Open Houses in Manhattan

It's a written agreement between you and your buyer's broker that outlines the services you'll receive and how your broker is compensated. Under REBNY's UCBA 2025 guidelines, this agreement must be signed before your broker can show you properties. You can still attend open houses independently without one.

My fee is in the agreement and it is negotiable. Most sellers offer to cover part or all of it. If a listing does not, I tell you before we go see it. Broker commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable.

Before I show you anything, New York brokerage rules ask us to put that in writing: an agreement and a disclosure that say I work for you and negotiate on your behalf. The agreement is non-exclusive: you can work with other agents, it runs for a short fixed term we agree on, and you can end it with a note.

No. You can attend open houses on your own without signing anything. The agreement is only required when you want a buyer's broker to represent you and show you properties. Once you're ready for dedicated representation, I can negotiate on your behalf, access building financials, and guide your offer strategy.

It's New York State's Housing and Anti-Discrimination Disclosure. It lists your fair housing rights and where to file a complaint, and every buyer receives it at first contact. The different types of broker relationships are explained on a separate state form, the Agency Disclosure (DOS-1736), and I'll walk you through both.