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Rainmaker
1,772,017
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Great answers here, thank you friends. 

I can do it. I have about 4 times in 15 years and honestly too. When I get a listing and the client signs the dual agency agreement I ask them to please not mention to me what their bottom line is. If by chance I get a buyer and they start asking me questions I generate a CMA for them and give them a range from that and ask the buyer what they want to offer. I then take it back to my seller client ask them for a response. One time I got into a stalemate situation. With the permission of the clients I got them all to meet in a conference room and they did the negotiations themselves and met in the middle. They walked out of the room slapping each other on the back with a smile on their faces.

It can be done if you keep your mouth shut as you should anyway even if it is not a dual agency deal. We are just the messenger. I only give advice if asked. Of course when you price a listing to start that is a different story.

Feb 11, 2015 12:50 PM
Rainmaker
4,321,985
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Noah Seidenberg I have been pretty good at it - and both buyers and sellers were happy at the end of it - except one buyer. And the best part is, that buyer has send 3 referrals since then!

Feb 11, 2015 12:50 PM
Rainmaker
402,032
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

I do.  

When buyers approach me to represent them on the purchase of one of my listings, they usually ask me for a financial perk or for the lowest price the seller will accept.  It won't happen.

I offer excellent representation.  I won't throw the seller under the bus, give compensation to the buyer, etc.  At that point, most people walk away and that's fine.  I want to be selected for the right reasons.

When buyers do choose me to represent them on then purchase of my listing, I explain that I keep their confidential information confidential and I do the same for the seller.

Buyers either want an agent they can trust or an agent they can manipulate.  It's up to the agent to decide which kind of agent they want to be.

Feb 11, 2015 04:30 AM
Ambassador
6,649,378
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Disclosure is important when walking this mine field.

Oct 14, 2019 09:10 PM
Rainmaker
634,582
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Yes, I've done many deals representing both sides. It does take skill though and IMO unless an agent is well versed in all the legalities of dual agency they shouldn't try it.

Feb 15, 2015 06:18 AM
Rainmaker
2,234,653
Debbie Laity
CinaJones Real Estate - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County

Hi, Noah...we don't have dual agency in Colorado. I have worked as a transaction broker with both buyers and sellers and I think I do a good job at it. 

Feb 12, 2015 10:46 AM
Rainmaker
5,978,551
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Colorado removed the dual agency several years ago and stated if you do both sides of a deal, you have to be a transaction broker.    I do about 2-5 each year.

Feb 11, 2015 09:45 PM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

Since dual agency came into the picture, the word "fair" has been removed from the code of ethics.  No need to wonder why...

Dual agency only benefits one person....the agent who will make more money.  It never benefits the buyer or the seller. 

Eve

Feb 11, 2015 08:02 PM
Rainmaker
1,318,324
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I don't think disclosed dual agency is a good way to go in most instances.  Personally, I have never done it.

Feb 11, 2015 11:19 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,346
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

It may be legal, depending on which state you are licensed in, but I won't do it.  You are not able to fulfill your obligations when you are representing both sides.  Thus, in comes Larry...

Feb 11, 2015 11:10 AM
Rainmaker
532,737
Marie Story
Coldwell Banker - Pinecrest (Miami) - Pinecrest, FL
Broker Associate, Pinecrest (Miami) Specialist

After 18 years, yes I've done it, several times, but I don't like to do it.  I think it opens us up to a lot of liability. 

Plus I'm a big believer that "you can't serve two masters."

Feb 11, 2015 10:50 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,423
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

YES!!!   I do close to 60% Dual Agency.  You have to represent the client you are with at the time, shich means that you write contracts the way you are instructed although you know that you dual client will not like it.

16 years neverr a complaint and many many have said it was the smoothest transaction they had ever had.

Feb 11, 2015 10:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,683,918
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

We don't ever do both sides of a transaction.   We give one side to one of our other agents to keep things from getting complicated.

Feb 11, 2015 10:38 AM
Rainmaker
914,194
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Good evening,  I believe it can be done fairly.  I also believe it is a can of worms waiting to happen.  How many things are we 'holding back' that we would normally say if representing only one side?  Not a matter of being dishonest just not being as agressive?  Mark

Feb 11, 2015 10:07 AM
Rainmaker
5,774,084
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Noah,

It is allowed in California, and it can be fair.  I have seen it many times.  In our case, we did many dual deals, the idea was always to get the best deal possible for both sides.  No one was ever unhappy with our results.  We also enjoyed cooperating with other agents, because they had the same mindset, the best deal for both parties.  There were very few hissy fits or nonsense, perhaps because, we all were business people dealing with business people, and everyone understood, it was the deal that mattered.  Egos were set aside.

Feb 11, 2015 06:43 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

I don't like dual representation. I don't think it should be allowed. The goals of the buyer and the seller are really mutually exclusive. I try not to do it but have done both side one or two times...It's impossible to be equally fair to both sides.

Feb 11, 2015 06:08 AM
Rainmaker
4,711,720
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Although it is allowed in our state and I believe I can be fair, I prefer not to participate in a transaction where I represent both sides.  

Feb 11, 2015 06:07 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,282
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

If it's a straight forward transaction, yes.  Though, if issues develop, it can become quite difficult.

Feb 11, 2015 04:36 AM