Sandra Garrick | There is no conflict

This is a response to the the criticism levelled against the Real Estate Board in the article published in The Sunday Gleaner on November 29, 2020 under the caption ‘Realtors knock REB’.

The Real Estate Board has always had an open-door policy, allowing practitioners to voice any concerns they may have to the CEO or the board’s inspectorate, and we would have welcomed a visit to our office, letter or telephone call so we could rectify any issues identified. Unfortunately, the medium chosen was through publication in this newspaper.

While we acknowledge that there have been issues with the processing of payments by a few realtors, we take issue with the assertion that this is the typical experience. There are many cases where funds are simply bounced or rejected or are delayed due to third-party banking arrangements. In other cases, funds are sent but with no payment reference allowing the board to identify the payee.

However, we are happy to advise that any such payment issues have now been almost eliminated with the introduction of our client portal payment platform. This is providing persons choose to use this payment medium, instead of the other third-party payment options. The client portal which was launched in September this year allows clients to make online payments directly from the board’s website, using a Visa or MasterCard debit or credit card.

All necessary fields to immediately identify payment are included, and a confirmation email is sent at the end of the transaction to avoid ambiguity regarding the status of the transaction. The portal also integrates the registration and payment of CPD Courses, resulting in a single streamlined transaction.

Another common problem the article failed to mention was the fact that persons may not be listed as licensed, despite paying the necessary licence fee, due to a failure to meet the other requirements for licensing, namely: the dealer to whom a salesmen is employed being licensed; the submission of a current employment letter from the dealer indicating the salesmen under his/her employment; and the completion of all mandatory Continuing Professional Development, CPD, courses.

We also wish to address the matter of course dates and spaces, with specific reference to the erroneous claim that agents have been “waiting to take courses” and that “the classes are always full”.

For all CPD courses held virtually since the pandemic, only one course, the Terrorism Prevention Act, has seen an average registration of 100 per cent. The others have had registrations of between 73 per cent and 88 per cent. It should be noted that four sessions of the Real Estate (Dealers and Developers) Act have had to be cancelled and/or consolidated in response to prohibitively low registration. As a consequence, we have seen no need to add even more sessions to the 49 held across five courses since the onset of the pandemic.

The truth to the matter is those who wished to do any of the above courses had ample time and opportunity to do so. There was neither a lack of space nor course dates, as indicated in the original article.

It should be noted that all information necessary for smooth interactions between the board and the professionals we serve is communicated to them directly via email. Over 80 such emails have been sent during the course of the current calendar year, including those referencing new course dates.

In cases where persons have not received these emails, it may be that they have ‘unsubscribed’, or cease using the address on file. Since last year, we have been on an information update and verification drive to encourage persons to update their contact information with the board.

Our email communication is supported by public dialogue and direct interaction where necessary. In September 2017, prior to the implementation of the CPD programme, the board hosted a free public forum at the Girls Guides Association of Jamaica where the programme was outlined.

Similarly, we hosted presentations at the start of our in-person CPD courses earlier this year – encouraging persons to provide necessary and accurate information to ensure a smooth payment process. Additionally, important information, such as those mentioned herein, is usually placed on our website and our social media platforms.

The board therefore rejects any notion that it is at ‘odds’ with the professionals we serve, and welcomes all concerns. Where we find any administrative issues, we stand ready to address these expeditiously.

We thank the overwhelming majority of our clients who act in accordance with the instructions of the board and the mandate of the law, ensuring a mutually seamless operation and interaction.

Sandra Garrick is CEO of the Real Estate Board.swatson@reb.gov.jm