It would be wrong to think that the changes to the Real Estate Brokerage Act mean that it’s now necessary to sign a brokerage contract in order to carry out a transaction to sell or buy property. That’s not at all the case! Representation from a broker continues to be a personal choice, not an obligation. As a buyer, you can choose not to be represented by anyone else in the real estate transaction. The seller’s broker has a code of ethics stating that the broker must give you fair treatment, let you visit the property, give you all the essential information relating to the property and the transaction, despite not receiving compensation from you. As a broker-free seller, Bill 5 does not prevent you from doing business with a buyer represented by a broker. Remember: if the buyer is represented by a broker, the brokerage contract is only between those two parties. Buyers can still deal with you, be it directly or through their broker.