Should I Call the Agent on the For Sale Sign to Buy That House?

The seller. They signed an agreement with the seller to sell that house at the best price and on the best terms for the seller. That is their job, and doing it well is the right thing to do.

That does not make them a bad person. It means that when price, repairs or dates get negotiated, their duty is to the other side of the table.

In Texas, agents have to give you a Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) notice called Information About Brokerage Services. It explains, in plain language, the ways an agent can work with you:

• Representing the seller.
• Representing the buyer.
• As an intermediary, when the same brokerage sits between both parties. That can only happen with written permission from both. The brokerage can appoint a different agent to each party, and each one can advise their own client. If it does not, the intermediary treats both parties equally and cannot favor either one.

Read it. It is short and it is yours. It tells you exactly what to expect from each agent you talk to.

Think about the moments that matter most:

• The offer price. Who helps you see whether the price is high?
• The inspection. Who tells you what is serious and what to ask for?
• The dates and the earnest money. Who explains the deadlines so you do not lose your money? Here is how earnest money and the option period work.
• The negotiation. Who fights for your number?

If the answer to all of them is "the seller's agent," the deal can still go fine, but nobody is looking at it from your chair.

1. Take a photo of the sign and the address. You do not have to call that same day.
2. If you already have an agent, send it to them. Your agent sets up the showing and gets the information.
3. If you do not have one yet, decide before you walk in whether you want someone on your side. It is easier to decide before you fall for the house.
4. Ask any agent you talk to for the TREC notice, and read it.
5. Before you offer, check the basics. Here are the 7 mistakes that cost buyers the most in DFW.

• Telling the seller's agent how much you are willing to pay. Their duty is to the seller.
• Signing without understanding each person's role.
• Assuming "direct" always comes out better. What decides the outcome is the negotiation, not the number of people at the table.
• Waiting for a problem to show up before looking for help. By then the deadlines are already running.

Is it illegal for the same agent to handle both sides?

No. Texas allows an intermediary arrangement, with written permission from both parties. What matters is knowing what changes: the brokerage can appoint one agent for you and another for the seller, and each one advises their own client. If it does not, nobody advises you in your favor. Ask which one applies to you before you sign.

Can the seller's agent show me the house?

Of course. Showing you the house does not make them your representative.

What if I already talked to the agent on the sign?

Nothing bad happened. You can still decide who represents you before you make an offer.

Would you represent me even if another agent has the listing?

Yes. I work on the buyer's side on homes listed by any brokerage.

Calling the sign is not wrong. The person who answers just already has someone to look after. If you want someone looking after your side, choose them before you offer.

Did you already see a house with a sign that you liked?

Text or email me the address and I will tell you what I know about it and what to check before you make an offer. No commitment, nothing to sign.

I am Veronica Yeary, a REALTOR in Dallas-Fort Worth, CRS, ABR, SRS and CIPS, in real estate since 2010.

469-441-8890 · Text or call · veronica@veronicayeary.com · Email