Oregon 30-Hour Real Estate Law Practice Test

What duty does a seller's representative owe to a buyer?

1. Negotiate the best price for the seller

2. Represent the buyer's interests

3. Present offers from the buyer to the seller

4. Advise on property value

The correct answer is: Present offers from the buyer to the seller

A seller's representative, also known as a listing agent, primarily has a fiduciary duty to the seller, which includes responsibilities like marketing the property, negotiating offers, and focusing on the seller's best interests throughout the transaction. In this context, one of the important responsibilities of a seller's representative is to present all offers that the buyer makes to the seller. This duty ensures that the seller is fully informed about potential buyers and their proposals, allowing them to make a well-informed decision about which offer to accept. While a seller's representative may assist buyers in certain aspects, such as answering questions about the property, their primary obligation remains to represent the seller. This can create a scenario where the agent may present the buyer's offers, but they do not represent the buyer's interests nor negotiate on their behalf. Hence, presenting offers aligns with the responsibility of the seller's representative to act in the seller's best interests while maintaining transparency in the transaction.