Question:
Someone tried to book a showing with 2 different agents in my office. They say they are a “realtor”, their name comes up on RECO, but they also say they aren’t with a board. The brokerage they say they are with matches what is on RECO, but they don’t show up on the brokerage’s roster.
Answer:
This is exactly where someone who really is not registered will hide. It is your job to ensure that they are truly “in the business” and properly identify them.
The non-existent “John Smith” will canvas the RECO website, focussing on various names and will then adopt the name that fits with a “Park Your Licence” Brokerage with out of date information. The non-existent “John Smith”, that is, the thief and not the one registered will surface.
You will have granted them permission to attend. They will make a copy of the key and suddenly 3 months after the fact, someone will break in and steal stuff.
So, what would work? Try FINTRAC, it has all the right questions etc. Yes, I appreciate it’s not a requirement, but maybe, in this case, it would be a good precautionary step and prevent unauthorized access to the premises.
If they are indeed “registered” with RECO, then they will have insurance. Brokerage affiliation does not matter. Nor does being a member of organized real estate, that is a Board, OREA and CREA.
Brian Madigan LL.B., Broker