Dual Agency: Deal or no deal?

Some states allow agents to represent both the buyer and seller in the same real estate transaction or allow separate agents from the same real estate company to represent separate sides of the same real estate transaction, a situation known as dual agency or designated agency.

Some agents and brokers have thei r own rules for the road in dealing with dual agency. Dual agency has been a hotly debated issue in the real estate industry for many years, as it ties into Realtor ethics and responsibilities to clients. Here's an example of a company policy on dual agency from BloodhoundRealty.com: http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/DualAgency.php.

How do dual agency laws benefit consumers? How do they benefit agents and brokers? When does dual agency work best? When does it not work? What are your personal rules for these transactions?

All rights reserved. This content may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of Inman News. Use of this content without permission is a violation of federal copyright law.