Working with Agents is a brochure that explains a brokers responsibilities when working with clients. It’s NC State Law that we present and discuss this information with every potential client before we receive confidential information.
A person interested in buying or selling real estate should always ask a real estate broker who he or she represents, and we should ask if you have or want representation – here’s why.
Until I establish who I represent in a transaction, you don’t know how your confidential information will be treated.
As a Buyer’s Agent – If our real estate firm and its agents represent you, we must
- - promote your best interests
- - be loyal to you
- - follow your lawful instructions
- - provide you with all material facts that could influence your decisions
- - use reasonable skill, care and diligence, and
- - account for all monies we handle for you.
What I think is very important for buyer clients to understand is this – Once you’ve decided to work with me, I cannot give any confidential information 
about you to sellers or their agents without your permission so long as I represent you. But until you make this agreement with me as a buyer’s agent, you should avoid telling me anything you would not want a seller to know. That’s really important, if the seller asks, I’d like to have have your permission to protect your confidential information!
Confidentiality is equally important for clients who would like to hire me and our firm as a listing agent, in fact you’ll see some similarities -
As a Listing Agent - If our real estate firm and its agents represent you, we must
- - promote your best interests
- - be loyal to you - follow your lawful instructions
- - provide you with all material facts that could influence your decisions
- - use reasonable skill, care and diligence, and
- - account for all monies we handle for you.
Once you have signed the listing agreement, our firm and its agents may not give any confidential information about you to prospective buyers or their agents without your permission so long as we represent you. But until you sign the listing agreement, you should avoid telling the agent anything you would not want a buyer to know! This is equally important, protecting your confidential information as a seller’s agent keeps the integrity of your negotiating position intact.
The NC Real Estate Commission feels it is important we disclose who we represent prior to receiving confidential information and that we discuss Working With Agents with you. I’m hoping if you intend to hire me, you ask who I represent so that we can protect you in the transaction.
