OPINION: Why it’s time to open the doors in Sarnia

In the real estate world there is a word that carries a lot of weight: exposure. As a real estate agent for almost twelve years, I have built my career on a simple promise to my clients: that I will get their home in front of as many eyes as humanly possible.

But right now in Sarnia-Lambton, that promise is becoming increasingly difficult for some to fulfill. I have been part of both the London and Sarnia boards for the past eleven years.

Our province is currently divided. On the one hand, 22 boards, including our neighbors at the London St. Thomas Realtors Association (LSTAR), have signed up to PropTx, a centralized system that allows listings to flow freely across the province.

On the other side is the Sarnia-Lambton Association of Realtors (SLAR), along with Chatham and the Windsor board, who are sticking with a localized system. There is also another system, ITSO, which includes three other boards. This is confusing for the public.

For me this means twice as much work, something I have now accepted. To give my customers the service they deserve, I am affiliated with both SLAR and LSTAR. I fill out each ad twice. I manage two systems. I pay two sets of fees. When an agent calls from Toronto or elsewhere with buyers wanting to see one of my listings, I have to enter the appointment twice. If any paperwork is required after a property has been conditionally sold or sold, I must enter the status on two boards.

Why? Because I know that if I don’t, my sellers will miss out on a huge group of buyers who come from outside our “closed” borders. I would also face fines from both boards if I failed to report anything as required.

I know agents and brokers who belong to even more boards. For me, that’s where I refer buyers or sellers in remote areas to professionals who work – and perhaps even live – in those communities. If I were to delve into those areas myself, I believe I would be doing my clients a disservice.

The illusion of choice

There will be a vote. Membership is asked whether it wants to stay with the current system or evolve. But as someone who has served on the board of directors, chaired the education committee, and currently serves on the MLS and professional standards committees, I am concerned.

I’ve seen how these things work. I’ve been applying for the Finance Committee for five years and still haven’t received a response. I fear that this vote will not reflect the views of hard-working, full-time officers, but rather the result of proxy voting – where a few strong voices collect signatures from those who may not realize what is at stake.

Some of us have also been told that Chatham will be joining PropTx. If true, Sarnia and Windsor will stand alone together. Living in adjacent areas would present challenges for those communities.

A history of fighting for the truth

Some have said I should “keep quiet and do my job,” while others have said you can’t fight or change this administration. But those who know me from my days at Anna Moscardelli Advocacy and Paralegal Services, as a former journalist for First Monday Business Magazine, or during my time as special assistant to MPP Bob Bailey, know that sitting quietly – or sitting back and doing nothing – is not in my vocabulary.

I fought for the rights of families against the Family Responsibility Office. I fought for local health care at Bluewater Health. I fought to keep our police department. I spoke to members of Queen’s Park about the Workplace Violence and Harassment Bill. I even fought for the “underdogs” – pets who were labeled as cruel and who simply needed a voice.

I am one person, but I have never been afraid to be that one person.

The path forward

Sarnia real estate has been called a “closed board” by outsiders and even by AI algorithms. It is a label that implies that we protect a small circle at the expense of the interests of our customers. Many have said Sarnia is “not open for business.” However, many of us believe that we need to work together and welcome people from everywhere.

One concern I always have is when someone travels to Sarnia – perhaps from Toronto – and knows nothing about certain areas. Sometimes I feel like an agent can be doing a disservice to their clients, and vice versa. A real estate agent who travels to Thunder Bay to list a home for sale without knowledge of the area could also be doing sellers a disservice.

That’s why many of us reach out to agents we know and trust in other areas and refer buyers or sellers, knowing they will get the right representation. Unfortunately, there are people who choose an agent for their own reasons. After a deal is made, some regret that decision. It’s sad to see, but people choose their representatives, and we must respect that choice.

It’s time to evolve. It’s time to move with the times and join the 22 other boards that have realized that we are stronger when we are connected. While my sellers get the same exposure as sellers in London, Toronto or Ottawa, there are others who don’t.

In December 2024REM columnist Brandon Reay wrote: “Provinces like Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and PEI have demonstrated the benefits of unified governance. A single, consolidated board eliminates duplication of costs and invests resources directly in what matters most to members: training, advocacy and technology. This structure creates a streamlined system that serves the interests of the entire province, while retaining local insights and autonomy where it counts.”

Unfortunately, the gatekeepers may not like what I have to say. But I didn’t start in this profession to make the board happy; I got into it to help move Sarnia forward and ensure I provide the best service possible to my buyers and sellers.

I’m not sure how our board of directors will vote on this issue. What I do know is that I hope we can work together and do what is in the best interest of the public. For the time being it is a wait and see situation.