Nic Dearth

Do You Need A Buyer's Agent?

How Can A Professional REALTOR Help You?

In Wisconsin, a homebuyer can choose to work with a buyer's agent or a selling agent. Either way, your agent is a specially trained professional, licensed by the state of Wisconsin, who is obligated by law to treat all parties to a real estate transaction fairly.

Selling Agent

If you work with a selling agent, there is no contract between you and the agent, and you are not the agent's client. You will, however, receive a Broker Disclosure to Customer form that lists the fair treatment duties owed to you and indicates that the selling agent is either an agent of the seller or an agent of the listing broker (subagent).

Buyer's Agent

If you work with a buyer's agent, you are the buyer's agents client. You and the buyer's agent sign a WB-36 Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement that includes a Disclosure of Real Estate Agency. The Disclosure lists the fair treatment duties owed to all parties and the duties owed to you as the client, and indicates that the buyer's agent is the agent of the buyer.

Other Duties and Abilities of a Buyer's Agent

-Give a negative opinion or critique of a sellers property beyond disclosing defects.

-Recommend or suggest an offering price or give you an opinion about whether a particular house is priced too high or too low.

-Structure the offer and draft offer provisions with the buyers best interests in mind.

-Recommend and assist the buyer with negotiation strategies for the best price and terms.

-Research and disclose all information and research a property's history title and liens so the buyer can make a better informed decision.

-Give advice within the scope of the agents expertise as censed real estate professional.

Other Benefits To You To Work With a Buyer's Agent

Your Realtor can do all of the above and more and it does not cost you to put a Realtor to work for you. In most cases Realtor's get paid by the seller through the listing company.

Ask your Realtor of choice to explain more about these processes in detail. You will find your Realtor to be a great resource of information to help you from beginning to end, every step of the way with your real estate purchase.