Dual Agency is the Designated Hitter of Real Estate
November 21, 2006 |
Over at the Bloodhound Blog, a Dual Agency Smackdown has erupted. You can read all of the smackdown articles here. I have been following the debate, and it has been very interesting, with plenty of good arguments both for and against the practice. For my own two cents, I am generally against it. I can, however, understand many of the great counter arguments.
The dual agency debate reminds me of another, perhaps less important, but not less raucous debate– the designated hitter rule. In major-league baseball, half of the league makes the pitcher bat, and the other half allows a “designated hitter” to bat in his place. This is a source of great contention amongst baseball fans and pundits, with passionate arguments both for and against the rule.
How does the designated hitter rule relate to dual-agency? Simple. Neither issue will ever be definitively solved, no matter how strong the arguments, or how passionate the advocates. Much like the designated hitter, dual agency is always going to be practiced by some, unless it is made illegal. Much like dual agency, their are always going to be those who feel that the designated hitter is a scourge that should be eliminated.
Perhaps the most useful aspect of the discussion is the discussion itself. We can all learn a lot by just participating in the dual agency debate, whether for or against. Education is the first step in decision.
If you like fireworks, and you are ever amongst a group of REALTORS and want to have some fun, bring up the subject of dual agency; and if you are ever amongst a group of die-hard baseball fans and want to have some fun, bring up the designated hitter. Both debates have almost endless entertainment value.
[tags] real estate, realtor, charlottesville, virginia, dual agency, designated hitter[/tags]
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2 Responses to “Dual Agency is the Designated Hitter of Real Estate”
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Disclaimer
My name is Daniel Rothamel. I am a licensed real estate agent in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a member of the National Association of REALTORS. As such, I adhere to a strict code of ethics and all laws with regard to equal housing, which is reflected in the content of this blog. My broker is Strong Team REALTORS, 86 Joshua Lane, Palmyra, VA 22963; (434) 589-5800. My VA Real Estate License number is 0225 077325. All of the opinions in this blog are mine, unless otherwise noted.
[...] Daniel Rothamel at The Real Estate Zebra explains the industry’s ambivalence about Dual Agency with a sports metaphor. [...]
In Washington DC Dual Agency is illegal, and I applaud them for that.
The main reason, at my company, we don’t do Dual Agency, is we aren’t paper pushers. We were hired by one party to represent THEM and only them. If you are a “dual agent” you have to represent both, by representing NONE.
Instead of Dual Agency we do “Unrepresented buyer.” If the buyer doesn’t want a buyer agent, fine, but they have to sign something that they understand that we work for the seller and have to represent the seller’s best interest.
Frank- Broker FranklyRealty.com in Northern Virginia
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