Your relationship with the agent you choose will ultimately be determined by whether you choose to be a “customer” or a “client”. It doesn’t cost you any money to work with buyer representation, so it’s kind of a no-brainer. Most agents will want a client relationship and so should you. If you choose to be a “customer” and there is no agency relationship with the Realtor, then per Georgia law the agent can only provide ministerial acts for you. For example, the agent could provide you an area market comparison for the home you are considering but could not provide any input as to the values of the homes or any interpretation of the information and would not be permitted to suggest any special stipulations that you would want to have in your purchase agreement to protect your best interests. On the other hand, if you have signed an Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement than the agent would be able to provide you with all information and much more during the process of searching for, negotiating and closing the transaction. Your best interests are protected when you are a “client”.
Posted in: FAQ for Buyers