What’s a Buyer Agency Agreement?

Before we tour homes together, there’s one document buyers almost always ask about now. That’s the Buyer Agency Agreement. And I want to be clear right up front. This isn’t about locking you in. It’s not about pressure. It’s actually about CLARITY. Before I can show you a home, we need to be clear about what I’m doing for you, and what I’m not. Because once we start walking into homes, I’m no longer just opening doors: I’m giving advice. I’m helping you evaluate price, condition, negotiation strategy, inspection risk, and next steps. Those decisions can affect you FINANCIALLY in very real ways. Watch the short video here or keep reading:

This agreement simply confirms that I’m working for YOU, not the seller. That may sound obvious today, but it wasn’t always.

Decades ago before most of us were born, the agent showing a home LEGALLY represented the SELLER by default, even if they’d never met the seller! The public had no idea. Buyers would walk into homes, speak freely, and assume the agent was on their side.

They weren’t.

Lawsuits ensued and buyer agency was born as a result.

The agreement also outlines how compensation works, and in most transactions that compensation is still paid by the seller, just as it has been historically. Our MLS, like most around the nation, now requires buyer agency to be established BEFORE a property is shown. That change came out of national litigation in 2024 involving the National Association of Realtors. Think of it like hiring a CPA, an attorney, or a contractor. You’d want clarity about who represents you and what they’re responsible for BEFORE work begins, right? This is the real estate version of that clarity. Would it be unreasonable to be informed before making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life?

Clarity first. Tours second. Contact us to get started.