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Then why don't you just SAY that?

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

In a fair number of recent online conversations, there has been some serious confusion over the use of Buyer's agent vs. Selling agent.

As most Realtors know, most transations include two agents.  The listing agent, and the selling agent. 

The listing agent is fairly straightforward... s/he represents the seller.... the person who owns the property that's for sale.

The selling agent is a bit more confusing... the selling agent is actually the buyer's agent... who represents the buyer in the transaction.  And the consumer knows us as buyer's agents.  But many agents like to use the technical terminology, and since they're not used consistently... it just creates confusion, even amongst fellow Realtors.

"Selling agent??  You mean the buyer's agent?"

"Yes, the buyer's agent."

"Then why don't you just SAY that?!"

Why, indeed?

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com
Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate • Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments(25)

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Kris Collis, Associate Broker
Smart Way America Realty - East Stroudsburg, PA
Professional Results you Expect 570-801-5525

Alan, A good reminder that our teminology can be sticky, tricky to consumers.  Let's stick to buyer's agent.

Sep 21, 2019 09:55 PM
Alan May

agreed.

Sep 22, 2019 09:53 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

In Wisconsin ...if you don't have a buer Agenty contract...the Selling agent is really still working for the Seller...to add to the confusion...

Sep 22, 2019 02:46 AM
Alan May

Illinois no longer has sub-agency.

Sep 22, 2019 09:54 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning Alan May I think most buyers continue to not understand agency.....they would all be wise to secure a buyer's agent prior to beating the pavement in search of that special home..... there continues to be listing agents who focus on the entire deal.... they participate in dual agency.... I think dual agency should be A THING OF THE PAST.... EVERYONE DESERVES PROPER REPRESENTATION AND IT NEEDS TO BE CALLED OUT AS IT IS: BUYER'S AGENT...

Sep 22, 2019 05:12 AM
Alan May

in this case we're just talking about the idemntifying terminology... but if they can't understand what a "selling agent" is... we sure as heck can't expect them to understand "agency" in general.

Sep 22, 2019 09:55 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Alan. Well put my friend. Say it like it is! Enjoy your day!

Sep 22, 2019 05:24 AM
Alan May

I do what I can.

Sep 22, 2019 09:56 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I always thought "selling" agent was confusing. Buyer's agent is much clearer!

Sep 22, 2019 06:54 AM
Alan May

It is confusing.

Sep 22, 2019 09:56 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Agree Alan.  It would make better sense to just call them a buyer's agent.  I'm guessing that's why we don't. Lol. 

Sep 22, 2019 07:12 AM
Alan May

... and sadly, that's probably the truth.

Sep 22, 2019 09:57 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

It's one of the things that threw me off when I first got started.  Selling agent??  Isn't the seller's agent selling the house?

Sep 22, 2019 07:16 AM
Alan May

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

Sep 22, 2019 09:58 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Alan... a question I hear posed often. But at the end of the day never quite understood why so many agents are confused by the use of selling agent terminology.

Sep 22, 2019 07:18 AM
Alan May

there's a lot that I don't understand.

Sep 22, 2019 10:00 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Alan. As usual, you get right to it and with a homorist twist.

Sep 22, 2019 07:55 AM
Alan May

I do what I can, Sheila.  I do what I can.

Sep 22, 2019 10:01 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

That used to confuse me also when I was brand new to the business.

Sep 22, 2019 08:09 AM
Alan May

I think it used to confuse everyone.

Sep 22, 2019 10:01 AM
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Sencillo! Semplice! Facile!

SIMPLE!

Why you gotta complicate things?

Sep 22, 2019 09:06 AM
Alan May

why you gotta, indeed.

Sep 22, 2019 10:02 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

HI Alan May,

I am often confused when I hear terminology from other parts of the country and it gets even more convoluted when lawyers are involved!

Sep 22, 2019 09:37 AM
Alan May

We use attorneys in 99.5% of our transactions.  And I find that it simplifies my job.

Sep 22, 2019 10:02 AM
Marte Cliff

I agree - some of the terminology changes from east to west. It used to make me feel really stupid when I got buyers in from other parts of the country and they used terms that didn't compute here in Idaho.

Sep 23, 2019 09:37 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good afternoon Alan May -  makes sense to me.  If is quacks like a duck call it a duck.

Sep 22, 2019 12:39 PM
Alan May

waddle, waddle, waddle.

Sep 22, 2019 12:41 PM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

And we wonder why people get confused ... it's as clear as mud, Alan May!

Gene

Sep 23, 2019 08:57 AM
Alan May

Sep 23, 2019 09:20 AM
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

It’s BUYERS AGENT! I don’t do dual agency! I can only represent one party! I refer out all buyers for my listings

Sep 23, 2019 12:05 PM
Alan May

you're just proving my point, Tom.  A selling agent has nothing to do with dual agency.

Sep 23, 2019 04:19 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

KISS! Nuf said.

Sep 23, 2019 04:15 PM
Alan May

but is it??

Sep 23, 2019 04:20 PM
Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop
NextHome Experience - Chelan, WA
A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!

Alrighty, and to add insult to injury, here in WA state "agents" were made "brokers" and "brokers" became "managing brokers" even though the majority of them don't manage anyone. And.....this was all done to avoid confusing the consumer ???

Sep 24, 2019 08:25 AM
Alan May

in Illinois, too.  We are all brokers, and then managing  brokers.  It means I get a bunch of solicitation calls asking if I'd like help finding agents.

Sep 24, 2019 11:08 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

Business lingo..can get confusing...as Colleen mentioned, many pp get confused between agent and broker...different places different meaning

Sep 24, 2019 01:43 PM
Alan May

most consumers don't make a distinction betweet agent and broker... but they do confuse the difference between "selling agent" and "buyer's agent"... as do many agents.

Sep 24, 2019 02:08 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Thank you.  I never did understand why someone would use that term.  At the very least it could have been buying agent since they weren't involved with any selling.

Sep 24, 2019 04:23 PM
Alan May

you're very welcome.

Sep 24, 2019 05:50 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I would have not known that buyers agent and selling agent were the same person. Makes no sense to me. LOL

Sep 25, 2019 05:33 AM
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