Buyer Representation Agreement – age old debate explained to consumers by Board

The dreaded contract

Some Realtors adhere to asking clients to sign a Buyers Representation Agreement up front, others wait until a proper rapport and others have done away with it altogether.

Several references have been made in Canadian media to the B.R.A. being full of fine print that consumer’s rarely read and feel tricked by. True or not, the Toronto Board of Realtors have produced the above video which has had nearly 4,000 views and a litany of other options that educate consumers about the virtues of the agreement:

1. A website dedicated to the B.R.A.
2. A YouTube video as featured above.
3. Radio ads which can be heard by clicking play on the top left of the B.R.A. homepage.
4. An explanatory PDF taking consumers through the actual contract.

Explaining the document – good or bad?

One could say that explaining the B.R.A. makes a Realtor’s job easier and protects their interests. Or, one could say that explaining the document in such detail offers an assumptive apology which could lead consumers to distrust it in the first place, especially when other agents they have met don’t bring up the document.

Real estate is different in Toronto than say Dallas, so we’re curious what you think of the extent the board has gone to promote the document for their members? Is it a good effort or could it backfire? Tell us in comments what you think of the Toronto BRA campaign.