As of August 17, 2024, due to an antitrust lawsuit, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was a part of, federal law now mandates that an Exclusive Buyer-Broker Agreement must be signed before an agent shows any property. Previously, this wasn't required in every state, but now it's standard practice nationwide.
The contract amendment can be a separate doc or it can be a modification within the original contract document. Addendums are typically made before both parties sign a contract. Like amendments, all parties have to sign an addendum to make it valid.
A contract addendum is a post-contract attachment that modifies, alters, or changes some of the terms of a previously established contract. Typically, this adds something new to a preexisting document. Once all parties in a contract agree to an addendum, it becomes a part of the new contract.
In real estate, an addendum is an addition or supplement made to a contract that modifies, clarifies, or adds specific terms or conditions. An addendum should not be confused with an amendment, which modifies a contract that has already been executed.
For example, the seller of a house may agree – after the original sales contract has been written – to include certain pieces of furniture for an additional specified sum. Mortgage terms or the closing date for the sale are often amended in real estate transactions, with the change noted in an addendum.
(a) An agreement of sale, other than for a cemetery lot, mausoleum or cremation space or opening, shall contain: (1) The date of the agreement. (2) The names of the buyer and seller. (3) A description of the property and the interest to be conveyed.