Oooh, this is a super good question. Let’s say you’re working with an agent to sell your home and they find a great buyer. But your agent also represents the person who wants to buy your home. It seems a little weird and like there may be a conflict of interest, right?
When one real estate agent represents both the buyer and the seller, it’s called dual agency. It’s legal in 42 states, but it’s often frowned upon.
That’s because the agent for the seller has a fiduciary responsibility to get them the best deal and negotiate in their favor. But the agent for the buyer has the same responsibilities—they have to negotiate to get the buyer the best deal.
If you have one agent doing both jobs, it gets a little tricky for them to stay neutral. Usually when this happens, the seller’s agent will ask another agent at their brokerage to represent the buyer. That way both sides have a representative who can help them make the best decisions for them.
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