ALL BUYER'S AGENTS DON'T OFFER THE SAME REPRESENTATION

A buyer's agent represents the buyer to make sure that you get the best possible deal on the property you want. On the other side of the transaction is a seller's agent assuring the seller the best possible deal.

The chart below shows the services furnished

  1. by a seller's agent or dual agent to a buyer customer,
  2. by a buyer's agent not showing property listed by any office of his or her company to a buyer client, and
  3. by Paul Keller as an independent exclusive buyer's agent to all his clients!
 CUSTOMERALL BUYER'S AGENTSPAUL KELLER
Maintains client relationshipNODepends on company policyALWAYS
Shows listings from own company firstALWAYSDepends on company policyNEVER
Shows all listings available based on buyer's needs
?
?
ALWAYS
Points out defects in propertiesNEVERYESYES
Provides complete market analysisNEVERYESYES
Gives advice on amount and terms of offerNEVERDepends on company policyYES
Makes crime statistics availableNEVER
?
YES
Makes sure master plans are reviewedOnly when law requires
?
YES
Uses contract forms favorable to buyerNEVERDepends on company policyYES
Discloses ONLY information buyer wants used in negotiationNEVERYESYES
Negotiates lowest reasonable priceNEVERDepends on company policyYES
Helps arrange financing
?
?
YES
Recommends Home Inspection and WarrantyNEVER
?
FREE
Professionally Done

ALWAYS CONTACT ME FIRST

Be sure you understand what the responsibilities of a seller's agent, a buyer's agent, and a dual agent mean to you as a buyer. Remember that to represent you as a buyer's agent, I must accompany you when visiting an open house or a subdivision model home and contact all listing agents about properties in which you are interested.

Don't forget that when you buy a new home, the builder representative writing your contract is working for that builder. You as the buyer also need to be represented. While a standard state contract is used for resales, builders do not use a standard state contract. Many builders still resist the use of a home inspector before settlement and representation by a buyer's agent.

ONLY A BUYER'S AGENT CAN AND SHOULD

  • Point out defects in a property
  • Suggest the amount and terms of an offer
  • Disclose ONLY information a buyer wants used in negotiation
  • Act solely in a buyer's best interests regarding inspections, financing, and settlement

BEWARE OF DUAL AGENCY

Agents for any company which takes listings must cease to be buyer's agents and become dual agents when showing a property listed by any office of that same company. When this situation occurs, the buyer is presented with the form Consent for Dual Agency. Carefully read your choices to avoid dual agency. The only person who benefits when dual agency exists is the agent who is probably receiving more commission.

The Maryland Real Estate Commission requires that all agents at the first meeting make sure buyers and sellers understand and sign the form Understanding Who Real Estate Agents Represent which states, "Because dual agents are in the same firm, there may be a conflict of interest between the parties because the interests of the parties may be different or adverse."

Many of the properties in both Montgomery and Frederick County are listed by two or three major companies. This relationship can intentionally or unintentionally influence which listings you see and/or the order in which you see them.

As an independent, exclusive buyer's agent, I can and do put your interests first!

Contact me to discuss how answers about the following differ from one buyer's agent to another and what these differences mean to you as the buyer.

Training and certification
Method for market analysis
Available crime statistics
Choice of contract forms 		Selection of properties shown
Viewing of all master plans
Type of home inspection