The Full Service, Industry Leading Real Estate Brokerage

RE/MAX Professionals Inc., Brokerage
The Full Service, Industry Leading Real Estate Brokerage

The Competition Bureau’s recent agreement with the Canadian Real Estate Association will soon be in effect. This agreement, ratified by the Canadian Real Estate Association on October 24th will allow varied service models to compete on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) across Canada. Speculation has been circulating that our industry is, or will be, in peril due to this change. After a thorough review of the change affected by this agreement, it is the opinion of RE/MAX Professionals’ leadership team that our industry will remain strong, unchanged by the subtle change of this agreement.

One clear statement we can make is that RE/MAX Professionals Inc. is, and has always been, an industry leader in the Greater Toronto Area as a full service real estate brokerage. This has not changed with the requirements to allow different business models to be possible in MLS. Our sales representatives will offer full services at fair, negotiable commission rates to the consumer in our marketing area. RE/MAX Professionals Inc. clearly will not offer mere listing services to customers. Our chosen path is to provide buyers and sellers with listing, marketing, advertising, negotiating and buyer service packages. It is our belief that anything less is poor representation of the clients and customers we serve. Other brokers and brokerages may choose to do less. RE/MAX Professionals’ sales force will not … …

So, what do we expect to be the implications of these changes to the MLS services across Canada? Just as in 1973, when RE/MAX changed the face of real estate in Canada and the United States, changes and evolution of our industry will make the industry, ten years from now, different from today. RE/MAX changed the way our industry was organized at that time, putting more emphasis on the agents and their freedom to manage their businesses effectively. The prior employee-based industry became one of independent contractors, negotiable commission rates and high technology. These changes revolutionized an industry, making the agent central to the transaction with the consumer.

So, change is not an unfamiliar characteristic for RE/MAX. We are a vibrant, ever-changing brand, known worldwide as leaders in our industry. Change is welcome at RE/MAX, as we put the efficiency of our sales people first, in order for them to represent our clients better than any other recognized brand.

Just as the RE/MAX business model changed how our industry thrives, other business models will come and go. Some may prosper. Most will fail dismally. One thing is certain in our minds. The RE/MAX model, which emphasizes the highly productive sales person will continue to remain profitable for thriving independent contractors. Our resolve is to change and adapt to these changing times; to compete with these new models in a fair and consumer friendly manner. So they must beware, RE/MAX Professionals, will out-compete them all with pure customer service, the type of full service consumers have grown to expect of the RE/MAX model.

It is our contention that the technology that has transformed the way we do business will continue to change us and how we do business. Who would have thought, years ago, how the FAX machine transformed our industry? The movement of our industry to computer allowed our data to be instantaneous. Internet services in Web 1.0 allowed us to promote ourselves and our listings to the world at the click of a mouse. Web 2.0 has allowed interactivity with the ever more sophisticated consumer. Now more than ever, digital and video technology has transformed us to make Open Houses virtual and consumers even closer. RE/MAX has been at the forefront in all of these technologies and will continue to lead, not follow, as others attempt to copy our leadership.

You work with the leading Brand RE/MAX with over 35% of all home sales in Canada this year. You work within an industry-leading Brokerage, RE/MAX Professionals Inc. We offer full service real estate services in our designated area. We are proud to be Realtors. And we are proud to be RE/MAX.

So, let us go and do what we do very well. Compete fairly with our knowledge, full service and competence.