All Buyers need to review the changes in Washington State Law regarding Buyer Brokerage.  After January 1, 2024, Buyers of real property in Washington State will be required to sign a Buyer Brokerage Services Agreement before Brokers render any type of Brokerage services to their customers.  Please click on the following link and review the pamphlet: Buyer Brokerage in Washington

Once you have finished reading the pamphlet, then click on the following document:  Brokerage Services Agreement

I have been using a similar agreement already, but most Brokers, including myself, have only required buyers to sign this agreement at the time I help them enter into a contract with the Seller.  This will now change.  Prior to showing propery after January 1, 2024, All Brokers must  require their customers to sign this agreement if they want to be paid compensation for a sale.

Most sellers will continue to pay some compensation to buyer brokers, for the time being, and that compensation is already currently posted on all properties being advertised through the MLS.  You need to familiarize yourselves with the amount of compensation being offered by each Seller of real property on every listing that you view.  This is important as your Buyer Broker, most certainly, will have a minimum compensation that they will expect to receive.  If the Seller is offering compensation below the aforementioned minimum, then the Buyer must negotiate with the Seller for the difference or agree to make up the difference with the broker at the close of sale.

You will see a paragraph in the Brokerage Services Agreement concerning Limited Dual Agency.  I am not sure what other Brokers will require, but I will not ask you to agree to "Buyer Broker as Limited Dual Agent".  I do not believe in any form of dual agency with exception of "in office" sales where Buyer's Agent and Sellers Agent are different and Supervising Broker becomes Limited Dual Agent.

With customers that I have not worked with in the past, I may limit the term of this agreement to only a few days or until I feel comfortable working with you.  And you may appreciate a shorter term until you feel comfortable working with me .

BE VERY CAREFUL wth this Brokerage Agreement.  If you check the box "Exclusive" on Paragraph 3c, you will not have the ability to switch Brokers until the expiration date shown in Paragraph 2.  I would would recommend "Non-Exclusive" until you are very comfortable working with the agent who shows you a property.  And remember how you signed this agreement.  Keep it handy at all times.

Please call me at any time with questions.  You can reach me at 425-422-2267.  Even better if you meet with me, at no charge, and dig into this, and other 2024 changes, more completely