New tools and services: the same professional obligations apply

Here are the professional obligations that licensees must comply with when using any new information listing and advertising service:

• A real estate brokerage contract must absolutely be signed before advertising the sale of a property¹
• Real estate brokers must obtain their clients' consent to use information listing services
• Representations and advertising relating to a real estate broker must include certain mandatory statements²
• The identity of the represented party must be verified, as well as the identity of the other parties to the transaction if they are not represented³
• The listing of an immovable on an information listing service desired by a seller must take place when the marketing of the immovable or performance of the brokerage contract begins⁴
• Any description sheet intended for the public that presents the property must reflect the reality of the property and contain, where appropriate, certain mandatory statements⁵
• The information provided to the public or to another licensee must be verified in accordance with the laws and regulations that apply to real estate brokerage⁶
• The information must be structured to protect personal information
• The real estate brokerage contract file must contain all documents used to perform the contract or complete the transaction, such as communications⁷

Of course, it is up to licensees to ensure that the tools they intend to use during their professional activities comply with their professional obligations.