Barbara has eloquently discribed buyer representation.
Today, I read a post by Jean-Paul Peron asking what one should do when faced with a showing by an agent who is located over 2.5 hours away from the subject property. That's a common occurrence in my marketplace also, and I'm confident many other listing agents have experienced that. When buyers are not standing in line with numbers, like at the deli, to buy homes, an agent usually takes whatever is handed to them. For many, the money trumps ethical behavior today.
The only person taking it on the chin with this scenario is the buyer. The chances of the buyer being represented properly by an agent who has to pack a lunch to show a property is nil. As a matter of fact, in my opinion, that buyer is not going to be represented at all. From what I have experienced with our listings, the buyers' agent puts that buyer in a chokehold and the pressure is on to write an offer, if that property is anywhere near being acceptable. The seller and the listing agent are the only ones benefiting. The buyers' agent will exert whatever effort is needed to close the buyer so that the long journey will not have been for nothing.
As listing agents, my team and I love to hear that a showing will be taking place by an agent from outside of our area. The likelihood of receiving an offer is in direct proportion to the distance the agent has to travel. The further the distance the better the chance of an offer being submitted. We've experienced this with our listings. We have no problem with finishing the entire deal once the offer is presented. The buyers' agent never has to do another thing with our listings including going to the closing. We will gladly make sure they get paid.
The fault lies with the buyer for not using common sense and selecting an agent who is within the area of the listed property. The buyer can ask to be referred. The buyer can go online and find a top agent in that particular area. Unless common sense is used by the buyer, that buyer will be paying for the sins of his agent, and the buyer will never realize what happened to him!!!
