Buyer Agency - Single Agent vs. Transaction Agent
Buyers, Please Note: If you don't sign anything that states you're being represented as a single agent, then the assumed relationship is a transaction broker relationship.
Single Agent - How I pledge to represent you as my client
Single Agent Relationship - A Single Agent as defined in Florida Statutes Chapter 475.278 is the HIGHEST FORM OF REPRESENTATION ALLOWED IN FLORIDA, providing a fiduciary relationship between the agent and seller or buyer.
Single Agent Duties: The duties of a real estate licensee owed to a buyer or seller who engages the real estate licensee as a single agent include the following:
1. Dealing honestly and fairly;
2. Loyalty;
3. Confidentiality;
4. Obedience;
5. Full disclosure;
6. Accounting for all funds;
7. Skill, care, and diligence in the transaction;
8. Presenting all offers and counteroffers in a timely manner, unless a party has previously directed the licensee otherwise in writing; and
9. Disclosing all known facts that materially affect the value of residential real property and are not readily observable.
Transaction Broker - How most agents represent their customers
Transaction Broker Relationship A transaction broker provides a limited form of representation to a buyer, a seller, or both in a real estate transaction but does not represent either in a fiduciary capacity or as a single agent. The duties of the real estate licensee in this limited form of representation include the following:
1. Dealing honestly and fairly;
2. Accounting for all funds;
3. Using skill, care, and diligence in the transaction;
4. Disclosing all known facts that materially affect the value of residential real property and are not readily observable to the buyer;
5. Presenting all offers and counteroffers in a timely manner, unless a party has previously directed the licensee otherwise in writing;
6. Limited confidentiality, unless waived in writing by a party. This limited confidentiality will prevent disclosure that the seller will accept a price less than the asking or listed price, that the buyer will pay a price greater than the price submitted in a written offer, of the motivation of any party for selling or buying property, that a seller or buyer will agree to financing terms other than those offered, or of any other information requested by a party to remain confidential; and
7. Any additional duties that are mutually agreed to with a party.
