Toi Holliday - COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUYING A HOME

pertinent selling points. They will also give you the rundown for local activities, restaurants, shopping centers, and schools nearby. Your agent is responsible for educating you on the importance of getting home inspections completed, as well as the disclosures therein. They’re also in charge of ensuring coordination and completion is done for the necessary inspections, and all other professionals involved with the purchase of the home. If bargains need to be made over the price, you won’t have to negotiate yourself. Your buyer’s agent will do that for you, along with coordinating the signing of the final closing documents.

DUAL AGENCY: THE BASICS

A “dual agency” relationship occurs when a buyer is being represented by a brokerage firm that controls the listing. Once an agent represents both the seller and the buyer within the same transaction, the situation is known as “dual agency.” In multiple states, this may be illegal because of the conflicts of interest that can arise regarding the broker. However, in California it is not illegal and dual agency representation must be disclosed to the buyer and seller. All agents hold the same responsibility, which is to inform their clients of all potential risks that could arise due to conflicts of interest. Therefore, the agent must obtain consent from the clients. If you’re selling your home and you don’t want your agent to also work with the buyer of your home, it’s your right to say so in the listing agreement. This is also true for buyers. A buyer can get out of an agreement with an agent if they are interested in purchasing a home their agent is listing.

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