CLIENT VS. CUSTOMER - REALTORS(R) BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PROTEST!

Hi Karen - In Ontario, we differentiate between customers and clients for real estate transactions.

The law also defines what the relationship is not just the work.

Karen, thanks for pointing this out. I was always told we have clients. I'll have to dig deeper into this. Thanks for the heads up! :)

States a very different. In California, real estate licensees are defined by both California real estate and agency law to have feduciary responsibility to their principles. This is a much higher standard than transaction brokers. All part of the territory when we accept our license here. I guess that's why so many agent do get in trouble and why there are so many law suits against agents in California. Sigh.

Karen, we are very different here as we are not transactional brokers. The difference here is clearly defined.

Karen:  Client does sound very much more professional.  I use it all of the time and never thought it could cause an issue as our client relationships must be in writing here in California.

Karen, you are so right.  Even I slip and say Client when they are actually a Customer.  I have to make a better effort to correct myself.

Here are the definitions from the Code:

Client:  someone “with whom the REALTOR® or a REALTOR’S® firm has an agency or legally recognized non-agency relationship.”
Customer:  “a party to a real estate transaction who receives information, services, or benefits but has no contractual relationship with the REALTOR® or the REALTOR’S® firm."