Wouldn't I Be Better Off Using More Than One Real Estate Agent?

This was an option buyers had prior to August, 2024. This was the biggest change since I got licensed in 1983.

Why You Can No Longer Shop Around with Multiple Buyer Agents (and What That Means for You)
If you’re in the market for a home, you’ve probably contacted a couple of different agents to see how they compare. That used to be common—and totally fine. But starting August 17, 2024, things shifted under the rules adopted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

What changed

Under the settlement that NAR entered into, an agent who will be representing you as a buyer must have you sign a written buyer-broker agreement (also sometimes called a buyer representation agreement) before showing you any homes or doing much substantive work on your behalf.

Why this makes it tough to work with multiple agents

When you work with several buyer agents simultaneously, you risk three big issues:

1. Exclusivity commitment – Many buyer agreements require that you work only with that one agent (or at least clearly define who is representing you) during the term of the agreement. Because the agreement defines a scope of representation, switching agents or working with multiple agents can create confusion about who’s responsible, whose commission is being paid, and who has the legal duty to you.

2. Compensation clarity – This is the biggest issue for you as a buyer. With commissions now negotiated upfront, if you bounce between agents, you might end up in a situation where you owe two or more agents a commission, even if only one of them found you a home and wrote up the accepted contract. Even if the seller paid the commission to the agent who wrote the accepted contract, you might have to pay the other agent(s), who had nothing to do with the transaction, out of your own pocket. Having a clear agreement with one agent avoids those overlaps.

3. Agent risk and performance – An agent wants to know you’re serious and exclusive so they invest time, energy, and their best efforts into your search. If you’re non-exclusive and working broadly with lots of agents, you may not get the same level of service. In the post-August 2024 world, that matters even more because the agent has to formalize their role in writing before acting.

What this means for you (as the buyer)

• Don’t assume you can casually engage three different agents and let them all run listings for you the way you might have before. Instead: pick the one agent you believe in, sign the agreement, and then work closely with them. Buyers need to understand that before any agent can show you a property, they legally need to have a signed Buyer Broker Agreement prior to the showing.

• Before signing, read the buyer-broker agreement carefully: it should define what the agent will do (searching, touring homes, negotiating), how they’ll be compensated (flat fee or percentage or other method), and the duration of the agreement (how long you’re committed).

• The change doesn’t mean you’re stuck with an underperforming agent forever — many agreements include provisions for termination or switching if the agent fails to meet their obligations. But it does mean you’ll want to make your choice thoughtfully.

• Lastly, you’ll want transparency. Ask your agent: who is representing you, what’s the plan for showings, how will you communicate, and how is their payment structured. With the new rules, you should expect these upfront rather than later.

Bottom line

Yes, you still have a choice — you can interview several agents. But once you choose the one you want to work with, the paperwork comes first, and you should commit to that one. The era of casually shopping a bunch of agents at once and hopping between them after showings is now much more complicated and risky. The new rules want to bring clarity and fairness to the process — but they also underscore the value of choosing your agent wisely from the start.