The Authority for a Positive Real Estate Experience

You may have noticed that as part of the recent re-launch of the Real Estate Council of Alberta’s brand, there’s a tagline appearing on many of our new materials.

“The Authority for a Positive Real Estate Experience.”

What does it mean to be the authority for something – let alone a positive real estate experience?

It’s something the Real Estate Council of Alberta put a lot of thought into leading up to the brand re-launch and we think it fits our dual role of regulating industry professionals and protecting consumers.

The Merriam Webster dictionary provides the following definitions for authority:

• the power to give orders or make decisions : the power or right to direct or control someone or something
• the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something or who is respected or obeyed by other people

When the Real Estate Council of Alberta surveyed industry members and other stakeholders during the research portion of the branding project, one thing we heard across the board is that industry professionals don’t want us to abdicate the role we have as the regulatory body for the industry – the body that enforces the standards in place. Don’t worry, we won’t. This is the first part of the definition of authority – we are legislatively required to investigate complaints and take appropriate action.

Being an authority on something also means to have certain expertise or knowledge of it – this is another definition of authority.

The Real Estate Council of Alberta is committed to being a source of independent, professional information for industry professionals and consumers.

For industry professionals, we help ensure they have a thorough understanding of the Real Estate Act, the Rules and related industry standards. For consumers, we provide information about working with a licensed professional and we answer consumer questions about the positive experience they should expect when buying or selling property in Alberta, getting financing through a mortgage broker, or hiring a property manager. So, back to the original question – what does it mean for the Real Estate Council of Alberta to be the authority for a positive real estate experience?

To the Real Estate Council of Alberta, and to its licensed industry professionals, it means there is an organization in place that knows the industry, it’s an organization that knows how to effectively and transparently govern the conduct of licensed industry professionals; and, it’s an organization that will take appropriate disciplinary action when it’s needed.

Those things together bring positive real estate experiences for consumers when they’re working with Alberta’s licensed and regulated industry professionals.