SLO County Homes -$9,900 Flat-fee Listing Service
Yes, you can tour homes at Open Houses or ask the listing agent to show you the home. You don’t need to sign a buyer representation agreement because the listing agent is representing the seller.
The new rules from August 2024 say you must sign a buyer representation agreement before an agent can show you a home. This is true unless it’s an open house or shown by the listing agent (or any agent from the listing brokerage).
One of the new forms from the California Association of Realtors (CAR) is a disclosure form (CAR form OHNA-SI) which is for open houses and in-person or virtual showings.
There are 5 disclosures on this form. These are the sections:
1) Agent Does Not Represent Visitor
2) Communication with Agent at Open House/Property Tour for Benefit of Seller
3) Communications with Agent are Not Confidential
4) If Visitor Writes an Offer on the Property
5) If Visitor Wants to be Represented by the Agent Holding the Open House
At my Open Houses, I do bring a stack of the OHNA-SI form and make them available as take-aways. This form also serves as a visitor sign-in sheet for open houses (7 visitors can sign-in per form). If you are asked to put your information on the sign-in form, you’re not signing any agreement. Agents use this info to capture sales leads.