RECO’s Info Guide EXPLAINED: What Every Ontario Buyer and Seller Needs to Know

Buying or selling a home in Ontario? Before you sign anything, there’s one essential document that protects you — the RECO Information Guide. In this short but powerful episode, I unpack what’s inside, why it matters, and how it helps you make confident, informed decisions in any real estate transaction.

Ciao! Welcome to a new episode of Building Wealth Through Real Estate...Brick by Brick with me, Nico James-Bock, Founder of The CondoWiz™ Group and Broker at Keller Williams Co-Elevation Realty in Toronto.  

🏡 What You’ll Learn:

1️⃣ Working with a Real Estate Agent

• Why Ontario agents must be registered, insured, and trained
• What agents do for sellers (marketing, pricing, negotiating) and buyers (financing prep, showings, offers)
• Your key client protections: loyalty, disclosure, confidentiality, conflict avoidance

2️⃣ Know the Risks of Representing Yourself

• What it means to be a self-represented party
• Why you won’t receive advice or protection from the other side’s agent
• The risks of revealing motivation or price limits
• You can always change your mind and become a client

3️⃣ Signing a Contract with a Brokerage

• Understanding representation agreements and their scope
• Types of representation: Brokerage vs Designated
• What to look for: services offered, fees, expiry date, termination rights, and holdover clauses
• Fees are always negotiable, not fixed by RECO

4️⃣ Understanding Multiple Representation

• When a brokerage or agent represents both buyer and seller
• Allowed only with written consent from all parties
• Reduced duties — no undivided loyalty or advice on price
• Options if you don’t agree, like referral to another agent or brokerage

5️⃣ How to Make a Complaint

• Brokerages and agents are accountable to RECO
• Start by contacting the brokerage’s Broker of Record
• If unresolved, file a complaint directly with RECO
• RECO investigates under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002

🎯 Why It Matters

This episode is a consumer primer, highlighting the key protections built into Ontario’s real estate system, helping you buy or sell with confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.

🎙️ Listen now to understand the RECO Information Guide before your next real estate move.

Ciao ciao 👋🏼