REALTORS® to offer consumers password-protected website accesstheycurrently offer their consumer clients to include a Virtual Office Website (VOW).
In response to a changing business environment, TREB embarked on the development of a VOW policy and service back in July 2010, and is pleased to announce that it has followed through on its commitment. A Virtual Office Website ("VOW") service is now available for TREB REALTOR® Members.
A VOW service allows REALTORS® to offer consumers a secure password-protected website to search MLS® listing data, with the benefit of a REALTOR® Member's knowledge and accountability, without compromising MLS® accuracy or consumers' privacy rights.
REALTOR® clients would have the ability to access information fields of much richer substance than that seen on REALTOR.ca.
"All of our efforts are driven by the needs of our Members and the clients they serve," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. "TREB will continue to work on behalf of consumers and the REALTORS® who represent them to ensure the highest quality of safe and secure service to the Greater Toronto real estate market's thousands of consumers."
Consumers who engage in this type of service with their REALTOR® could use access to this additional information to determine preferences and "must haves" to aid in their home buying and selling decisions.
However, contrary to demands by the Competition Commissioner for TREB to release private data about individual consumers openly on the internet, TREB remains committed to its belief that doing so would violate consumer privacy laws, reduce the quality of the system, and diminish protection for consumers.
TREB will not violate its REALTOR® Members contractual and legal obligations to protect the private information of their clients.
"The new VOW service that has resulted from the comprehensive planning process strikes the right balance while offering richer information to our Members to better serve their clients," concluded Mr. Silver.
Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They are governed by a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Over 32,000 TREB Members serve consumers in the Greater Toronto Area. The Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada's largest real estate board.
NEWS RELEASE
Source: Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB)
Media Inquiries:
Toronto Real Estate Board
Mary Gallagher,
Senior Manager Public Affairs
(416) 443-8158
maryg@trebnet.com
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