Before Signing a Buyer Representation Agreement

By Alessandra Imanabadi · Nationwide Fine Homes

Ask whether you would trust this person when the advice becomes difficult.

Would you trust the agent who recommends stepping up another $100,000?

Just as importantly, would that agent tell you the home is overpriced, the investment no longer makes sense or another property would serve you better?

Pleasant conversation is easy. Judgment in both directions is what you need.

Look for the reasoning behind the advice

An experienced agent should notice more than whether you like the kitchen.

What are you compromising? What are you paying for? Is the feature you love worth the premium? Is the problem that frightened you actually manageable?

You should leave the conversation understanding something you did not understand before.

Then understand the agreement: services, compensation, duration, payment obligations and how the relationship can end. Those terms deserve a plain explanation, not a rushed signature.

The relationship should make it easier to ask questions—not make you feel committed before you are comfortable.

The advice should help you recognize the person behind the agreement

Ask yourself whether you would trust this person if she advised you to step up another $100,000—and whether she would be equally willing to say, “Not this home. The price no longer makes sense.” You need both kinds of judgment, not simply encouragement to keep buying.

A good first conversation should reveal how the agent listens, what she notices and how she explains a difficult choice. The written agreement describes the relationship; the experience of that conversation helps you decide whether you want it.

Choosing representation is personal. I would be pleased to hear what you want from the search and share how I would approach it. That first conversation gives you room to ask questions and decide whether my judgment and way of working feel right for you. Any commitment comes afterward.

Further reading

California DRE — information for homebuyers