Accredited Buyer's Representative

Buying a home in Calgary. It’s a major endeavour that can yield deep and lasting rewards. But enjoying a successful real estate transaction requires knowledge and experience. Early in 2010 I earned the Accredited Buyer's Representative  designation and it's helped me tremendously in my ability to help buyers.

As the premier organization for training real estate professionals on how to represent buyers in housing transactions, the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) understands home buyer's perspectives and is committed to helping you achieve a successful transaction.

The ABR® Designation is awarded through the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, or REBAC, which was founded in 1988 to promote superior buyer-representation skills and services. REBAC is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Why Use an ABR®: REALTORS® Experienced in Buyer Representation

Buying a home is no small matter. Besides being the largest financial transaction you may ever undertake, it’s probably also the most complex. There are many good reasons to work with a qualified real estate professional—especially a trained professional who has earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation, representing best-in-class buyer services.

When you look for an ABR® in Calgary before you look for a home, you’ll be served, not sold. Your interests become their interests. And you’ll be working with someone who has gone the extra mile by completing specialized training in delivering the best in buyer-representation services. Plus, a REALTOR® who has an ABR® Designation also has an established track record, with proven experience in representing the concerns of home buyers.

How does an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) differ from other buyer’s representatives?

An ABR® is a buyer’s representative who has completed advanced training and who has proven experience in serving the special needs of buyer-clients. In addition to knowing the dynamics of their local market, an ABR®-designated buyer’s rep can help you make informed decisions throughout the entire home buying process. An ABR® is also a REALTOR® (a member of NAR) and must abide by a strict Code of Ethics.

A buyer’s representative (or simply buyer’s rep) is a licensed real estate professional who represents prospective home buyers in their property transaction. If you’ve formalized an agency relationship, typically by signing a buyer’s rep agreement with a buyer’s rep, you can expect him or her to:

• Understand your specific needs and wants, and locate appropriate properties.
• Assist you in determining how much you can afford (pre-qualify your mortgage).
• Preview and/or accompany you in viewing properties.
• Research properties, to identify any problems or issues you should consider.
• Advise you in formulating your offer.
• Help you develop your negotiation strategy.
• Provide a list of potential qualified vendors (such as inspectors, attorneys,
lenders, etc.) for other related services that may be needed.
• Keep track of all the details throughout the entire transaction—to closing and
beyond.

In other words, a buyer’s rep should make your home buying experience go as smoothly and successfully as possible.

But not all buyer’s reps are equal. A Calgary buyer’s rep who has earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) REALTOR® designation has made an extra effort to raise the bar, with additional training and experience in serving you, the home buyer. If you work with an ABR®, you can feel more confident that you’ll receive the highest level of buyer-representation services.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) is to provide training and support that helps buyer’s representatives be successful in their business—and to educate consumers about the benefits of buyer representation and the ABR® designation, in order to improve their home buying experience.

Even though buyer representation is now largely available to home buyers across the country, it wasn’t always so. As an advocate of home buyers, REBAC has played a key role in creating that change—helping home buyers receive the same level of representation in real estate transactions that was previously only awarded to sellers.

By effecting substantial changes to the REALTORS® Code of Ethics, REBAC has helped change the way real estate brokerage is conducted across the country, ultimately providing better service to real estate home buyers.

REBAC continues to serve home buyers by providing valuable information resources on the buying process and helping to connect home buyers with qualified buyer’s representatives.

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