Last spring, we released our professionalism white paper and held member events to outline our action plan based on the paper’s key recommendations.

Since then, I have presented at real estate events and meetings across the country seeking industry-wide support for these proposed actions.

This body of work was based on years of comprehensive research, focus groups, and a detailed comparative analysis of the standards and requirements for REALTORS® versus other professions.

With our organizational re-brand complete, we want to see these recommendations through and demonstrate to the public that the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® believe in high professional and ethical standards as well as accountability.

We completed our first actions from the white paper last year when we implemented a multiple offer disclosure form and developed a pledge of professionalism for members to publicly commit to. 

These have been positive first steps, but we have more work to do if we want to lead the country when it comes to professionalism in real estate. 

This spring, we will focus on three more recommendations from the white paper. Here's a rundown:

We are preparing to partner with organizations across our province and country to advocate to raise entrance requirements for new real estate licensees.

Specifically, we want to work with government and the academic community to modernize the licensing exam and design a post-secondary-accredited real estate program that would be a requirement for new licensees.

This is a future-focused initiative. Over time, we believe this change would lead to more knowledgeable, practice-ready individuals entering our profession.

Poor communication is one of the biggest member frustrations that has surfaced. How can you serve the public well when someone representing the other party in a transaction will not respond to you?

We will soon begin a member consultation to assess what standard should be established to help set a clear expectation of timely and professional communication between members in a transaction.

We are also exploring the concept of minimum practice requirements. 

We have members who are inactive year after year. This is a reputational risk if these members can’t prove they understand current practices and other professional obligations.

Whether you are a surgeon, mechanic, accountant or Realtor, prolonged periods of inactivity pose a reputational risk to your profession. A remedy to this risk could be to require “inactive” individuals to take refresher training as a means to demonstrate competence.

These are measures that we will explore in 2024, and we will need your input in the weeks ahead to work out the details. Together, we have an opportunity to make tangible, lasting improvements to the standards, practices, and culture of professionalism in real estate. 

We can only do this with your support, so we ask you to engage and help us make progress with the long-term interest of our profession in mind.

We will discuss these and other key issues at our AGM on March 21. I encourage you to join us for that meeting either online or at the Delta Hotel in Burnaby at 4331 Dominion Street.

Register and learn more about the AGM here.