Question


weakest...

How necessary is it to sign a Buyer/Broker agreement just to have a realtor get info on a listing?

Several days ago I saw a house for sale that looked like one I would be interested in purchasing. I went to the agency's web site that had the listing and got the MLS#. I sent an email to that agency but did not receive a reply, so I contacted a real estate agent with whom I had spoken with several months ago when I was considering selling my current home. Instead of getting me the information I requested, she said she couldn't do anything for me unless I signed a Buyer/Broker Agreement and also implied that unless I was ready to place my current home on the market, there was little else she could do for me. I need some clarification as to how real estate agents work. It it necessary to sign that agreement to just have a realtor obtain information, or is this just high-pressure tactics?

4 months ago - 3 answers

Best Answer

Chosen by Asker

It is not a requirement to sign a Buyer Representation Agreement to see the inside of a property. However, since agents are not paid until they close the deal, they do not want to spend their time, gas, money, etc., on a person who is not really ready to buy or who is just "looking". The best thing to do would be to see if the home has an "Open House" coming up, then you could view the interior without having to commit to anything. Or you might try to find a newbie agent who is wanting to gain experience and get their name out there -- they may be willing to show you the property without signing an agreement. For some reason, the public is under the misconception that a real estate agent HAS to show you a property or MUST provide you with information. The fact is that an agent can choose NOT to represent a potential buyer/seller for any reason. After all, they are independent contractors and work for themselves.

Source(s)

Legal Assistant in the real estate industry.

by AustinTXgirl76

4 months ago

Asker's Rating: 

Other Answers

It's a high pressure tactic.

by zeuz- 4 months ago

I am also a current realtor in Texas. I am not sure which state you are in, however, if you were able to get the MLS#, there should be an area website where it is listed and you can go online yourself and get most of the information on your own. If you wanted to see the inside of the home that's when you should sign the agreement. Either way it goes, most realtors whether on the buyer's side, seller's or both will want an agreement in order to show you the inside of the property. There have been countless hours and money spent by realtors who show properties without an agreement only to have the potential client use another realtor who didn't show them the property in the first place to close the deal.

by Mrs Calli- 4 months ago

It seems a little high-handed to me, but she is probably thinking that she is going to put time, effort and maybe some of her brokerage's money into assessing the property in which you are interested. She doesn't want to do all that work for a person that is just casually interested. Signing that agreement demonstrated to her you are more that just a looky-loo.

by Duffer McDivott- 4 months ago