module 2 Flashcards
Registrant’s Obligations: Information before Agreements, Section 10 of the Code
A salesperson is required to discuss specific information with a seller or a buyer prior to entering into an agreement
for the purpose of trading in real estate. This information is provided to assist the seller or the buyer in making an
informed decision on the type of relationship and the services they will receive based on that relationship. The
information to be provided includes:
• The types of service alternatives that are available to the seller or the buyer in the circumstances including a
representation agreement or another type of agreement. This discussion should include the difference
between a client and a customer, and how services differ in these two types of relationships. You are also
expected to explain that there could be circumstances where the brokerage may represent more than one
client in the same transaction, which would result in a change to those services.
• The services that will be provided by the brokerage and the salesperson under each agreement. Services differ
according to the nature of the agreement; the seller and the buyer must understand this to avoid any
misunderstandings at a later time.
Registrant’s Obligations: Information before Agreements, Section 10 of the Code
• The fact that circumstances may arise in which the brokerage could potentially represent more than one client
in the same trade in real estate. However, a brokerage cannot do this unless all of the clients represented by
the brokerage in the trade agree and confirm their agreement in writing.
• The nature of services that the brokerage would provide to each client if the brokerage represents more than
one client in the same trade.
• The fact that circumstances could arise in which the brokerage could provide services to more than one
customer in respect of the same trade and how the services may change.
• The fact that circumstances may arise where the brokerage could be representing a client and providing
services to customers within the same trade and how the services may change.
• The difference in services that the brokerage would provide to a customer versus the services it would provide
to a client in the same trade.
• The Code requires you to do your best to obtain a written acknowledgement that this discussion has taken
place at the earliest opportunity, but at the very latest, before an offer is made.
Contents of written agreements (Section 11 of the Code of Ethics)
Any written agreement between a brokerage and a
seller or a buyer must clearly, comprehensibly, and prominently specify:
• The effective date and expiry date of the agreement. There may be only one expiry date.
• The method for calculating remuneration payable to the brokerage. In the case of an
agreement with a seller, the amount payable to any other brokerage.
• How the remuneration will be paid to the brokerage.
• The services that the brokerage will provide under the agreement.
Copies of written agreements (Section 12 of the Code of Ethics)
When a brokerage enters into a written representation or customer service agreement with a
seller or a buyer, a copy of the agreement must immediately be given to everyone who signs
the agreement. This would require a salesperson, when meeting with the parties in person, to
have sufficient copies of the agreement for all parties and the brokerage. If the agreement is
being completed electronically (by fax or email), or if the parties sign the agreement
electronically, they are deemed to have received a copy of the agreement with the generated
receipt or confirmation as evidence of transmission.
Seller representation n agreements (Section 13 of the Code of Ethics)
If a brokerage enters into a verbal agreement with a seller to represent them in the listing and
marketing of a property, the agreement must be reduced to a written document, signed by the
brokerage and submitted to the seller for signing at the earliest opportunity and before an
offer is made.
As a salesperson, you may sign a representation or a customer service agreement on behalf of
the brokerage and present it to the seller for signing. Although the Code does not require the
seller(s) to sign the agreement, in practice, a brokerage may have policies that require any
agreement with a seller to be signed prior to any marketing activity being undertaken for the
property. A seller representation agreement is also commonly referred to as a listing
agreement
Buyer representation n agreements (Section 14 of the Code of Ethics)
If a brokerage enters into a verbal agreement with a buyer to represent them in the purchase
of a property, the agreement must be reduced to a written document, signed by the
brokerage, and submitted to the buyer for signing at the earliest opportunity, and before any
offer is made.
As a salesperson, you may sign the document on behalf of the brokerage. Although the Code
does not require the buyer(s) to sign the agreement, in practice, a brokerage may have policies
and procedures relating to working with buyers and obtaining the buyers’ signatures.
Agreements with customers (Section 15 of the Code of Ethics)
If a brokerage enters into a verbal agreement with a seller or a buyer as a customer to
provide services in respect of a trade, the agreement must be reduced to a written
document, signed by the brokerage, and submitted to the customer for signing at the earliest
opportunity, and before any offer is made.
