As your agents, we'll be your strong advocate during negotiation and we'll provide you with all the advice you'll need to make well informed decisions.

Marketing your property and finding just the right buyer is one of our primary services. Our role is many fold: we assist you in determining the market value of your property by preparing a thorough comparative market analysis; we develop a unique marketing plan which we implement once the property is listed; when that right buyer is found, we act as your advocates in negotiating on your behalf, providing you with advice and assisting in completion of the necessary due diligence and closing the contract.

1. Seller's Agent

   A seller's agent, or listing agent, is a real estate agent who is employed by and represents only the seller in a transaction.  Their job is to find a buyer and negotiate the best (highest) price and most favorable terms at which to sell their client's property.  However, seller's agents can also help buyers by:

   • Assisting in the house-hunting process

   • Explaining available financing options

   • Calculating monthly payments and estimated settlement costs

   • Identifying appropriate properties to view

   • Disclosing material facts about the property that you are interested in

   • Writing up and presenting your offer at the price and terms you specify

    

2. Buyer's Agent

   A buyer's agent is a real estate agent who is employed by and represents only you, the buyer, in a transaction.  Although they work exclusively for the buyer, their compensation can be paid in a number of ways - by the buyer exclusively, the seller exclusively, or (most commonly) through a commission split with the seller's agent.  Even if the seller or the seller's agent pays their fee, buyer's agents must always remain loyal to the buyer.  Buyer's agents can provide a number of services for you including:

   • Helping you determine how much you can afford to spend on a home

   • Explaining available financing options

   • Informing you of current real estate values, taxes, utility costs and other factors that will influence your opinion about a property

   • Using the Multiple Listing Service to locate homes that suit your needs

   • Selecting appropriate properties to view

   • Revealing any information about a seller or property which may affect your purchase decision

   • Advising you on your offer

   • Presenting your offer to the sellers, and negotiating for the most favorable price and terms

   • Helping you to evaluate counteroffers

   Although buyer's agents are the only agents who act solely with your interests in mind, there are other real estate professionals who can assist you in finding and buying a home.  These consumer alternatives are discussed below.

    

3. Broker's Agent

   The broker's agent works for the buyer's agent and, like the buyer's agent, for you.  You are not, however, responsible for their conduct.  A broker's agent is hired by the buyer's agent and they typically split the buyer agent's commission on the purchase.

    

4. Subagent

   Like the seller's agent, the subagent works for the seller.  Subagents are typically hired by the seller's agent, and are usually paid through a commission split with them.  Subagents can provide you with the same services that a seller's agent can, but they ultimately represent the seller when it comes to negotiating an offer.

    

5. Dual Agent

   A dual agent is a real estate agent who represents both the seller and the buyer with the knowledge and written consent of both.  Ultimately, dual agents work to sell homes, but they cannot give either you or the seller their undivided loyalty or disclose confidential information that either you or the seller has told them.  They operate under a duty of fairness to both clients, rather than the duty of undivided loyalty to either of them.

   Dual agency occurs when the office or firm that is helping you find a home has a listing that you are interested in.  Even if the seller is working with a different associate from the firm, it is still considered dual agency.

   In the situation of dual agency, the agents cannot share without permission what price you would pay for a property, or what price a seller is willing to accept.  For you to buy one of the firm's listings, consent to the dual agency must be obtained or only one consumer can remain a client of the firm.  Consent to dual agency may include agreement by you and the seller to each identify a "designated agent" within the firm to represent each of your interests individually.  However, the basic goals stay the same - the buyer wants to buy, the seller wants to sell, and the agents want to finalize the transaction on mutually agreeable terms.