Different Real Estate Agents

How Do Real Estate Agents Differ?

In most states a real estate agent must disclose which party he or she works for--by default usually the home seller, and disclosure typically occurs during the first substantial contact with a home buyer.
Let us look at some of the details you might hear during disclosure:

Seller's Agent

v	An agent working for the firm that holds a seller's listing.

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v	An agent working for a firm belonging to an affiliated or local Board of Realtors is called a seller's sub agent, and is in the same category.

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v	The agent's loyalty is with the seller.

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v	Buyers should not give confidential information to a seller's agent.

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v	Assume any agent is a seller's agent unless you've signed a contract to change that status.

Buyer's Agent

v	An agent who has signed a contract to represent a buyer in a home search and sales transaction.

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v	The agent's loyalties are to the buyer.

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v	Buyer's agents should not disclose confidential information about the buyer to the seller or seller's agent.

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v	Some buyer's agents work exclusively with buyers, taking no listings. Many do both.

Dual Agent

v	An agent who works for the firm that holds a seller's listing, and who has signed a contract to represent a buyer who wishes to purchase that listing.

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v	The agent has a loyalty to both the buyer and seller.

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v	Dual agency must usually be agreed to in writing by both the buyer and the seller

Facilitator

v	In some states you will hear the term facilitator used to describe an agent who brings the parties together, but is not an advocate for either side.