Virginia has had buyer agency laws since the mid-1990s, and over the past 30 years, the law has been updated to specify details about what must be included in an agreement between a buyer or seller and a real estate broker.
You can educate yourself and go it alone, but the reality is that the finer points of a real estate transaction are best handled by professionals. An expert agent will also help ensure you get the best deal as you approach the final mile of buying a home in Virginia.
Key Takeaways. A buyers agent is a dedicated advocate for the buyer, using local market knowledge to find and negotiate the best deals. Key advantages of hiring a buyer's agent include comprehensive due diligence, access to off-market properties, expert negotiation skills, and significant time and stress management.
Open buyer agency agreement: This agreement enables the buyer to enter into agreements with any number of brokers and is therefore not an exclusive type of buyer agency agreement. The buyer pays only the broker who finds the property that the buyer buys.
The Code of Virginia requires a written brokerage agreement when a brokerage relationship, as defined in § 54.1-2130, is created. When a customer becomes a client is based upon the party's intent.
As of August 17, 2024, Virginia requires buyers and their agents to sign a written brokerage agreement before touring homes together. The new agreement includes buyer-broker agreements and listing agreements. I also know one does NOT have to have a realtor to buy a house in the state of Virginia.
Exclusive Rights-to-Sell Listing Selling your home under an exclusive rights-to-sell listing is the most common option. This gives the real estate agent the exclusive rights to market your home and list it on MLS. They will receive the full commission as long the home is sold within the designated timeframe.
Indeed, a touring agreement limits the services performed by the agent to the touring of homes, and any broker service above that would require compensation. But that analysis relies on the presupposition that all buyers appreciate the multiple different stages in the home buying process.