Working with Real Estate Agents in Raleigh, North Carolina

It is important to understand how real estate agents work in Raleigh or any other area of North Carolina.

The Real Estate Commission of North Carolina requires that every real estate agent review the brochure “Working with Real Estate Agents” at first substantial contact with any new potential client or customer.

The reason for this is that prior to 1985 all real estate agents really worked for the seller.  Even if they were working with a buyer they were in effect a sub agent of the seller.   In order to provide better consumer protection for home buyers there were different types of working relationships established. 

As a real estate agent a real estate agent can work for the buyer or they can work for the seller or they can act as an intermediary or facilitator for both parties.  Whichever side of the transaction they handle, they owe their clients loyalty, obedience to their lawful instructions, accountability, disclosure of all information and skill, care and diligence.

As the Buyers Agent
As a buyers agent, a real estate agent works exclusively for the buyer. They are to promote the buyers best interests and they will not disclose any confidential information that they may find out about you to any seller or seller’s agent.  For their services in assisting you to purchase a home and acting on your behalf, the seller will usually pays them a sales commission. This is the typical arrangement in North Carolina.

As the Sellers Listing Agent
The real estate agent works for the seller.  As a listing agent they are responsible to promote the sellers best interests and they will not disclose of any confidential information that they may find out about the seller to any prospective buyer or their agents that may be interested in purchasing the property.  For their services in assisting in the sale of the home and acting on behalf of the seller, the seller will pay the listing real estate agent a sales commission.

As a Dual Agent
It is possible for a real estate agent to work for both parties in a transaction and when they do it is known as a Dual Agency.  As a dual agent, a real estate agent works for both the buyer and the seller as a facilitator in the transaction.

As a Sub Agent of the Seller
Legally, until a real estate agent has an agreement with a client, they are technically a sub agent for the seller, which basically means they have all the responsibilities of a seller’s agent. They can begin working as a buyer’s agent with a verbal agreement from a client, but before a real estate agent can help a client submit an offer, they have to be under a written agreement.

To see the North Carolina Real Estate Commission Brochure, “Working with Real Estate Agents” can be found on the Poling Team Website or you may simply click here:  Working with Real Estate Agents in Raleigh, NC or for a PDF version click here: Working With Real Estate Agents in Raleigh NC PDF