What It Costs to Work With Me as a Buyer

The short answer is that compensation is always negotiable and there is no set structure. Your buyer broker agreement, much like a listing agreement, spells out the compensation and the responsibility of each party. I am not going to hand you a fee quote in an article, and you should be wary of any agent who does.

What a buyer broker agreement is, and when you sign it

A buyer broker agreement is the contract between you and an agent's brokerage. It states how the agent gets paid, or exactly how that amount will be calculated, how long the agreement runs, and what it commits you to. In New Jersey you should expect to sign before services begin, and since August 2024, if your agent is part of an MLS, you sign a written agreement before touring a home with them, in person or by live virtual tour. The agreement has to state, conspicuously, that broker fees are not set by law and are fully negotiable.

It is a contract. Read it. If anything is unclear, you can have an attorney look it over, and in New Jersey that is a normal part of the process.

Who can pay for your side

Buyer-side compensation can come from three places, alone or combined: you pay your agent directly, the seller gives a concession written into the contract, or the listing broker shares a portion of what they are paid. Which one happens is negotiated inside your offer, not assumed. Your agreement sets a cap, and your agent cannot collect more than that amount from any source. That cap protects you.

What you pay directly, if anything

The agreement spells out exactly what the agent will do and what they will be paid, or exactly how that amount will be calculated. This is where the details live, and it is worth going through them out loud in the first conversation, not at the closing table.

What I actually do for that fee

The search, the property research, the comparative analysis, the offer and negotiation, and the inspection and closing coordination. It also covers the parts nobody enjoys, like chasing a lender two days before closing. If you want the full list of what I do differently, it is on my buyer's agent page.

What happens if you decide not to use an agent

You can absolutely buy without one. You will negotiate against a listing agent who represents the seller, you will manage your own research, timeline, and paperwork, and you will carry the risk of what you missed. Some people do it well. Just know what you are taking on before you sign anything with anyone.

Five questions to ask any agent about their fee

1. What exactly is your fee, and how is it calculated?
2. What does it cover, specifically?
3. What happens if the seller won't contribute on my side?
4. What is the term, and how do I end it?
5. Can I see it in writing and have my attorney review it?

If you want the straight answer for your own situation, that is a conversation, and it costs nothing. Book a call and we will walk through it.