In Virginia, the signature comes before the tour, not after you find a home. State law says a licensee engaged by a buyer must enter into a brokerage agreement before showing property to that buyer, and more broadly before providing brokerage services. In Fairfax, that is why an agent will pause before the first private showing and walk you through the form. It is not a purchase contract and it does not commit you to buy any home. It commits you and the brokerage to work together on the terms you both sign.
That agreement must be in writing and must cover a few specific points. It needs a definite termination date. If it does not state one, it terminates 90 days after the date of the agreement. It must state the amount of the brokerage fees and how and when they are paid, state the services the agent will provide, and include any other terms you and the agent agreed on. Read those lines closely in Alexandria or anywhere else: term, exclusivity, and early termination decide how flexible your search stays if your plans change.
Compensation deserves its own conversation before you sign. Broker fees are negotiable and are not set by law. A seller may offer to pay some or all of your broker fee, or you can ask the seller to pay it in your offer, but the seller is not required to agree. If the seller pays less than the amount in your agreement, you may owe the difference, so ask exactly how that gap would work. In Reston, also ask whether a retainer or an added brokerage fee applies, because those terms vary by brokerage and belong in the open before tours begin.
Signing also changes who the agent works for. Once engaged, your agent must promote your interests: seek homes at a price and on terms acceptable to you, help draft and negotiate offers, present offers promptly, keep your personal and financial information confidential, and disclose material facts the agent knows about the property or the deal. You do not need a buyer agreement just to talk with an agent or to walk through an open house on your own. If the listing agent shows you a home, that agent represents the seller unless you have your own agreement in place. Before you sign, confirm the end date, the fee, who can end it early, and what happens if you buy a home the agent showed you after the term ends.
FAQ
Can I tour a home in Virginia without signing a buyer broker agreement?
You can attend an open house on your own and you can talk with an agent without signing. If an agent who represents you will show you homes privately, Virginia law requires a written brokerage agreement before the showing. A live virtual tour led by your agent is treated as a tour as well.
How long does a Virginia buyer broker agreement last?
As long as the signed agreement says. Virginia requires a definite termination date in the agreement. If no date is stated, the agreement terminates 90 days after its date. Ask about early termination before you sign, because ending it early follows the terms you agreed to.
Who pays my buyer agent in Virginia?
It depends on what you negotiate. The agreement must state the amount of the brokerage fees and how and when they are paid. A seller may agree to pay some or all of that amount, but is not required to. If the seller pays less, you may owe the difference stated in your agreement.
Can I work with more than one buyer agent at a time?
Read the exclusivity term before you sign. Many Virginia agreements are exclusive for their term, which means that brokerage represents you during that period. If you want a shorter term, a narrower area, or a single property showing, ask for it before signing. Terms are negotiable.