As a salesperson, you may sign this document on behalf of the brokerage. Although the Code
does not require the seller or the buyer as a customer(s) to sign the agreement, in practice, a
brokerage may have policies relating to the use of a customer service agreement. These
policies may vary depending on whether the customer is a seller or a buyer. There are distinct
service agreements used for each, as the terms relating to providing services for a trade
differ.
Current forms
(Section 34 of
the Code of
Ethics)
The Code also requires that all forms used in the course of a trade are current. As legislation
can change, a brokerage must ensure all salespersons are using up-to-date forms.
Obligation related to charging or collecting remuneration, per Sections 13 and 14 of the Code and Subsection 23(1) of O.Reg. 567/05
A brokerage cannot charge remuneration for a trade unless there is a
written agreement that is signed by, or on behalf of, the person who
will pay the remuneration.
There exists, under REBBA, a provision for remuneration to be payable
where an agreement to pay remuneration is not in writing, provided
certain conditions exist. Remuneration may be payable, despite there
being no commission agreement documented, when:
- A salesperson has conveyed a written offer that is accepted by the seller;
- A salesperson shows a property to the buyer, who subsequently purchases the property; or
• The salesperson introduces the seller and the buyer, for the purpose of discussing the acquisition or disposition of an interest in real estate.
when can you get remuneration despite not signing?
n such cases, the brokerage was the catalyst for the sale or purchase of
the property and may be able to claim remuneration.
what is a policy of the brokerage under section 13 and 14?
Under Sections 13 and 14 of the Code, the salesperson, at the earliest opportunity, is required to complete the appropriate agreement, sign it on behalf of the brokerage, and present it to the party for signature.
The party is not obligated to sign the agreement. However, the Under Sections 13 and 14 of the Code, the salesperson, at the earliest
opportunity, is required to complete the appropriate agreement, sign it
on behalf of the brokerage, and present it to the party for signature.
The party is not obligated to sign the agreement. However, the
Failing to properly document and discuss the client’s or the customer’s obligation to pay remuneration result in what ?
Failing to properly document and discuss the client’s or the customer’s
obligation to pay remuneration may result in an invalid agreement,
resulting in the brokerage not getting paid, detrimental impact on the
salesperson’s and the brokerage’s reputation, and disciplinary action by
RECO.
Obligations regarding
allowable ways of calculating
remuneration (Subsections
36(1), (2), and (3) of the Act)
The
allowable methods include a fixed amount, a percentage of the sale
price, or a combination of both.
If there is no written agreement as to the amount, the remuneration is
then negotiated between the parties and in some cases, the courts may
be asked to intervene and determine the amount of remuneration
payable.
Remuneration cannot be based on the difference between the listing
price and the sale price of the property.
Many variations of remuneration calculations exist, with a percentage
of the sale price being the most common.
Obligations to disclose any
direct or indirect benefit
(Subsection 18(4) of the Code of
Ethics)
Any direct or indirect financial benefit that a registrant, or a person
related to the registrant, may receive from another person in
connection with the services being provided by the registrant to a client
must be disclosed in writing as soon as possible. This includes any
commission or other remuneration that the brokerage may receive
from another person.
Any monetary compensation must be paid through the brokerage and
not directly to a salesperson.
Failure to disclose or obtain the client’s consent could jeopardize the
relationship and create legal liability (e.g., having to forfeit the benefit
received) for the brokerage and the salesperson
Obligations when remuneration is being paid to the brokerage from more than one person for the same trade (Subsection 18(5) of the Code of Ethics)
These disclosures must be made in writing at the earliest opportunity
and include:
● To the other person, the terms of the agreement with the seller or
the buyer regarding the payment of remuneration
● To the seller or the buyer, the terms of the agreement with the
other person regarding the payment of remuneration
Traditionally, remuneration is paid by a seller. However, buyers can
also be obligated to pay a brokerage remuneration under certain
conditions (see Lesson 3 for details).
