[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Plinker

Sellers and buyers need to realize that the realtor they hire is an employee and you are the employer. No friendship, strictly a business transaction. As such, you get to dictate the terms that your employee will follow. Not the other way around. Stop being bullied into signing contracts that are not in your best interest. Insist that the realtor sign a single agent contract which means they must work as a fiduciary and act only in your best interest. Do not sign a transactional contract as they have no fiduciary duty to you. Don’t be surprised if they tell you they can serve each side without a conflict of interest. They can’t.
As a seller, include in their contract that the selling agent will receive half of the agreed to commission if the buyer has no agent. The seller keeps the rest which could be easily over $10,000. Also, never agree to an exclusivity clause. If they balk, call another realty firm.

I agree. I am amazed at how many people do not know how to negotiate a contract when they hold all of the cards, and the money.