Since 2025, the REBNY Residential Listing Service has required a signed buyer representation agreement before an agent shows a buyer any home listed on it. The same rule says the agreement has to state how the agent is paid, from what sources and how much, and it bars the agent from collecting more than that amount.
The rule did not change who I work for. It put it in writing, before anything happens. I'm Milton Coste, a Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker at Keller Williams NYC, and this page is the explanation I give on a first call, written down so you have it before we talk.
What non-exclusive means
The agreement I offer is non-exclusive. In practice, that means:
- Other agents are allowed. You can see apartments with other agents while our agreement is in effect.
- The term is short and fixed. We agree on the length together, it is written into the agreement, and it ends on that date.
- It ends with a note. If you want out before the term is up, an email saying so is enough.
If you would rather work with one agent only, I can write an exclusive agreement instead, but only if you ask for one.
The two New York State forms you'll see with it
Two state forms arrive with the agreement. Neither one is a contract.
DOS-1736-f, the agency disclosure. It explains the different relationships a broker can have with a buyer or a seller, and it marks which one I have with you. It is a disclosure, not a contract: signing it confirms you received it.
DOS-2156, the Housing and Anti-Discrimination Disclosure. It lists your fair housing rights in New York and tells you where to file a complaint if you believe they were violated. Every buyer receives it at first contact, whether or not they ever sign an agreement with me. You can read the DOS-2156 form and the New York State Housing and Anti-Discrimination Notice now.
How signing works
After a short call about what you want and when, the agreement and both state forms arrive electronically. Read them first. If a line is unclear, call me and we go through it together. Nothing is signed on the call.
Once the agreement is signed, I can schedule private showings. Public open houses work differently: you can attend those without signing anything with me. The upcoming ones are on my open house calendar.
If you only want one apartment
Some buyers have already found the apartment and want representation on that one alone. The agreement can be limited to a single property. Tell me on the call and that is how it gets written.
Ending it
A note is enough. Email or text me that you want to end the agreement, and it ends. Under the non-exclusive form, no fee is owed on a property I did not help you with.
For the rest of the buying process, start with my NYC buyer guide. For how commissions work now, read what changed after the NAR settlement and the 2026 NYC commission guide.
Questions buyers ask
Who do you work for?
I work for you, not the seller. The agency disclosure (DOS-1736-f) that comes with the agreement puts that relationship in writing.
Do I have to sign before seeing apartments?
Before I show you anything, New York brokerage rules ask us to put that in writing. 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. Public open houses are the exception: you can attend those without an agreement.
What does it cost?
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.
Can I work with other agents?
Yes. 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.
What if the seller doesn't offer to cover your fee?
If a listing does not, I tell you before we go see it. In that case, you and I talk it through before any showing of that listing.
