Enhancing Transparency and User Experience: The
Latest REALTOR.ca Features for Homebuyers
As one of the most trusted real estate platforms in
Canada, REALTOR.ca continues to evolve, introducing features that make home
buying more transparent and accessible for consumers. With millions of daily
engagements, REALTOR.ca plays a crucial role in the Canadian real estate
ecosystem, providing both residential and commercial listings. According to
Patrik Pichette, Vice-President of REALTOR.ca, "Canadians have an
overwhelming trust in REALTORS and REALTOR.ca; ensuring a transparent home
buying and selling journey is crucial."
The platform is continuously rolling out new features
designed to improve the home buying experience for Canadians, and we caught up
with Justin Wah Kan, Interim Director of Products at REALTOR.ca, to explore
what’s new.
Sold Data for Listings
One of the top questions from homebuyers is: how much
did a property sell for? REALTOR.ca has been offering sold data in certain
areas for about a year, but this year brings an exciting update for Nova
Scotia. Listings in this region now display a conditional sale tag, giving
consumers real-time visibility into the property’s sale status. Once the sale
is finalized, the sold price is made available.
“We’re actively advocating for this information to be
more accessible,” says Wah Kan, acknowledging that provincial privacy
restrictions limit the availability of such data. However, making this
information public helps consumers better understand market conditions and what
they can afford in their price range.
Improved Accessibility Features
Accessibility is a key focus for REALTOR.ca, both
digitally and physically. To comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act (AODA), the platform is continuously improving its interface,
ensuring features like contrast and text size are optimized for all users.
Additionally, new accessibility fields will soon be
available on listings, starting in Nova Scotia. These fields provide essential
information about the home’s physical accessibility, such as doorway and
hallway measurements, the presence of ramps, and grab bars in bathrooms. With
accessibility becoming a mandatory feature for all new listings in the
province, REALTOR.ca is ensuring that homebuyers with mobility needs can easily
identify homes that meet their requirements.
Benefits of Having a REALTOR.ca Account
Signing up for a REALTOR.ca account unlocks new
features that make searching for homes more efficient. Users can now hide
listings they aren’t interested in and easily revisit them through a ‘hidden’
properties list. This curated browsing experience also allows users to
favourite listings, with all saved data syncing seamlessly between desktop and
mobile devices.
This personalized approach not only reduces the stress
of searching but also helps homebuyers focus on the properties that matter most
to them.
Square Footage Information Now Available
Another exciting development is the addition of square
footage information, starting in Alberta. While this data wasn’t always easy to
find unless a REALTOR® specifically included it in the listing, it’s now
prominently displayed in multiple locations on the listing page and map view.
Alberta REALTORS® follow a residential measurement standard, ensuring this
information is accurate and easy to access.
Continuous Improvements for an Evolving Market
The updates to REALTOR.ca are part of an ongoing
effort to solve consumer pain points. As Wah Kan puts it, "We’re solving
problems. When we add new functionality, it’s to address a problem in the
market." This dedication to continuous improvement means that as the
market evolves, so will the tools and features on REALTOR.ca.
Small but impactful changes—like improving the layout
of photo galleries to make images more discoverable—are also being implemented
to enhance the overall user experience.
Conclusion
REALTOR.ca is more than just a real estate listing platform; it’s an evolving tool designed to make the home buying process as transparent and user-friendly as possible. From sold data and square footage details to enhanced accessibility features, these updates reflect REALTOR.ca's commitment to meeting the needs of modern consumers. As the Canadian real estate market changes, so too will REALTOR.ca, ensuring that homebuyers and sellers are always equipped with the information and tools they need to succeed.
Source By: CREA
