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How to Choose a Florida Real Estate Agent Choosing a real estate agent in Florida can be confusing. First - interview an agent and ask him or her how they are going to represent you. Florida Real Estate Licensees are required by law to disclose which party (real estate buyer or real estate seller) they represent. Agents can work in four different ways, and each one is unique. The buyer and seller have the right to choose or refuse which agency relationship they wish to employ. Knowing the differences can be invaluable to you. Here is a summary of the options and how they affect you during a transaction. Tulio Troche GRI Broker Associate is the real estate agent that helps you find your right home in the Orlando Florida area. For owner occupied, investment or 1031 exchange call me today. A Seller's Agent is any Florida Real Estate Agent who works for the listing Real Estate Agency, not just the listing real estate agent. Their job is to protect the real estate seller's interests. Real Estate Seller's Agent's are obligated to assist their client, the real estate seller. As a real estate buyer, you should expect them to be honest about the property. Florida Real Estate Seller's Agent's are duty bound to disclose anything that is not readily observable to the buyer. The Buyer should be careful about what they say to Real Estate Seller's Agent. Anything said may be repeated to the seller. Never tell them you are willing to pay more than you are offering. Seller's Agents are also very limited in what they can say to the buyer about the asking price and comparative sales. A Buyer's Agent can perform all of the services of a seller's agent. In addition, a Florida Real Estate Buyer's Agent can give you price and negotiation guidance. The buyer can expect conversations with the Buyer's Agent are confidential. They work FOR you, not the seller. They must tell you anything the seller has to say, especially if it works to your advantage. A Disclosed Dual Agent is working for both parties. A Florida Real Estate Disclosed Dual Agent must provide all of the services of a seller's agent, but they cannot repeat buyer conversations OR those of the seller. It is a position taken when a real estate buyer wants to buy one of the agent's company listings. It ties the agents hands a little, but it works both ways. They cannot help the seller any more than they can help you. If nothing else, it keeps things fair. A Transaction Broker can perform all of the services of a seller's agent for you as a buyer, regardless of which company has the listing. However, they can repeat both your conversations AND those of the seller. They owe no allegiance and carry no liability to either party; but are simply there to help bring you and the seller to agreeable terms. In any position, an agent must inform you of your rights, direct you to sources where you can obtain useful information about the property, and guide you through any inspections which may apply. There is a form that all agents have which explains the options, and which you must sign before making an offer on real property. Read it carefully and ask as many questions you can think of. You are entitled to legal advice regarding agency positions as well as every other area of a florida real estate transaction. By Tulio Troche GRI Broker T Real Estate Inc 407-601-7244 mailto:tulio@tuliotroche.com www.IsellOrlandoHouses.com |