For Sale By Owner: Commission for the Buyer's Agent?

If you are listing your home as a for sale by owner, you are undoubtedly trying to save some money on real estate commissions. However, one area that you might have to deal with is if a client has a buyer's agent working with them. Here are a few things to consider about whether you have to pay commission to a buyers agent or not.

Cooperating with Buyers Agents

You are under no obligation to cooperate with a buyer's agent if you do not want to. When you list your home, you will undoubtedly have some real estate agents contact you about having a client look at your house. When this happens, you can tell them if you are interested in showing the property to their clients or not.

One-Time Showing

Many buyer's agents that have clients that want to see a for sale by owner property will utilize an agreement known as a one-time showing. They will have you sign a document before they bring their clients to your house. If the client likes the house, you will have to pay the real estate agent a commission if the client purchases it. In most cases, you will only have to pay 3% commission for this type of transaction.