Organized Real Estate (ORE) is the local, provincial and national representative bodies that exist within Canadian real estate.

Organized Real Estate Collaborative Strategy – Map to the Future is a plan to adapt to the quickly changing business of real estate. It was presented at CREA’s March 2012 Annual General Meeting. After careful review with industry leaders, we are concerned that some of the ideas outlined pose a competitive, financial and creative threat to REALTORS® across Canada.

Our petition calls for the amendment of the following initiatives:

1. Consumer Insight

#2 - “Rate Your REALTOR®” online rating tool

It is widely agreed upon that most review/rating sites are primarily populated with negative feedback. We understand that the intention is to provide greater transparency for customers and to compete with independent companies already doing so, however, the current system already allows consumers to report complaints through provincial real estate councils.

If a rating tool is inevitable, we believe it should be implemented and managed at the Brokerage level, not by ORE.

2. Technology and Data

#4 – Make FSBO and non-MLS® data available on REALTOR.ca

We strongly oppose ORE allowing FSBO and non-MLS data to be available on REALTOR.ca. It takes the hard day-to-day efforts of close to 100,000 REALTORS® all across the country to prospect, negotiate and close individual listing agreements and then create a marketing package and process to place each individual property on REALTOR.ca. This industry is extremely competitive as it relates to pricing and service offerings. Many consumers already find it difficult to determine what a REALTOR® does and many REALTORS® have difficulty demonstrating their value proposition. This, in addition to the availability of FSBO and non-MLS data will make it that much harder for REALTORS® to compete in an environment that is already highly competitive.

ORE is a member funded structure created to serve the interests of REALTORS®, not to serve consumers directly. It is our opinion that members are responsible for revenue generation, not ORE, as referenced in “Potential Benefits/potential revenue generation”.

#6 – App development, data sharing, and technology advancements through partnerships within and external to ORE.

We are concerned that there is consideration of sharing ORE member data with third party companies as a means of generating revenue. We believe selling the data collected by ORE members will further level the playing field, making it that much harder for REALTORS® to compete.

3. Professional Development

#4 – Education for REALTORS® to develop skills to enhance and create positive consumer experiences; Establish an enforcement process for the REALTOR® Code that is acceptable in all jurisdictions.

We are opposed to sales and marketing training mandated by ORE. We believe the one size fits all approach is counter-productive to REALTORS® seeking new ideas, strategies and tools to stay competitive. Mandated sales and marketing training will not stop REALTORS® from accessing learning opportunities outside of ORE, it only increases their cost of doing business.

What can you do?

1. Vote in TREB’s upcoming Board of Directors election June 1-6, 2012.
2. Sign our petition below to oppose the outlined initiatives.
3. Share this petition with every Licensed Real Estate Agent you know. Click the "Email Friends" tab at the top.

Time for action is now!

Sign Our Petition. It will be presented to ORE before the October 2012 vote at CREA’s Annual General Meeting.

Paul Baron
Broker of Record
Century 21 Leading Edge Realty Inc., Brokerage
[email protected]
www.century21leadingedge.ca