@Laura
It doesn’t work like that. The seller has already agreed to a set commission percentage with the listing agent.
Toby said:
@Laura
It doesn’t work like that. The seller has already agreed to a set commission percentage with the listing agent.
So the seller loses out if they don’t renegotiate the contract with the listing agent? If the house has been sitting for 90 days, I don’t see why they wouldn’t consider it.
@Laura
You’re overcomplicating it. You need to decide if you want representation or not, and go from there.
Toby said:
@Laura
You’re overcomplicating it. You need to decide if you want representation or not, and go from there.
Fair enough. Just trying to understand the process.
This whole process is messed up. Buyers are getting the short end of the stick with these new rules. It’s probably thanks to some lawsuit that made things worse for everyone.
There’s a lot of confusion with the new rules. Different states and brokerages are interpreting them differently. In your case, you could probably still see the house unrepresented and then get an agent later if you want. It just depends on how the listing agent’s agreement is set up.
In some states, like Florida, you can see houses without an agent. If you want to bring in an agent later, you can still negotiate the commission. You don’t have to be locked into representation just to view a home.
In some states, the rules are stricter about needing representation to view homes. If you’re unrepresented, the listing agent isn’t obligated to do much for you. They represent the seller, not you. If you hire an agent later, it can get complicated. You can try offering a small fee to an agent for a one-time showing and then decide later if you want them to represent you.
@Tatum
This doesn’t sound like OP’s issue. They’re just asking if they can see the house unrepresented and then hire an agent later.
Laurel said:
@Tatum
This doesn’t sound like OP’s issue. They’re just asking if they can see the house unrepresented and then hire an agent later.
It sounds like the listing agent just wants OP to make up their mind about representation before going further. It’s reasonable for the agent to ask that.
So if I say I’m unrepresented now and change my mind later, the listing agent could still claim commission? That’s what I’m confused about.
Laura said:
So if I say I’m unrepresented now and change my mind later, the listing agent could still claim commission? That’s what I’m confused about.
Right now, you’re just a ‘looker’ to the listing agent. If you aren’t pre-approved or serious about buying, they might not want to waste time on you. But yes, technically, you can change your representation status later.
The listing agent just wants to know what their relationship with you is going to be. It’s not necessarily about locking you into something right away. They just need to know how to proceed.
You can see the house unrepresented and still get an agent later. If you go unrepresented, you should try to negotiate a price reduction since the seller won’t have to pay a buyer’s agent commission.