Contract with buyers agent

What happens if you signed a contract with a buyer agent and you aren't happy with them. Can you use another agent for your home search? Are you legally obligated to pay them anything if they aren't the agent that finds you the home you buy?

Re: Contract with buyers agent

You have to read your contract. See how many months the contract covers and what the terms are.

Re: Contract with buyers agent

As PP said, you need to read the contract. There should be a limited time period (it's usually not open ended), and it usually only covers certain areas (e.g., Nassau county, Suffolk county).

If the contract is expiring soon, you can always wait it out and then use someone else. If it's not, you can ask your current agent to release you from the contract early. Sometimes the agents don't have authority to do that without asking their broker (the contract usually is with the broker/owner of the real estate company and the buyer, not between an agent and the buyer). In that case, the broker may suggest assigning you another agent from within the company that could be a better fit. Or he/she may just agree to release you.

Have you spoken to your agent about why you aren't happy? Maybe he/she is unaware of your expectations that aren't being met, and can step up her game. Or the agent may agree that it's not a good fit and release you so you can move on.

If the contract ends, you are free to move forward with another agent and you owe the original buyers' agent nothing. But if you are still under the contractual period of an exclusive buyers' agreement, and you buy through another agent, the first agent could claim that you owe them commission. But again, it does depend on what the actual contract at issue says.

Contract with buyers agent

Thanks.....it's for my dad. He went and signed one with a family friend without reading the contract. The agent is hard to get in touch with and they feel like it's taking too long for them to contact them back with setting up appointments and getting info