Listing agent also wants to represent buyer after 111 days—conflict or convenience?

[PrimeHarbor]

Our Manila condo has been listed for 111 days, and we now have an initial offer around PHP 11,890,000. The listing agent says the same named contact can also work with the buyer. A quicker transaction is appealing, but I do not understand how confidential advice and negotiation could remain independent.

If this arrangement is permitted in the Philippines, what written conflict disclosure and safeguards would you require? I also want clarity on the fee basis, buyer qualification, offer handling and support if the sale falls through.

 

[KianCane]

I would not consent based on a verbal explanation. Ask for a written description of whom the agent represents, what information can be shared, how competing instructions will be handled and whether the fee changes when one side handles both parties. The seller and buyer should each have the opportunity to obtain independent legal advice before signing anything.

 

[noor_research]

Is it definitely the same individual advising both sides, or two people at the same brokerage? That distinction matters in practical terms, even if there may still be a brokerage-level conflict. Also, has the buyer shown credible funding or financing capacity? Speed means little if qualification is vague.

 

[DirectRoom]

I would not reject it automatically. One contact can reduce delays in arranging condo access, circulating documents and getting answers. But convenience is not the same as independent advocacy. The written terms should say whether the agent is negotiating for either party or merely passing proposals between them. Local counsel can confirm what is allowed in the Philippines.

 

[FinnDale]

Also ask how every revision to the offer will be recorded. Price is only one term: deposit timing, financing, inclusions, inspection and closing dates can all create disagreements. I would want offers and counteroffers delivered in writing, with confirmation of when each was received, rather than relying on summaries from someone speaking to both sides.

 

[PrimeHarbor]

To clarify, “early offer” means the buyer's initial offer; the condo itself has been marketed for 111 days. It is the same named contact proposing to work with both parties, not a separately identified colleague. I am going to ask for the role, information-sharing limits and complete fee basis in writing before responding to the representation proposal. I will treat the PHP 11,890,000 offer separately so the two decisions are not bundled together.

 

[friendly_room]

Separating those decisions is sensible. Add a deadline for answers, because response time becomes especially important when one person controls communication in both directions. Ask who takes over if that contact is unavailable and who assists if this buyer withdraws. “We will relist” is not enough; you want to know whether follow-up marketing and offer handling continue under the existing fee.

 

[brisk_canvas]

I disagree slightly with focusing on whether the arrangement makes the deal faster. After 111 days, urgency can make an ordinary offer feel more compelling than it is. Compare PHP 11,890,000 with your own expectations and the full terms first. If the same agent benefits from completing both sides, the disclosure should explain that financial interest plainly.

 

[ClearTrail]

Since this is also a service review, revisit what the listing fee was meant to cover. Was professional photography included, and can the photos continue to be used if this buyer falls through or you change the representation arrangement? Photography scope may seem unrelated, but unclear ownership or reuse can slow renewed marketing at exactly the wrong time.

 

[emery_leases]

For buyer qualification, ask for evidence appropriate to how the purchase will be funded, while respecting the buyer's privacy. The agent saying the buyer is “serious” is not a substitute. You also need to know who verified the information and whether any financing condition lets the buyer exit. Have your own adviser assess the wording rather than accepting the agent's interpretation.

 

[noor_research]

One more point for the written disclosure: what happens when seller and buyer need opposite advice? A seller may want a higher deposit or fewer conditions while the buyer wants the reverse. If the contact must become neutral at that moment, both parties should know in advance who can advise them, whether extra fees arise and whether either side may end the dual arrangement without disrupting the underlying sale.