Is Your Realtor Starting Off on the Right Foot?

It definitely should be, Marge. I think it's the only way to guarantee that fair representation for sellers and buyers...especially first time home buyers.

Hi, Luz! When you say contracts, do you mean the Buyer Representation Agreement or Exclusive Right to Sell Form?

Debbie...it does indeed. In fact, at our Meet Up, we were talking about how even long term agents have been working a certain way for decades thinking it's the right way something is done, when in fact it is incorrect. If you didn't learn properly in the beginning, and if your office is sloppy about forms, you may never know how to be an outstanding agent.

Barbara...and possibly not even then if their office is not on top of keeping the proper paperwork.

Carol-Ann...when my husband and I bought our first home, we called the agent on the sigh. Boy, were we naive. He never told us that he represented the seller and we never knew that either. It became apparent when we weren't allowed in for a walk through before the closing!

Ginny...just as consumers have become savvy about finding properties on the internet, and following sales and market information, they need to become educated about the benefits of representation, and how real estate agents work so they can choose the right person to work with them.

Christine, I agree! I often have to chase down an agent and get the lead form from them.

Wanda, good point. Some agents are not sure enough about the value of their services and hesitate to ask a buyer or seller to sign anything. I always explain that the disclosure form is not an agreement or contract and doesn't lock them into working with me if they decide not to. I like the blog post suggestion, too! :)

Thank you, Kay! Carrying copies of it in a car file box, or in a briefcase is an excellent idea!

Hi, Luz, I emailed you offline to answer your question about comments. I wanted to make sure you saw the response. I'll answer here, too, just in case. Right above the space where you write your comment is a checkbox that says "Notify me of new comments". If you click on that little box, you will get an email whenever there is a new comment. Thanks for asking!

Good morning, Lorraine and Loretta...You're right, without the word mandatory...and probably some consequences in place for not giving it out...there's a lot of room for agents to decide on their own. I think the threat of "fines" in MA probably helps many brokers require this form for their files. Sadly, some agents still don't give it out until the closing. The more we educate consumers about the real estate transaction, the more they will come to understand what to expect, and what their "rights" are.