Obligations to not
indicate remuneration is
fixed or approved (Section
9 of the Code of Ethics)
A salesperson may not indicate to any person, either directly or
indirectly, that the remuneration is fixed. Also not permitted would be
any indication that remuneration must be approved by the
administrative authority, a government authority, or a real estate board
or association
Remuneration is negotiated with each seller and buyer and could be
based on the services the party is to receive, the location of the
property that requires additional time and distance to travel, or unique
skills required (e.g., a cottage on an island would require someone with
a Marine Operator’s License)
Remuneration is negotiated with each seller and buyer and could be
based on the services the party is to receive, the location of the
property that requires additional time and distance to travel, or unique
skills required (e.g., a cottage on an island would require someone with
a Marine Operator’s License)
When a buyer is being represented by a brokerage, the buyer must be
informed of properties that meet the buyer’s criteria, without any
regard to the amount of remuneration, if any, the brokerage may be
entitled to.
This requires a salesperson to inform a buyer of all properties that
meet their criteria, regardless of the amount of remuneration offered
to the brokerage. The buyer can then make an informed decision on
whether to view the property or not, taking into consideration any
remuneration obligations they may have.
When a buyer is being represented by a brokerage, the buyer must be
informed of properties that meet the buyer’s criteria, without any
regard to the amount of remuneration, if any, the brokerage may be
entitled to.
This requires a salesperson to inform a buyer of all properties that
meet their criteria, regardless of the amount of remuneration offered
to the brokerage. The buyer can then make an informed decision on
whether to view the property or not, taking into consideration any
remuneration obligations they may have.
Obligations regarding remuneration when it is known that there is an unexpired agreement (Subsection 33(3) of the Act and Subsection 23(2) of O. Reg. 567/05)
There are regulatory requirements regarding collecting a
remuneration from a seller or a buyer who is currently under an agreement with another brokerage to pay remuneration.
Unless a
seller provides a written agreement to pay remuneration, a brokerage
is not entitled to claim remuneration from the seller for a trade in real
estate if the brokerage knows there is an unexpired listing agreement
with another brokerage.
Similarly, unless a buyer provides a written
agreement to pay remuneration, a brokerage is not entitled to claim
remuneration from the buyer for a trade in real estate if the
brokerage knows that there is an unexpired buyer representation
agreement with another brokerage
make sure to confirm the seller is not working with another brokerage:
A salesperson has been contacted by a seller who is interested in listing
their property for sale. The salesperson confirms the seller is not
currently a party to a representation agreement with any other
brokerage before entering into an agreement with the seller. When the
property is sold, and the transaction is completed, the brokerage is
permitted to collect the remuneration as agreed to.
Disclosure before multiple
representation (Section 16 of
the Code of Ethics)
A brokerage may not represent more than one client for the same trade,
unless the following information has been disclosed to all clients and
prospective clients, as soon as possible:
● The fact that the brokerage proposes to represent more than one
client in the same trade.
● The differences in the obligations, including the disclosure of
information or the services provided, if the brokerage were
representing only one client rather than more than one client in the
same trade
Nature of relationship
(Section 17 of the Code of
Ethics)
Examples of situations where the salesperson would need to disclose the
nature of the relationship include:
● The brokerage is representing both the seller and the buyer in the
same transaction (i.e., both the seller and the buyer are clients).
● The brokerage is representing the seller as a client and is providing
services to the buyer as a customer in the same transaction.
● The brokerage is representing the buyer as a client and is providing
services to the seller as a customer in the same transaction.
In the above situations, the written disclosure is required whether it is the
same salesperson working with the seller and the buyer, or different
salespersons employed by the brokerage working with the seller and the
buyer. In addition, the seller and the buyer must be informed about how
the information shared and the services being provided by the brokerage
will now change. Information regarding the nature of the brokerage’s
services when representing more than one client for the same trade are
detailed in Lessons 2 and 3
Inaccurate representations
(Section 37(2) of the Code of
Ethics)
A registrant cannot knowingly make any inaccurate representations about
the services provided. As a salesperson, you may not mislead a seller or a
buyer about the services you provide, nor could you make an inaccurate
representation in an advertisement related to your services.
Insurance requirements
Section 11 of O. Reg. 579/05
All registrants must be insured under the group insurance policy arranged
and administered by RECO. This requires each brokerage, broker, and
salesperson to maintain insurance. The coverage under the policy, which
is important to explain to sellers and buyers, is the errors and omissions
and the deposit protection. When explaining and documenting the
relationship between a brokerage and a seller or a buyer, you, as a
salesperson, would advise them of the relevant insurance
When explaining and documenting the
relationship between a brokerage and a seller or a buyer, you, as a
salesperson, would advise them of the relevant insurance.