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Every consumer should read this prior to buying or selling real
estate.
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At the Time of the First Scheduled Face to Face Contact with You, the Real
Estate Licensee Who is Assisting You is Required by Law to Provide this Notice to You.
This Notice is Not a Contract or Agreement and Creates No Obligation on Your Part.
Before you decide to sell or buy or rent a home you need to consider the
following information.
In this form "seller" includes "landlord"; "buyer" includes
"tenant"; and "purchase" or "sale" includes "lease"
Agents Who Represent the Seller
Seller's Agent: A seller's agent works for the real estate company that lists and markets
the property for the sellers and exclusively represents the sellers. That means that the Seller's
agent may assist the buyer in purchasing the property, but his or her duty of loyalty is only to
the sellers.
Cooperating Agent: A cooperating agent works for a real estate company different from the
company for which the seller's agent works. The cooperating agent can assist a buyer in purchasing a
property, but his or her duty of loyalty is only to the sellers.
If you are viewing a property listed by the company with whom the agent
accompanying you is affiliated, and you have not signed a "Consent for Dual Agency" form, that agent
is representing the seller.
Agents Who Represent the Buyer
Presumed Buyer's Agent (no written agreement): When a person goes to a real estate agent for
assistance in finding a home to purchase, the agent is presumed to be representing the buyer and
can show the buyer properties that are NOT listed by the agent's real estate company. A
presumed buyer's agent may not make or prepare an offer or negotiate a sale for the buyer.
The buyer does not have an obligation to pay anything to the presumed agent.
If for any reason the buyer does not want the agent to represent him or her as a presumed agent,
either initially or at any time, the buyer can decline or terminate a presumed agency
relationship simply by saying so.
Buyer's Agent (by written agreement): A buyer may enter into a written contract with a real
estate agent which provides that the agent will represent the buyer in locating a property to buy.
The agent is then known as the buyer's agent. That agent assists the buyer in evaluating properties
and preparing offers, and negotiates in the best interests of the buyer. The agent's fee is paid
according to the written agreement between the agent and the buyer. If you as a buyer wish to have an
agent represent you, you must enter into a written buyer agency agreement before a contract offer can
be prepared.
Dual Agents
The possibility of dual agency arises when the buyer's agent and the seller's agent both
work for the same real estate company, and the buyer is interested in property listed by that
company. The real estate broker or the broker's designee, is called the "dual agent." Dual agents
do not act exclusively in the interests of either the seller or buyer, and therefore cannot give
undivided loyalty to either party. There may be a conflict of interest because the interests of the
seller and buyer may be different or adverse.
If both seller and buyer agree to dual agency by signing a Consent For Dual Agency form,
then the "dual agent" (the broker or the broker's designee) will assign one agent to represent the
seller (the seller's "intra-company agent") and another agent to represent the buyer (the buyer's
"intra-company agent"). Intra-company agents may provide the same services to their clients as
exclusive seller's or buyer's agents, including advising their clients as to price and negotiation
strategy, provided the clients have both consented to be represented by dual agency.
If either party does not agree to dual agency, the real estate company must withdraw the
agency agreement for that particular property with either the buyer or seller, or both. If the
seller's agreement is terminated, the seller must then either represent him or herself or arrange to
be represented by an agent from another real estate company. If the buyer's agreement is terminated,
the buyer may choose to enter into a written buyer agency agreement with an agent from a different
company. Alternatively, the buyer may choose not to be represented by an agent of his or her own but
simply to receive assistance from the seller's agent, from another agent in that company, or from a
cooperating agent from another company.
No matter what type of agent you choose to work with, you have the following rights and
responsibilities in selling or buying property:
- Real estate agents are obligated by law to treat all parties to a real estate transaction
honestly and fairly. They must exercise reasonable care and diligence and maintain the
confidentiality of clients. They must not discriminate in the offering of properties; they must
promptly present each written offer or counteroffer to the other party; and they must answer
questions truthfully.
- Real estate agents must disclose all material facts that they know or should know relating to a
property. An agent's duty to maintain confidentiality does not apply to the disclosure of material
facts about a property.
- All agreements with real estate brokers and agents should be in writing and should explain the
duties and obligations of both the broker and the agent. The agreement should explain how the
broker and agent will be paid and any fee-sharing agreements with other brokers and agents.
- You have the responsibility to protect your own interests. You should carefully read all
agreements to make sure they accurately reflect your understanding. A real estate agent is
qualified to advise you on real estate matters only. If you need legal or tax advice, it is your
responsibility to consult a licensed attorney or accountant.
Any complaints about a real estate agent may be filed with the Real Estate Commission at 500 North
Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. (410) 230-6206.
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