“One for all, all for one”: CREA’s commitment to our REALTOR® members

Remember that motto? If you connected it with The Three Musketeers – you are absolutely right! But what does it have to do with REALTORS® and CREA?

Well, it captures the role of your national association, local boards and provincial associations – the “REALTOR® Association Community.” It is our job to work collectively and cooperatively to serve you. We need to complement one another, and constantly ask if what we are doing will help REALTORS®, and are we the right or best group to be doing it.

Does that sound controversial? You may be surprised to learn that getting there has been challenging. In years past, some believed that CREA existed to serve boards and associations only, and that we should not communicate directly with REALTORS®. Last year we changed that and started talking directly with all members, including through our monthly newsletter NEWS2Me.

Earlier this year, CREA held a planning session that included representatives from boards and associations across the country to ensure our objectives align with, and are supported by, the REALTOR® Association Community.

Here’s what we agreed to:

1. REALTORS® are CREA’s customer;
2. REALTORS® are also the local board and provincial associations’ customer;
3. The REALTOR® customer pays all of our bills;
4. The shared REALTOR® customer expects and deserves the entire REALTOR® Association Community to coordinate and work cooperatively together to ensure the success of REALTORS®.

And what should success look like? Success means:

• REALTORS® are chosen first by consumers;
• REALTORS® are professional and successful;
• REALTORS® are confident and proud to be part of their “REALTOR® Community”;
• The REALTOR® Community is working in harmony to maximize REALTOR® value;
• Canada has a strong, vibrant and sustainable real estate market place.

Now what does this mean for you?

It means whatever we do as a national association considers two things. First and foremost, we must ensure what we do and what we provide serves and supports REALTOR® success. And second, CREA must work together with the local boards and provincial associations in serving REALTORS® and supporting their success.

Here’s a simple example. Today we know that all boards and associations promote the value of using a REALTOR®. Much of that promotion, including how to best go about doing it, is done individually by each board or association. Are we using the best research, the best messaging, and the best vehicles to identify and promote that value? Can we collectively do a better job and be more effective? These are important questions the REALTOR® Association Community should be asking ourselves and we have committed to doing so moving forward and figuring out ways to do things better and more collaboratively.

We know that together we are stronger, and together we can be better. As d’Artagnan said it’s “all for one, and one for all.”