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There are two types of relationships that you may have with a real estate professional that involves buying, selling or leasing a property.


If you’re shopping for a new home, or ready to sell your current home, there comes a time where you will need to reach out to a real estate professional for help and guidance. But, before disclosing confidential information, you should decide what type of business relationship you want to have.


Prior to providing services, a real estate professional must present you with the “Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services” form. This Disclosure of Representation was put into place by the Real Estate Council of BC in order to regulate real estate professionals and to protect you the consumer. On this form, you will have the opportunity to choose whether you will be represented as a client or a non-client


As a Client

If you choose to be a “client” of a real estate professional, they will work on your behalf and will have special legal duties to you:


1)    Loyalty

Your real estate professional will act in your best interest at all times


2)    Full Disclosure

Your real estate professional must disclose everything they know that may influence your decision in a transaction


3)    Avoid Conflicts of Interest

They must avoid situations that affect your real estate professional’s duty to act in your best interest


4)    Confidentiality

Your private information cannot be revealed by your real estate professional without permission (even after your relationship ends). This includes:

  • reasons for buying, selling or leasing
  • minimum/maximum price
  • any preferred terms and conditions you may want included in a contract


As a Non-Client

A real estate professional may only provide limited services to a Non-Client. If you chose a Non-Client relationship, the real estate professional will not be obligated to you for any of the special legal duties noted below:


1)    Loyalty

The real estate professional may be representing a client who has competing interests in a transaction, that real estate professional owes their loyalty to their client, not to you


2)    No Duty of Full Disclosure

A real estate professional does not have a duty to provide you with all the relevant information


3)    No Duty to Avoid Conflicts

A real estate professional is not acting in your interests


4)    No Confidentiality

A real estate professional must share any information you tell them with their clients in a transaction


Whether you chose to be a Client or Non-Client, when a real estate professional works with you in a real estate transaction, they still have the responsibility to act honestly and with reasonable care and skill but may only provide limited services as a Non-Client


Please Note: The Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services is NOT a contract, it is a document designed to protect you, the consumer.

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You had a little extra time on your hands and looked online to see what’s new in the real estate market. Many of us like to window shop online and it’s certainly a great way to peruse what’s out there whether we are actively looking or just curious. When checking everything out you may come across an interesting property on a real estate website or perhaps Facebook that has piqued your interest. But on some of these sites, you cannot retrieve all the information you want until you sign up.

 

Facebook is a common tool used by many realtors. It helps us connect with prospective clients and helps to connect your property for sale with prospective buyers, but it has its drawbacks because we do not have the opportunity to ask you how we may help or how we can refine your search.

 

Another drawback is if you click on many Facebook ads and sign up to each one, you are now potentially connecting to many different realtors and possibly receive more calls and emails than you would like. Most of us do not want to drive you crazy with phone calls and emails. As your advocate; we really do want to help you make informed decisions without overwhelming you.

 

This is not an attack on Facebook. It can be a powerful tool to sell your home and an excellent opportunity to increase exposure of your listing to a larger group of people in a specified area.

 

My suggestion; find a good realtor you are comfortable with and talk to them. A short conversation to discuss your needs/wants is invaluable. Once you are done, your realtor can generate a customized search where refined listing results go directly to you on a schedule that works for you. The results can be re-customized at any time if your needs change.

 

If you prefer to look at properties on your own, without being emailed and phoned every time you click on an ad, I invite you to my website. The benefit of an account is the ability to create and share multiple searches and favourites using varied criteria, plus, access to sold history. You can look at your leisure and when you’re ready for the next step, I’m only a phone call away.

                                             

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

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How your Credit Score is Calculated

How your Credit Score can be improved


Part 3


Now that you understand how your credit score is calculated, and ways to improve it, you want to ensure your credit stays intact.


It is important to review your credit report once per year, consider this general housekeeping.


Start by requesting your credit report and review it for inaccuracies. If you find any errors dispute them, and have it rectified.


Checking your credit report will not affect your credit score as it is considered a "soft hit". You may find a credit card listed as delinquent, when in fact you paid off the balance and closed the account. You may even find a bill listed that isn’t yours.


Both Equifax and TransUnion will allow you one free credit check per year (by mail). If you do it strategically (alternating every six months) you will be able to detect issues sooner.


Equifax Credit File Disclosure (credit report)

You can order your report two ways;

1) Order by Phone 1.800.465.7166 (may be a cost).

2) Request the report using their form (free).

Two pieces of ID are required and your report will be mailed to you.

https://assets.equifax.com/legacy/ecm/canada/EFXCreditReportRequestForm.pdf


TransUnion Consumer Disclosure (credit report)

You can order your report two ways;

1) Order by Phone 1.800.663.9980 (may be a cost).

2) Request the report using their form (free).

Two pieces of ID are required and your report will be mailed to you.

https://www.transunion.ca/resources/transunion-ca/doc/personal/Consumer_Disclosure_Request_Form_en.pdf


If you need help re-establishing your credit, contact Credit Canada for a free and confidential session and move forward with your financial goals. 1-800-267-2272 https://www.creditcanada.com/contact-us

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Last week we covered How your Credit Score is Calculated, this week we will cover How your credit score can be improved.

 

There are several ways you can improve your credit score.

 

The number one way to increase your score is to always pay your bills on time. But if you can’t pay the full amount, make sure you are always paying the minimum amount due. Making a full payment a few days late is actually worse and deemed a missed payment.

 

Lower your credit usage so your credit utilization is decreased. Call your credit card companies and request a higher limit. As long as you don’t use the extra credit card room (don’t over spend). Increasing your credit utilization will raise your score.

 

If you cannot obtain a regular credit card, you may want to apply for a Secured Credit Card, (this is different than a prepaid credit card). Basically, you send the bank money that is kept as collateral and returned when you pay off your card and close the account. You receive a credit limit based on your collateral (e.g. if your credit card has a limit of $2,000, you will be required to put $2,000 into a designated account). You use the card like a regular credit card and your payment history is reported to the credit bureau as you use it. It’s a good idea to stay below your credit limit and make regular payments to help repair your credit rating.  

 

You can also raise your score by becoming an authorized user on someone else’s account. If you know someone with a really good score they can add you to their credit card as an authorized user which will impact you positively, they don’t even have to give you a credit card to use.

 

Close extra cards. Many of us may sign up for bonus miles with various cards, but having more cards can hinder your credit limit, you really only need 1 or 2 credit cards.

 

If you write cheques, be sure that your account has enough funds. Cheques that are returned due to insufficient funds may be reported to the credit bureau.

 

If you are having a hard time financially, contact the credit bureau (Equifax or TransUnion) and ask for a note to be put on your file explaining your financial difficulties e.g. Job loss, sickness or debt incurred by your partner or spouse.

 

No matter how bad your credit is, you can improve your score by 100 – 200 points if you start to make changes now.

 

Next week find out how to obtain a copy of your Credit Report

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