unless the seller decides to see an offer earlier,” voids the instruction. This means that offer presentations will not be delayed. This type of contradictory instruction is invalid and must never be accepted by a seller’s agent, let alone appear in R/Remarks.
If offers are not being presented until a specified date, and the seller’s agent receives a written offer at any point prior to that date, the seller’s agent has to tell the seller about the offer (the fact there is an offer, not the terms of the offer). If the seller wants to know the terms of the offer right away and not wait until the specified presentation date, then (under ROC R4.02(b)) the seller’s agent must do a number of things, all before presenting the offer, including:
- Getting a new DRPO signed with new instructions that rescind the initial delayed-offers instruction.
- Updating the R/Remarks to reflect the seller’s new written instructions.
- Notifying all cooperating brokerages (e.g., buyers’ agents) “that have requested in writing to be kept informed [about offers or possible changes to the published presentation date and time], that an offer will be presented earlier.” The seller’s agent must also give those buyers’ agents “equal and, where practical, concurrent opportunity” to present their own offer.
I have a lot of sympathy for members on both sides of this scenario. It can be utterly frustrating to misinterpret a seller’s agent R/Remark. If that interpretation leads to a missed opportunity for your buyers, it can be embarrassing to have to deliver the news. Apart from the likely blow-back to the seller’s agent with anger all around, the buyers are probably not going to be shy about telling their friends about the latest bad thing they just experienced. These kinds of stories make it difficult to get our collective public-approval numbers up.
Humans are generally imperfect at the art of communication. It has always been thus. We read and hear things through our own life’s lens. Try to keep that in mind when you write a comment in R/Remarks and be as clear as possible. Never assume how your colleagues may interpret what you’ve written. If you’re a buyer’s agent and your client’s dearest goal hangs on your understanding of what the other member has said, why not consider sending them a text/Touchbase/email (or phone them) to clarify your understanding of their words?
Words do, indeed, matter. Be careful what you say and take great care to be clear. Often, fewer words are better than more.
Top Tip - Insurance Risk
If you’re working with buyers, make a point of reminding them they are taking on the insurance risk of the property (CPS “Risk” clause) at the first minute of the date of completion. If the property is registered in their name at 2 p.m. on the completion day, for example, they'll have had the insurance risk for 13 hours and 59 minutes already. Who cares, you say? Your buyer will care very much if the sellers are moving out on the day of completion and they damage the place; for example, hitting a sprinkler head with a piece of furniture and flooding the place as a result. Hoo boy, what a situation that would be. If your buyers are buying strata, they may have a BIG insurance deductible. A big water claim with a large deductible wouldn’t be a welcome surprise on the day they pay for their new home. Recommend they have their insurance in place as outlined in the contract of purchase and sale, and suggest they talk to their insurance agent about getting their deductible insured. Record your suggestion for your file and remember, don’t become the insurance agent—let the insurance agents do their job.
Vancouver gets new affordable housing funding and proposes a new climate action plan; Richmond’s future
Federal government pledges $51.5 million for affordable housing in Vancouver
These funds will go towards providing emergency housing for Vancouver’s increasing homeless population.
Vancouver’s climate emergency action plan
The plan proposes transit fare increases, bridge tolls, road-use charges, and fees for residential parking permits – all with a goal of combatting climate change.
The future of Richmond
Richmond’s population is increasing, and city planners are helping to guide growth with the help of input from residents and businesses. Here’s what’s on the horizon.
Donate to our REALTORS Care® Blanket Charity Drive fundraiser!
Instead of collecting clothing and blankets for our Blanket Drive this year, we’re having an online fundraiser called the 2020 REALTORS Care® Blanket Charity Drive, from November 23-27. We need your support to be successful!
Your donation will help our long-time Blanket Drive charities that have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Earn rewards!
We’re adding a competitive twist to this year's campaign! Your donation earns you different recognition and rewards depending on how much you donate.
For example, if you donate between $50 and $99, you’ll get a special REALTORS Care® facemask, a social media badge to share online, and your name included in the overall donations list we’ll feature on our websites and social media channels.
Here are some examples of our social media badges:
If an office donates between $1,000 and $1,499, it receives a social media badge, certificate, and is included in the overall donations list.
