RECA Wins Consumer Champion Award

The Real Estate Council of Alberta has been recognized as a “Consumer Champion” by Service Alberta.

At a March 9, 2009 awards ceremony, RECA received a Service Alberta Consumer Champion Award of Distinction for its consumer tools, which include online and print materials to help consumers make decisions about working with real estate industry members, and with buying and selling residential real estate.

The Alberta Consumer Champion Awards, now in their third year, recognize individuals, organizations, businesses and media that demonstrate commitment and innovation in educating Alberta consumers and promoting fairness in the Alberta marketplace.

“Communication with consumers about the process for buying and selling residential real estate in Alberta is a direct result of RECA’s commitment to consumer protection,” says Ralph Salomons, chair of RECA. “RECA is confident that providing consumers with information will lead to a greater consumer understanding and, as a result, protection. Winning this Consumer Champion award is welcome recognition of the work Council has done in the past year.”

RECA’s award-winning entry included consumer brochures on buying and selling real estate, the Agency Relationships Guide and Agency Relationships Video, and the Property Inspection Request Form, all of which are available to consumers, free of charge, through the RECA website, here. Production of the consumer tools was made possible, in part, with the aid of a grant from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation.

RECA’s consumer tools project was particularly innovative because it took into account that not everyone participating in real estate transactions in Alberta is comfortable working in English. RECA translated some of the consumer tools into the four most common languages spoken in Alberta (after English). This initiative has gone a long way in demonstrating RECA’s understanding of and commitment to Alberta consumers and the Alberta marketplace.

 

home