Recently buyers have become aware that there can be great benefit to them in having a real estate agent represent them in a transaction.

If the real estate firm and its agents represent you, they must promote your best interest, be loyal to you follow your lawful instructions, provide you with all material facts that could influence your decisions, use reasonable skill, care and diligence and account for all monies they handle for you. Once you have agreed (either orally or in writing) for the firm and its agents to be your buyer’s agent, they may not give any confidential information about you to sellers or their agents without your permission. But until you make this agreement with your buyer’s agent, you should avoid telling the agent anything you would not want a seller to know.

Unwritten Agreements: To make sure that you and the real estate firm have a clear understanding of what your relationship will be and what the firm will do for you, you may want to have a written agreement. However, some firms may be willing to represent and assist you for a time as a buyer’s agent without a written agreement. But if you decide to make an offer to purchase a particular property, the agent must obtain a written agency agreement. If you do not sign it, the agent will be unable to represent and assist you and is no longer required to keep information about you confidential. Furthermore, if you later purchase the property through an agent with another firm, the agent who first showed you the property may seek compensation from the other firm.

Be sure to read and understand any agency agreement before you sign it.

Services and Compensation: Whether you have a written or unwritten agreement, a buyer’s agent will perform a number of services for you. These may include helping you find a suitable property, arrange financing, learn more about the property and otherwise promote your best interest. If you have a written agency agreement, the agent can also help you prepare and submit a written offer to the seller.

A buyer’s agent can be compensated in different ways. For example, you pay the agent out of your own pocket. Or the agent may seek compensation from the seller or listing agent first, but require you to pay if the listing agent refuses. Whatever, the case, be sure your compensation arrangement with you buyer’s agent is spelled out in a buyers agency agreement before you make an offer to purchase property and that you carefully read and understand the compensation provision.