Selling Your Own listing. Double Dipping ? What A Crock !

Unless it is not allowed dual agency is just that!  But I do hate it when the listing agents are given free reign to advertise and put signs up BEFORE it goes in the MLS, which is what happens in Cali all of the time.

I'm sorry Karen Anne it took me 1/2 hour to scroll down to the bottom of the comments section and I forgot what the topic of your post was. This was a very good post only made better by the comments... 

Loved this! I, on occasion, act as both buyer's agent and seller's agent. A dishonest, unethical agent will be just that whether working with a buyer, working with a seller or both. Acting as a dual agent doesn't suddenly initiate dishonesty.  I truly believe there are many agents, like myself ,that toe the line when it comes to law and ethics and always fairly represent the parties in a transaction.

I've always believed if you have trouble trusting other people, it's often because you can't be trusted yourself!!!

 I must admit I have been quilty of saying "Double Dipping" but only to my husband, I would never say it to a client! 

The way you present it, I see no problem with this situation. The problem arises when the buyer is not actually your"client" but someone that has called you on the listing or that you have met at the open house. In that case, you are obligated to represent your seller & in order to keep the transaction ethical, you should refer the buyer to someone else (a fellow agent at your brokerage) in order to avoid "conflict of interest".

Karen, I think there is MORE work involved in working both the buyer and seller!  Here we transition to Transaction Broker if/when that happens.

Karen,

              Another Great Blog and I agree double dipping is a bad term; I think sometimes perception is reality. If you bring buyer and seller together that is great just some people do take advantage.

Hi Karen,  In Alaska, the term dual agent has been replaced with "neutral licensee". Both buyer and seller have to agree in writing, of course, to the agent being "neutral". I have found  transactions in which I work for the seller and the buyer to actually be easier, because I am in control of the whole process without having to rely on the other agent doing his/her part to make it a smooth transaction and pleasant experience for my clients. Call me a control freak. On the issue of money-why would I not deserve the listing and the selling side commission, if I accomplish what I promised when I was hired by my seller: to make every effort to find a buyer, and by my buyer: to help him/her find and close on a home.

Karen,

I am still holding at 3 over my long career and every time I was asked to do by both sides....I did discount the overall fee to the Seller, I just felt it was the right thing to do.

Karen - Fact is the home Debbie and I now own and live in I had listed. When I listed it there was no intent on buying the home.  It was new and I knew the builder well.  After checking it out we decided to make him an offer and he took it.  Almost nine years later the home we brought to flip in a couple years has become home sweet home and I think we've finally rooted :)  The deal left both us and the home owner happy. 

Only you Karen Anne only you look at all the double dippers lurking here LOL

As usual, dear Karen Anne, you have put it all in perspective perfectly. Amen!

Bear got his hug. Now I'm going to send you an email, and you might not like me anymore. But I'll still like you.

Hello once again Karen ... look at the comments to your post, WOW! "Great Job" and all your replies to these comments ... unbelievable!

VB ;o)

Ah man!  Another featured post I missed.  I so want to take the time to read all 208 comments, but I just don't have time.  I don't often "double end" our listings, though on short sales it is actually beneficial because we have the control to make sure the buyer knows what is going on and sticking around.  But, either way, you are right - we sell that buyer our listing or we sell them another listing. 2 sides. -Kasey

Along with working with both sides and having greater liability involved in a dual agency, the commission is more than earned.

I'll use the money to buy a double dipped fudge sundae.

In Virginia, the way dual agency works, neither side would truly be represented because we become paper pushers.  When someone hires us to represent them our duties include advising them on how to make or negotiate an offer.  When we "represent" both sides, we can long do that.  So for me, I don't feel that it is appropriate, or really what the client's each signed up for when they hired me to represent them, if I trip into dual agency.  So from where I sit in our state, it feels like the only person that wins IS the agent because they get paid the same amount for each client for doing LESS than they would normally do.