Agency
An agent is the licensee who by mutual agreement will act on your direction and represent your interest above all others in a real estate transaction. This can be as a buyer's agent if you are looking to buy a house, or as a seller's agent if you are listing your house to sell. In South Carolina, once an agency relationship is established it is with the broker-in-charge of that agency, so all agents of that company are now representing you. (i.e. all of RE/MAX agents represent any client that has an agreement with another RE/MAX agent.) Acting on your behalf, your agent will negotiate for you the best price and terms for you in the real estate transaction. Your agent owes you, the client, utmost loyalty and must pass on to you any information he or she knows which might influence your decision to sell or buy. You can rely on your agent to preserve confidential information provided by you.

Dual Agency
In certain situations a licensee acts as an agent for and my represent the buyer and seller in the same transaction provided each has consented to this prior to the transaction. This is called dual agency. (Remember in S.C. all agents working for the Broker in Charge are representing all of their co-agents clients. So if you have a seller's agency relationship with a RE/MAX Realtor and a coworker has a client interested in purchasing your property then you would be asked to consent to a Dual Agency relationship. Working with a dual agent is not quite the same as having your own exclusive agent. For instance the dual agent must not disclose to either client any details that may be detrimental to the other client. He or she cannot advise their client what to offer or share any information that my influence the price or terms. (For example if the buyer was willing to pay full price and the agent knows this, he/she cannot tell the seller as that would be detrimental to the buyer, and if the agent knew the seller would negotiate on the purchase price that cannot be disclosed to the buyer.

Your agent can more fully explain the agency relationship with you.