Working with Agents
Working with Agents explains a broker's role and 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 an Agent establishes who they represent in a transaction,
you don't know how your confidential information will be treated.
As a Buyer's Agent
When 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.
It's important for buyer clients to understand -
Once you've decided to hire me, I cannot give any confidential information about you to sellers, builders or their agents without your permission so long as I represent you.
Until you hire a buyer’s agent, you should avoid telling any agent anything you wouldn't want a seller to know.
That's important because until you hire an agent, they have no obligation 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
When 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've 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.
Until you sign the listing agreement, you shouldn't discuss or tell an agent anything you wouldn't want a buyer to know!
This is important; your listing agent protects your confidential information which keeps your negotiating position safe.
The NC Real Estate Commission thinks it's important brokers disclose who we represent before you give us confidential information.
The Commission also thinks it's important we discuss Working With Agents with you, in fact they made it a Law.
