When you’re selling your home, registered real estate professionals offer a wide variety of services. Some real estate companies may offer a “mere posting” service where they provide minimal service beyond a basic listing on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®). Here’s what you need to know about these mere postings.

Q: What is a mere posting?

A: Mere posting is a service option offered by some real estate companies where they provide very limited services, often simply facilitating the listing of a property on the MLS® system and you are responsible for everything else.

Q: Will they put whatever I want on the MLS® listing?

A: Under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002 (REBBA 2002) registered real estate professionals have a legal obligation to ensure the accuracy of their listings on MLS®. That means they must perform due diligence to ensure that you have the right to sell the property and that the content of the posting is accurate. For example, they may confirm your claim that your kitchen was recently renovated, that the roof was recently replaced or that the square footage matches your claims.

Q: How do I know what services the broker or salesperson will provide?

A: The real estate company must provide you with a written contract (known as a listing agreement) that describes the services they will provide. Make sure you read and understand the agreement before you sign it, and make sure you keep a copy.

Q: I see a number of companies offering listing services. Do they all offer the same protection and services?

A: Non-registered companies and individuals cannot trade in real estate, but they can provide a listing service in affiliation with a registered brokerage. Non-registered individuals and companies are not subject to REBBA 2002 and, as a result, you are not able to take advantage of the protection that the Act provides. As well, if a buyer’s deposit isn’t held by a registered real estate professional employed by the buyer or seller, the deposit will not be protected under RECO’s insurance program. If you want to confirm you are dealing with a registered real estate professional, take advantage of the Registrant Search Feature on RECO’s website (www.reco.on.ca). Click on the Home Buyers and Sellers section and you’ll find the tab is on the top middle of the page.