Real Estate Brokerage in Washington

Washington law (RCW 18.86) governs the relationships between real estate brokers and the buyers and sellers they work with. Before you sign a brokerage-services agreement, Shivali Sharma (Real Estate Broker, Dulay Homes LLC) will provide you the current statutory pamphlet, “Real Estate Brokerage in Washington,” which explains those relationships and your rights.

By default, a broker who works with a buyer represents that buyer, and a broker who works with a seller represents that seller. A broker may represent both parties in the same transaction only with the informed, written consent of both (“limited dual agency”). Every broker owes you statutory duties that include reasonable care, honesty and good faith, accounting for funds, and disclosure of material facts about the transaction.

Written agreements. Under current Washington law, a broker who provides brokerage services to a buyer — including showing homes — does so under a written buyer brokerage-services agreement. We will review and explain that agreement, including how compensation works and that it is negotiable, before any services begin.