Donation reward levels |
|
|---|---|
Realtors |
Brokerages |
Less than $25
|
Less than $500
|
Supporter level $25-$49
|
Village level $500-$999
|
Booster level $50-$99 Same as Supporter, and
|
Town level $1,000-$1,4000 Same as Village, and
|
Builder level $100+ Same as Booster, and
|
City level $1,500+ Same as Town, and
|
Set a challenge!
Up the ante and challenge your Realtor and brokerage colleagues!
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board is also participating, so let’s make sure we shine!
Donate
Make the donation here and follow the instructions.
Donations of $5 or more will receive a tax receipt from Charitable Impact on behalf of the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive.
Note: Tax receipts are issued based on the donation amount. Non-profit groups receiving the funds from Charitable Impact will receive the amount of the donation minus any credit card processing fees charged to Charitable Impact.
Hear from three past REBGV Chairs about the importance of the Board Development Committee
In the video below, REBGV past-Chairs Darcy McLeod, Ray Harris, and Ashley Smith discuss the importance of good governance, the role of the Board Development Committee, and how members benefit from the work they do.
Ahead of our 2021 Board of Directors election, take the time to learn about the Board Development Committee and the recommendation process here.
Learn more about becoming a Director here. The deadline to apply to run in the 2021 election is November 15.
The Board Development Committee process visualized
Follow the year-round work of the Board Development Committee in the image below. Click to expand.
Other News
REBGV looking for a tenant for Schoolhouse Training Facility
We’re looking for a tenant to assign the lease to our Schoolhouse Training Facility in Coquitlam.
We opened Schoolhouse in 2018 to make it easier for more members to attend Professional Development Program (PDP) courses without having to commute to our Vancouver office. However, we haven’t hosted PDP courses at Schoolhouse since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, and we won’t likely be hosting courses there in the foreseeable future.
With that in mind, we’ve begun the search for another tenant to take over our lease. We’re committed to our lease until February 2023.
As of the end of October, we’ve hosted 264 live webinar courses for 13,242 attendees since the pandemic hit. In a recent poll, 86 per cent of members who responded said they want REBGV to continue to host live webinar courses after the pandemic ends.
If you know of a tenant that might be interested in leasing our Schoolhouse location, contact Wayne Tullis at 604-868-5388 or wayne@tullisrealty.com.
Don't miss our November events!
Take a look at all the ways you can engage with us in November!
Presenting yourself in a virtual world—November 19
John Kemp of Keller Williams Elite Realty will teach you how to create the right environment to present yourself professionally in a virtual world. He’ll review how people make first impressions virtually, the kinds of equipment you should use, backgrounds, minimizing distractions, and more.
This event is PDP-eligible. You can learn more about this event and register online.
REBGV member meeting—November 24
Our annual member meetings are going virtual this year! Join us as REBGV Chair Colette Gerber and CEO Brad Scott discuss key strategic initiatives that your Board is undertaking. Topics include:
- REBGV’s new strategic plan;
- exploring amalgamation with the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board;
- the latest on WEBForms; and
- the future needs of REBGV.
At the meetings, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, make comments, and respond to a variety of surveys. Watch for registration information soon.
The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. Register online today!
Vancouver short-term rentals—November 26
Join our panel of experts from the City of Vancouver for an overview on short-term rentals (STRs) and what you need to know about them. They’ll discuss:
- STR regulations, programs, and guiding principles;
- property manager licences and STRs;
- how STRs intersect with REALTORS® and their clients; and
- current and future initiatives with STRs in Vancouver.
This event is PDP-eligible. You can learn more about this event and register online.
ICYMI: REBGV develops new three-year strategic plan
While managing the disruption and uncertainty of 2020, our management team and Board of Directors have been working to design a future where you, your clients, and our association can thrive.
This work has produced a three-year plan for REBGV. Click here to view it.
This document envisions a future where:
- MLS® remains the central system for Realtors to compete while cooperating with each other on behalf of clients;
- REALTORS® understand and meet their responsibilities to our profession;
- REBGV adheres to rigorous business standards in pursuit of new opportunities, innovation, and continuous improvement;
- Members receive emerging business tools in a timely manner; and
- Where the public trusts and values Realtors and the MLS®.
We recently announced that we’ve formed a steering team with the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board to explore a potential amalgamation. This is the first major initiative to come from our new plan.
Before holding our first planning session, we surveyed all members and worked with staff and directors to assess the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that affect our profession today and that could impede your success in the future.
Five strategic areas emerged as priorities from this research: technology, professionalism, MLS®, consumers, and business excellence.
