Hi

I was wondering. Does the Realtor site have basically all the houses on the market or only a proportion?

Also have I read it right that you choose one realtor to find you a house?

Thanks

you mean MLS, right?

It'll have all the homes listed by realtors. Some homes are for sale by owner so they won't be on MLS, you'd have to go on a for sale by owner site to find those. You don't HAVE to have a realtor to help you find a house, but I would if i were you because your buyer's realtor is only looking out for your interests, not the sellers.

Whereabouts are you looking?

Hi, yes MLS they seem to have changed the name.

We're looking on Vancouver Island around Saanich East.

So with regard to picking a realtor you just pick one around the area you want to live that and that you think you rather like? Or is there something specific I should be looking at?

Depends which site you mean. my site has 'featured listings', mls ( www.realtor.ca ) has all Realtor listings except where a client requests that it is not put on mls (very rare). FSBOs (for sale by owner) will not be on there, but if you decide to work exclusively with a Realtor, they will most likely search those for you too.

Pretty much! See who you 'click' with, ask around to see what reputation they have (some work better with sellers, some with buyers, some both!).

Most important is to be comfortable with them, their personality and how they conduct business - if you are not, walk away.

Of course, you are right that you don't technically HAVE to work with a realtor, but someone new to the country who doesn't understand the legalities and customs and practice of real estate transactions would be extremely foolish to try and go it alone.

Things are done very differently to the UK.

To emphasize the point you make, the listing realtor is acting in the sellers best interests.


Apart from negotiating the contract, the most useful service a realtor can give you is local knowledge, so I would suggest someone who who lives and works in the area you are looking at.

We would have been lost without our realtor when we moved over here - she was priceless. You don't pay them for their services so why not use one!

Thanks all

Not ALL listings are on MLS, our last realtor (who we have now got rid of!) won't put them on there as he wants to make sure no-one else sells the house for him so he could get the most commission!

Also look at the Property Guys website