I have no idea what they are often thinking. Some do think they can get the listing agent to reduce their commission and thereby achieve a lower purchase price. Most, I've found, don't understand how this hurts them.

Because they think they will get the real story on the property and the listing agent will tell them how low the seller will go. They also think they are cutting out the middleman and if there is no buyers agent involved they can negotiate that commission away.

They know not what they do.

Buyers think the listing agent will throw the seller under the bus in favor of getting more commission.  Any good agent will never do this.  

Buyers are hoping to find a shady agent who will sell out the seller and throw some of that "extra" commission the buyer's way.

Initially, the buyer thinks they've scored only to realize that they have an unethical agent representing them.  And then as Scooby Doo or Astro says (there's much debate about who said it), "Ruh roh!"

The buyer realizes the agent isn't just offering poor representation to the seller.  The buyer is getting poor and untrustworthy representation, too.  

A good agent can ethically double end a transaction, but it's important that they fully explain to the parties what that means.  No one's secrets will be disclosed to the other party.  A clean, fair transaction will be negotiated to the benefit of both buyer and seller.

Some buyers do not know how it works. Some buyers think they can save some money if the agent will give them a discount if they represent both sides and in a seller's market buyers think they have a better chance of their offer getting accepted. 

Many buyers are dismayed when they find out I can't divuldge confidential information.

I have heard many buyers assuming the listing agent will apt to give them a "discount" on the property since another agent is not involved.

They contact the listing agent looking for an advantage mainly because they think the agent will be eager enough to get both sides of the commission that they'll push for a low offer to be accepted when they normally wouldn't.

Jack,

I agree with Debbie Reynolds .  Often these buyers are attorneys and feel they can represent themselves, especially on the high end. A

Jack Lewitz I believe it is because they don't know any better and don't really understand buyer representation. Educating the buyer is a must.

For years and years and years manufacturers have promoted the benefits of 'buying direct' from the factory.

No middle man mucking up the process. The perception of no add on fees. No shipping or inventory fees. Even though the reality is, they save no money, they deeply beleive what they did and feel the action righteous.

By offering to purchase directly through the listing agent, the buyer controls their timeline for making a purchase decision, believes the process simpler, and does not carry the assumed burden of imposing on the time of an agent who glorieis in telling others how busy they are.

Where do they get that idea? By the way most agents respond to the question, "How's the market?"

As a listing agent, would it not be VERY beneficial to exploit this situation with a associate willing to carry that side of the equation (perhaps a newbie) for a flat fee?  I am not an advocate of creating the environment leading to the transgression one can be accused of by double siding.

Because they think they know all the inside stuff about the home.  And they do, but they are not allowed to tell them.  Buyer's do not know that.

I'm not sure that is the case.  It may be more like uneducated.  We usually offer the second side to another agent, so both buyer and seller are fairly represented.

Great Question! I don't like to do both. Who wouldn't like the bigger commission, but I don't feel it represents either parties well. Just making us a paper pusher when we have so much more at stake. I think the buyers think they can get a better deal and only have one agent involved may make things eaiser. The buyers are uneducted on many leves for this. Just my thoughts. I  can count on one hand both as well!

I had a sign call today and she really thought she could "negotiate" the price since she was going through me.   Not happening! 

Lord only knows...I don't like double ending either..it's very complex ethically and hard to do right by both sides.

Because many have done it successfully.  They do it to gain the competitive advantage; for commission kick-back, you name it.  Personally it is not a cocktail I choose to drink. 

"Represent" . . . see that's a word tossed around a lot that really is misleading.  A "Disclosed Limited Agent" -- the State of Oregon's definition for the legal agency relationship of the dual agent, actually doesn't allow "representation."  By the state's own definition of the agency relationship . . . the set up of buyer and seller using the same agent created a LIMITED agency.  Why would anyone want to have an agents' duties LIMITED by statutes is beyond me.  

And to answer your question . . . buyers have no clue!  They think they can get a better deal and what they are doing is putting the LIMITED agent is a position to "get out of jail free" . . . the LIMITED agent doesn't have to do much.  And representation is misleading.  

Clearly, they THINK they can "weasel" a better deal without an "extra" agent in the mix. They don't realize how much they might be giving up.

Because they do not believe anyone but themselves are capable of representing them properly in getting the best price and terms. You will never convince them otherwise.

Most often i get it with investors. They want a deal and are experienced enough to represent themselves.  WIth bank owned homes there is an advanatge of being on preview lists. 

Folks are always looking for a deal. Period!

Jack - I really don't see that happening in my area, as far as I know. Most buyers are represented by their own agent.

Jack, your right it doesn't happen often. 

As long as we are wildly speculating about the motivation of others, my guess is that they are on drugs. Or maybe intoxicated. 

Up here in Washington State many people could be under the influence of THC.

Maybe there is a secret society of house buyers and this could be one of their secret membership rituals.

Happy Selling!

Because there are some shady agents who will want to double end the sale at the seller's expense. There's usually another hook, "When I fix it, I'll use you."

I just lost a sale to a listing agent who was also representing two buyers.

We get both side often.  If they do not have an agent they have used and used in the past then they just call the listing agent.  The advantage is that the listing agent really wants to sell the listing fast.

Some buyers may not know how it works but some definitely think they will get a "better deal" if they work with the listing agent and cut out the buyers agent. I had a potential buyer contact me on one of my listings and tell me just that, they will only work with listing agents because they think the listing agent will give them part of their commission. No, I won't!

Never had this situation, although I have had people I met that have asked my opinion about a real estate transactions where they were already in a listing contract. I always check first before consulting an individual if they are currently working with another agent? If so, go to them for the advise.  

 Great question! I always love their responses Jack Lewitz when you ask them to explain their rational.  

It's in yuour best interest to gravitate towards the decision maker. The adversarial attitude of representing one side against the other is not always beneficial. If you feel the need to represent something consider the sale itself.

They think they will get a commission reduction.

We won't represent a Buyer and Seller in the same transaction

It is all about the benjamins baby ... folks go to great lengths to spend less, yet they want to get more ... what about cases where they go straight to the owner to try to cut the selling agent out of the equation?!

Some do not understand that the listing agent represents the seller, that the seller pays commissions and they think the home will cost less.