What happens when a buyer doesn’t have an agent?

When a buyer doesn’t have an agent, they’re essentially unrepresented in the transaction, which can lead to both benefits and challenges. Here’s a breakdown of what that means in practice:

1. Negotiations and Paperwork: Without an agent, the buyer will have to handle all aspects of the offer, negotiations, and closing documents. This can be challenging without familiarity with real estate contracts, contingencies, and legal protections.
2. No Commission Savings: In many cases, the seller has already agreed to a commission rate that includes payment for both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. If the buyer doesn’t have an agent, the listing agent might keep the full commission, or the seller might pay a slightly reduced amount, depending on the listing agreement terms. However, this doesn’t typically lead to savings for the buyer.
3. Possible Dual Agency: If the listing agent ends up helping the unrepresented buyer, it may create a dual agency relationship, where the agent represents both the buyer and seller. In this case, the agent must remain neutral and cannot advocate strongly for either party, which may leave the buyer without strong representation.
4. Access to Market Knowledge and Pricing Advice: Buyer’s agents provide market insights, advise on property values, and help ensure a fair offer price. Without an agent, the buyer must rely on personal research, which can be challenging in markets with rapid price fluctuations or specific local trends.
5. Property Searches: Without an agent, the buyer won’t have access to the same MLS tools agents use, although online listings provide a partial alternative. However, agents often know of properties about to hit the market or can set up customized alerts, which can be helpful in competitive areas.
6. Risk of Missing Red Flags: Real estate agents help buyers identify potential issues in homes that may not be obvious to an untrained eye, such as hidden structural problems or legal concerns.

Ultimately, while a buyer can proceed without an agent, they may face additional responsibilities and risks. Some buyers choose to hire a real estate attorney to help with the legal aspects if they’re not working with an agent, though this may not cover the full scope of a traditional buyer’s agent’s services.