From these priorities, we designed a series of actions we’ll take to achieve our goals.
As Herb Kelleher, a co-founder of Southwest Airlines, once said, “We have a strategic plan. It’s called doing things.”
In our plan, we commit to:
- Exploring a potential amalgamation with the Fraser Valley Board.
- Working with the other large boards in Canada to re-imagine and invest in cutting edge MLS® technology.
- Increasing investments in MLS® marketing.
- Implementing emerging technology solutions to enhance our MLS® suite of products and services available to you.
- Better analyzing MLS® data & demographics to give consumers improved market insights.
- Increasing trust between the public and the real estate profession.
- Calling for higher entrance standards into the profession.
- And more prominently advocating with government for the needs of homeowners, sellers, and buyers.
This is an ambitious plan. To be successful, we’ll need your support. Progress will only come if we’re all engaged and committed to these goals.
We’re working on a new engagement approach that’ll give you more opportunities to have discussions with us, attend online forums, consume information in new formats, and hear from different voices on key topics.
On November 24, we’ll hold the second of our annual fall member meetings. COVID restrictions mean that we can’t get together for breakfast like we normally do; however, we’ll optimize different technology platforms at this session to get your feedback and engage with you.
You can register for the session here:
Be well and stay safe,
Colette Gerber
Chair
Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
Read Council’s October 2020 newsletter
The Real Estate Council of British Columbia’s (Council’s) October 2020 newsletter has valuable information for REALTORS® and Brokers.
- Learn more about the latest safety measures and tips for conducting your business safely and responsibly in today’s environment.
- Read a column about the potential concerns surrounding listing a property below market value.
- Learn more about recent trends in Council discipline cases.
- Get the latest info on Council’s education courses.
- Learn about Council’s virtual hearing procedures.
- Get an update on brokerage audit efforts.
- Watch Council’s new animated resource for dealing with conflicts of interest between clients.
Click here to read the newsletter.
MLS® Rule 3.22 on showing properties remains on hold during the pandemic
We continue to recognize that the five-day showing limitation in Rule 3.22 of the Rules of Cooperation can be an unworkable requirement during a pandemic. We eased this part of Rule 3.22 since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March.
While COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our region, we’ll continue to allow no-show periods that exceed the five-day limitation set out in the rule.
Seller’s instructions must still be in writing and noted in the REALTOR® Remarks. It's expected that any listing without a no-show instruction in the REALTOR® Remarks is available for showings. Per 3.22 (c), please note the obligation to notify other members if an offer comes in during a no-show period.
A listing that’s inaccessible for showings is a contingent listing and must have a signed instruction from the seller(s) to that effect and a notation added to the REALTOR® Remarks.
Click here and scroll to page nine to read Rule 3.22.
If you have questions, please call either our Professional Standards Department at 604-730-3089 or MLS® at 604-730-3085.
Province extends rent freeze to July 2021
The provincial government extended the ban on rent increases this week to July 10, 2021. Previously the ban was set to end on December 1.
This means all rent increases set to happen before July 10, 2021 are no longer valid, even if a landlord has already given notice to their tenant. The province is advising tenants who have received rent increases notices in this timeframe to ignore them.
If a tenant accidentally pays an increased rent during this timeframe, it doesn't constitute an acceptance of the increase. A tenant that makes an overpayment can recoup that overpayment by reducing their next rent payment or applying for a monetary order.
We’ll provide more information on this situation as it becomes available.
Share our October stats resources with your clients
The home sale and listing resurgence that we experienced this summer in Metro Vancouver has extended into the fall, with October seeing near record sales and new listing activity.
Use our different resources to deliver the latest housing market statistics and information to your clients. There are several to choose from:
- Our October 2020 housing report gives your clients the full picture of what’s happening in today’s market. You can also share our October 2020 Market Insights video.
- Our Stats Centre Reports (login required) break down our monthly housing report by area. These reports are great at highlighting market activity for clients looking for properties in specific areas.
- REBGV Stats Centre (login required) lets you create custom charts and graphs to share with your clients using 10 different metrics. This tool also drills down to the sub-area level so you can create charts and graphs for specific neighbourhoods.
- The recent News 1130 video with REBGV Chair Colette Gerber that provides insight into recent market trends.
We’ve also developed articles on our public website, www.rebgv.org, to help your clients better understand market trends and what to expect when working with a REALTOR® during the COVID-19 pandemic.