The agent also wanted the buyer: reviewing fees on a PHP 33.06m Manila deal

[GoodAnchor]

We received an early offer of around PHP 33,060,000 on our Manila property. The speed is attractive, but the listing agent now says they can also work with the buyer. I’m struggling to see how confidential advice and negotiation would remain independent.

Before even considering this, I want clarity on whether dual representation is permitted here, who pays the fee, who the named contact is for each side, and what happens to confidential information. What written disclosures or practical safeguards would others insist on?

 

[ClearTrail]

Convenience is real, but disclosure alone does not make the interests align. I would ask the agent to state in writing exactly whom they advise, what information they will not share, how the fee is calculated, and whether the fee changes when both parties use the same agent. Have a Philippines-qualified lawyer independently confirm whether the proposed arrangement and wording are acceptable.

 

[chalk.friendly]

Is this the same individual representing both sides, or two named contacts within one brokerage? That distinction should be made explicit, even if it does not remove the broader conflict.

Also, how qualified is the buyer? A fast PHP 33,060,000 offer is less compelling if financing, conditions, payment timing, or authority to buy are unclear. Get the complete offer in writing before focusing on speed.

 

[asha.reed]

I wouldn’t automatically reject the arrangement, but I also wouldn’t treat an early offer as proof that the price is strong. The agent knows what the seller might accept while also hearing what the buyer might pay; those are precisely the details each side would normally keep private.

At minimum, require a written conflict disclosure, rules for handling competing offers, confirmation of the fee basis, and independent review of the sale terms. If the agent cannot explain the boundaries plainly, that is an answer in itself.

 

[sasha.archer]

There are some practical loose ends beyond the conflict form. Ask whether all offers will be passed on promptly, expected response times, who follows up if this buyer falls through, and whether any marketing or photography charges remain payable if the property sells before the planned work is completed. Put the answers in the engagement terms rather than relying on a call.

 

[asha.reed]

The point about the named contacts is important, though separate contacts do not necessarily create independent advice if both report through the same firm. I’d ask for a simple written map of who communicates with whom and who can access each side’s information. Even with that safeguard, the seller should decide the minimum acceptable terms without using the shared agent as the only source of pricing or negotiation advice.