Is Dual Agency Right For All Home Buyers and Sellers?

I'm not going out on a limb when I say that most buyers and sellers don't know whom their agents represent. They don't understand dual agency, nor do many know why agency relationships are important because zero attention is drawn to agency.

Sellers agree to pay a certain commission to a listing agent. Whether that agent ends up dividing the commission with another agent isn't a huge concern for most sellers because the seller typically shells out the same amount of cash for dual agency as for single agency.

Since the seller generally compensates the buyer's agent, most buyers aren't concerned with agency relationships, either. Buyers reason they're not paying the fee, even though they are because it's absorbed within the sales price.

Here's an eye opener for you:

Dual agency isn't about who ultimately pays the fee.

I propose most people would want their own agent to solely represent them. However, that's not how it happens half the time and few realize the rights they sign away when they agree to dual agency . . . read more about dual agency.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• Who Pays Agents?
  
• Real Estate Designations
  
• Full Service Agents

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_{At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, DRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.}