Your questions about
the BRBC, answered

The Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation Agreement (BRBC) is a written agreement between you and your real estate agent that formally establishes your working relationship. As of August 2024, California law requires that buyers have a signed agreement in place before touring homes with an agent. Think of it like a retainer agreement with an attorney — it outlines what we'll do for you, how we're compensated, and the terms of our partnership. It's actually a good thing for you: it means we're formally committed to representing your best interests throughout the entire process.

No. The agreement is for a term of 90 days. If for any reason things aren't working out, we're always open to an honest conversation — we want this to be the right fit for both of us. Our goal is to earn your trust every step of the way, not hold you to a contract.

Our brokerage's compensation is negotiable, and the amount we agree on is written into the Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation Agreement (BRBC) you sign with us. It's worth knowing that this doesn't all go directly to us — it's split between our brokerage (Compass), our transaction coordinator, administrative staff, and our team. In most transactions, this is covered by the seller — meaning it comes out of the seller's proceeds, not your pocket. We will always be transparent with you about compensation before you make an offer on any home, so there are never any surprises. In the rare situation where a seller is not offering buyer's agent compensation, we will discuss it with you openly before proceeding.

Yours — completely. Even though compensation often flows through the seller's side of the transaction, we are legally and ethically obligated to represent your interests and yours alone. That means negotiating hard on your behalf, giving you honest advice even when it's not what you want to hear, and always putting your goals first. The BRBC actually reinforces this — it formalizes our duty to you.

Yes, absolutely. You can attend open houses independently without it affecting our agreement. Just let us know what you've seen so we can follow up together.

If you find a home yourself during our agreement period and we represent you in the purchase, yes — our compensation applies.

Great question. If we show you a Compass listing where we also represent the seller, we are required to disclose that to you immediately. In those situations, we'd refer you to a trusted colleague to represent you on the sale of that specific house only.

A lot. We commit to understanding your goals deeply, searching for homes both on and off market, preparing detailed market analysis before every offer, guiding you through inspections and disclosures, negotiating on your behalf, coordinating every detail from accepted offer to closing, and being available to answer your questions throughout the entire process. You're not just getting access to MLS listings — you're getting an experienced team fully committed to your outcome.

We simply renew the agreement. Markets move at their own pace and searches sometimes take longer than expected — especially in the Bay Area where inventory can be limited. We'll never make you feel pressured to settle for the wrong home just because a deadline is approaching. If we need more time, we'll extend together.

California state law now requires it — so any agent who says you don't need to sign anything is either misinformed or not following the rules. Beyond the legal requirement, we actually think the BRBC is good for you. It holds us accountable, makes our obligations to you explicit, and ensures you know exactly what to expect from us. Transparency is the foundation of a great working relationship.

You can have conversations with multiple agents before deciding who to work with — but once you sign a BRBC with us, the agreement is exclusive for the properties and geographic area covered.

We don't — and we want to be honest with you about why. Without a signed agreement in place, there is a lot we legally cannot do on your behalf. We can't tour homes with you, advise you on pricing, share market feedback, or negotiate in your corner. Our ability to help you is genuinely limited without it. Beyond the legal constraints, the BRBC also reflects a mutual commitment — we invest significant time, energy, and expertise into every client we work with, and the agreement ensures we're both fully in. We're not asking you to sign something that benefits only us. We're asking you to formalize a partnership that protects and serves you throughout one of the most important decisions of your life.

Yes — we understand that signing a 90-day agreement can feel like a big step, especially if we're just getting to know each other. Our standard representation period is 90 days because it gives us enough time to truly understand your needs, search thoroughly, and guide you through the offer and contract process without feeling rushed. That said, we want you to feel completely comfortable. If you'd prefer to start with a 30-day agreement, we're happy to do that. We can renew from there once you've had a chance to experience how we work. Our goal is to earn your trust — not lock it in.

Please ask. We would rather you take the time to feel completely comfortable than sign something you don't fully understand. Reply to this email, call us, or text us anytime — there is no such thing as a question too small when it comes to something this important.