Beware of "Dual Agency"
The Ultimate Conflict of Interest

Many agents call themselves Buyer's Agents and will offer to represent you even though they list property and represent sellers. Because their expertise is usually oriented toward selling, not buying, their advice may be questionable at best. Then, if you wish to look at just one property listed by any agent in their company, by law they cannot show you that property unless you agree to their becoming a "dual agent". Although the agent and the agent's company can legally represent both you and the seller with both parties knowledge and consent, why would anyone with common sense give their consent? The only one who benefits from dual agency is the agent.

Companies that list property like dual agency because they make more money when they collect both sides of the commission in a sale. If you buy through such a company, they will try to convince you that dual agency is in your best interest and that they can and will represent you fairly. Don't believe it!

While Dual Agency is not prohibited by law, it is regulated by NC Real Estate Commission rules. Dual Agents are not permitted to give you advice based on information they might have about their other clients - the sellers. If they are honest and respect this restriction, their value to you is drastically diminished. If, however, they are giving you confidential information about the seller, you can be sure they are also giving the seller confidential information about you. Either way, you lose. Using a Dual Agent when buying a home is not illegal - it's just stupid.

Exclusive Buyer's Agents
An Exclusive Buyer's Agent, by definition, works for a company that does not take listings. An EBA will not only help you find a home or land, but will also represent you much like an attorney represents a client. In a real estate transaction, an Exclusive Buyer's Agent legally and ethically owes all his loyalty to his buyer client - not to the seller. Only an Exclusive Buyer's Agent can and will tell you all he knows about both a property and the seller and can guarantee that confidential information about you will be kept confidential.

A true Exclusive Buyer's Agency, Dana Realty does not take listings and never represents sellers. As Buyer's Agents for over 20 years, our expertise is in buying property and our only objective is to help you find the best property at the best price. We realize our buyers are real people with real needs who deserve respect and knowledgeable representation when buying a home.

While other real estate companies will try to sell you a home, at Dana Realty, as your Exclusive Buyer's Agent, we would appreciate the opportunity to help you BUY one - there really is a big difference.

Just as it would be foolish to ask an opponent's attorney for legal advice, it is equally foolish to ask the seller's agent for real estate advice. You should have an Exclusive Buyer's Agent to advise you in all aspects of your purchase.

Our Fee
Many people are reluctant to use an Exclusive Buyer's Agent because they mistakenly think it will cost them money. This is certainly not true in our case. Our fee is almost always paid by the seller or the listing agent from the listing agent's commission, and any sales incentive or bonus we receive from the seller will be paid to our buyer. Occasionally, there may be times when it is in the buyer's best interest to pay us directly, in which case we will discuss this with you and proceed only with your permission. You will never be asked to pay some hidden fee.