Being fanatical about real estate, you might imagine that we love watching the home shows on HGTV. Oftentimes though, we are appalled by the behavior of the real estate agents!

One that episode of House Hunters that really stands out as unbelievable features bachelor Brian Lau and his pet pig Mu Shu. What Brian needed most was a yard for Mu Shu to roam around in… but incredibly, the real estate agent continued to show him homes that were not suited for Mu Shu at all! Each time she brought him to a home we couldn’t help but burst out… What about Mu Shu!

Why do some real estate agents show buyer’s homes that obviously aren’t suited for them? We’re not making ANY assumptions about the agent working with Brian and Mu Shu, but there are some good reasons as to why many agents take buyers to homes that may not be their ideal solution.

A tradition real estate agent that sells and lists homes – or who works for a real estate agency that sells and lists homes, has a vested interest if they buyer purchases a home that they have listed. In fact, in North Carolina, agents of a firm have a fiduciary responsibility to the firm. That means that if you contract an agent to help you buy a home, they must first try to sell you one of their firm’s listing before offering other options!

As buyer’s ONLY agents, we are not bound by any fiduciary responsibility to any seller. As an exclusive buyer’s agent, our role is to be an impartial advocate for the home buyer, asking critical questions of the selling agent that the home buyer may not even think to ask.

We can start a home search anywhere, without trying to sell you our own inventory first because we don’t have an inventory!

Here are some questions you can ask an agent to determine if they are a true exclusive buyer’s agent:

1. Do you list any properties? An exclusive buyer’s agent does NOT list properties

2. Does your firm list any properties? An exclusive buyer’s agent does NOT work for a firm that list properties

3. Are you a member of NAEBA (National Associate of Exclusive Buyer’s Agents)? Only a true exclusive buyer’s agent can become a member of NAEBA.

To find more fun real estate shows on HGTV, visit http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows/

Tags: What really burns me! //