
Find someone who cares about you and
will take the time to listen to your needs.
More importantly, find someone that you can connect
with that will always listen to your needs, in an ongoing fashion.
Developing a strong relationship with your agent is the key to
your success! You will be sharing confidential information and
revealing personal data that will provide valuable insight into
the home buying process. The degree of professionalism and trust
you expect will ultimately guide you in making the right decision
in choosing an agent to partner with in what will most likely be
your largest single-most important purchase.
What does it mean to be represented
by a real estate agent?
Minnesota law requires that early in any relationship,
real estate brokers or salespersons discuss with consumers what
type of agency representation or relationship they desire. The
available options are listed below. If you desire representation,
you must enter into a written contract according to state law (a
listing contract or a buyer representation contract). Until such
time as you choose to enter into a written contract for representation,
you will be treated as a customer and will not receive any representation
from the broker or salesperson. The broker or salesperson will
be acting as a Facilitator, unless the broker or salesperson is
representing another party as described below.
| 1. |
Seller's Agent: representing and acting
for the seller only. May be a listing agent, or any REALTOR® licensed
to the listing broker, or a selling subagent. |
| |
|
| 2. |
Subagent: a broker or salesperson who
is working with a buyer but represents the seller. |
| |
|
| 3. |
Buyer's Agent: representing and acting
for the buyer only. As with a listing contract with sellers,
an agreement for buyer representation must be in writing. |
| |
|
| 4. |
Dual Agent: one licensee representing
both the seller and the buyer as clients in one transaction,
or two agents licensed to the same broker one of whom represents
the seller and one of whom represents the buyer in one transaction.
THis requires full disclosure and informed consent of both
parties. Dual agents have a limited role, must not advocate
or negotiate for either party, and must not act to the detriment
of either party. |
| |
|
| 5. |
Facilitator: a real estate licensee who
works for a buyer, a seller or both in a transaction but
does not represent either in a fiduciary capacity as a Buyer's
Broker, Seller's Broker or Dual Agent. Facilitators may perform
services for consumers, but do not represent them. Facilitators
are bound by license law and common law, but owe only the
fiduciary duty of confidentiality unless other fiduciary
duties are agreed to between licensee and consumer. |
Click here for a complete downloadable Agency
Relationships in Real Estate Transactions disclosure form.
Requires
the free Adobe Reader.  |