Iowa Real Estate Practice Exam

If prior consent is not provided for commission changes, what should a buyer’s agent do?

1. Proceed with demands anyway

2. Accept the original commission

3. Negotiate with the buyer

4. Contact the seller directly

The correct answer is: Accept the original commission

When no prior consent has been given for changes to commission, the buyer’s agent should accept the original commission. Accepting the original commission ensures that the agent adheres to the terms set forth in the listing or agreement, maintaining a professional standard of integrity and trustworthiness. This approach also helps to prevent potential disputes or legal issues that might arise from overriding the initially agreed-upon terms without proper consent. The option of proceeding with demands anyway would likely lead to conflict and could jeopardize the agent’s relationship with the buyer. Negotiating with the buyer might not be appropriate either, as it could imply that the agent is willing to change commissions without prior agreement. Contacting the seller directly could complicate matters, as it might violate agency relationships and could be perceived as overstepping professional boundaries. Thus, accepting the original commission is the most prudent and ethically sound action to take in this scenario.