Q&As for SELLERS
Q: I want to sell my property. What do I need to know about working with real estate agents? A: If you own real estate and want to sell it, you may want to “list” your property for sale with a real estate firm. If so, you will sign a written “listing agreement” authorizing the firm and its agents to represent you as your “listing” agent in your dealings with buyers. The real estate firm must enter into a written listing agreement with you before it is allowed to begin marketing or showing your property to prospective buyers or taking any other steps to help you sell your property. The listing firm may ask you to allow agents from other firms to show your property to their buyer-clients. Q: What are a listing agent's duties to a seller? A: The listing firm and its agents must • promote your best interests • 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 signed the listing agreement, the firm and its agents may not give any confidential information about you to prospective buyers or their agents during the agency relationship without your permission. But until you sign the listing agreement, you should avoid telling the listing agent anything you would not want a buyer to know. Q: What services might a listing agent provide? A: To help you sell your property, a listing firm and its agents will offer to perform a number of services for you. These may include • helping you price your property • advertising and marketing your property • giving you all required property disclosure forms for you to complete • negotiating for you the best possible price and terms • reviewing all written offers with you and • otherwise promoting your interests. Q: How is the listing firm compensated? A: For representing you and helping you sell your property, you will pay the listing firm a sales commission or fee. The listing agreement must state the amount or method for determining the sales commission or fee and whether you will allow the firm to share its sales commission with agents representing the buyer.
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