Call me crazy…
Call me crazy but when I am told that something is the law, I abide by it. I’m just funny that way, which is why I just can’t understand why still so many Brokers/Realtors® refuse to present the Consumer Notice or the Buyer Broker Agreement to buyers when they first meet.
Dirty little secret
I’ve talked to many Realtors® who told me that they do not get their “clients” to sign the Buyer Broker Agreement until they are writing up an offer. Just blows my mind.
As Realtors® we promise to always look out for our client’s best interest and always act in good faith and by not showing and explaining the Consumer Notice or asking the consumer if they want to hire them to be their buyer agent by presenting them with the Buyer Broker Agreement upon first meeting is certainly not in anyone’s best interest or in my opinion, not acting in “good faith.” Yet, it happens every single day.
In my opinion, it just gives our entire profession a bad name when Realtors can’t even abide by the very rules, regulations and laws that govern us. If they won’t even comply with the Real Estate Commission, what else are they not complying with, what else are they “not doing” for consumers and clients?
Who’s to blame?
Talk to any consumer and ask them if they know what buyer agency is and most will answer, “no.” Most are not even aware that they even have rights. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to a buyer after they’ve purchased their home and they’ve said, “we used the listing agent, we didn’t know that we could have used our own agent.” Wow! It makes me feel like we’ve failed in educating the public as well as the National Association of Reators®. In this day and age, every consumer should at least know about buyer agency and it’s benefits but when we as Realtors® don’t even believe in it, what message are we putting out there?
With all the tools available for consumers these days on the internet making it easier and easier for them to buy and sell a home on their own, isn’t it crucial to our industry that we continue to show the public the necessity and even more important, the dire need for Realtors®?
Do you do this?
Do you present and more importantly, explain both the Consumer Notice along with the Buyer Broker Agreement upon first meeting with a buyer? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue.
If you are not certain of your state’s laws, you should check with local counsel or your Real Estate Commission.
