Garry Marr
Other
Zoocasa will act as a brokerage hooking up consumers with agents from existing firms, and getting a fee for itself in the process. Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press
Rogers Communications Inc. subsidiary Zoocasa plans a further incursion into the territory of organized real estate.
Zoocasa said it will roll out a new platform that will allow consumers to sign up with agents through its website and ultimately get a rebate on their commission.
Zoocasa has tapped lawyer Lawrence Dale – a founder of Realtysellers whose complaint to the Competition Bureau led to an investigation of organized real estate – to head up its real estate business.
The Bureau ultimately opened up the multiple listing service, the backbone of the industry’s control over home sales, and allowed realtors to offer more a la carte services and the loosening of the industry’s grip on data.
Now Zoocasa, under Mr. Dale, will offer consumers a rebate on any sale which is expected to be worth more than $2,000 on a a typical $550,000 transaction.
“We have a built a network of top quality, experienced productive agents,” said Mr. Dale, adding deals are in places with agents from major brands like Century 21, Re/Max and Royal LePage.
Zoocasa will act as brokerage hooking up consumers with agents from existing firms, getting a fee for itself in the process. A percentage of the commission, or a referral fee, comes from the agent.
“We were inundated with quality agents who wanted to be part of this,” said Mr. Dale.
The new new selling platform is being launched in the greater Toronto area first with plans to expand it across the country.
© 2013 National Post