Being a team who has been working in real estate for many years, we've worked with a lot of buyers. We've shown all sorts of different properties, to both serious purchasers, those who are just trying to get a feel for the market, and we've even done our due diligence as door-openers, racing from home to home to literally just open a door for someone who wanted to 'take a look' at a particular home. And while the average homebuyer looks at several homes before they find 'the one', it's never a deterant for our team when embarking on a new search with a client.

We love working with buyers. Not only do we take great pride in our responsibility of representing them, but listening to our buyers needs and wants, their priorities and goals helps us fine tune a search strategy that is effective and gets quick results... it's the pursuit of the perfect home that is sometimes the most enjoyable part of our jobs.

So when you decide to engage a Realtor's services for the purchase of a home, one of the first things that you should do is sign a Buyer Representation Agreement (BRA). While not required to commence a search, a buyer representation agreement formalizes the relationship between a Realtor and their buyer client, setting out the parameters of the relationship and the search being undertaken. The agreement allows you to specify the length of time for which you will engage the Realtor's services, and doesn't mean you're promising to buy a home during that time, but nevertheless assures you that you are being represented with the utmost care and level of service throughout the process.  Other benefits to signing a BRA include:

1. Obtaining a commitment in ink that you will be provided with a duty of care whereby your Realtor puts YOUR needs and best interests FIRST at all times
2. A commitment in ink that your Realtor will be working to negotiate the best possible price for you, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to your home search
3. Access to the Buyer Registry Service, a fantastic new program that the Toronto Real Estate Board is offering that gives you up-to-the-minute updates when new properties hit the market that match your criteria, providing you with a one-up on the competition

Check out the video below or click here for more information on the Buyer Representation Agreement and the benefits of signing one.