Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

What is dual agency, and should I avoid it when buying in Saskatoon?

Dual agency is when the same brokerage represents both the buyer and the seller on one transaction. The Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission permits it under strict disclosure rules, but many buyers prefer independent representation so someone is negotiating for their side alone.

Under the Commission's rules, a brokerage in a dual representation situation must disclose that relationship to both parties, and the agents involved cannot advocate as strongly for either side as they could in a single-agency arrangement, since they owe duties to both.

For most buyers, choosing a different brokerage than the one listing the home you like removes any ambiguity about whose interests are being represented at the negotiating table, which matters most on price and on a home inspection, typically $400 to $600, turning up something the other side wants excluded.

If dual agency does come up, ask directly how the brokerage handles disclosure and whether a designated agent will represent you specifically within that firm rather than the transaction being handled as one shared file.

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