4 questions

Statutory Requirements: Agency and Disclosure

Under South Dakota law, the purpose of the required agency disclosure is to:

  • a.Create an automatic dual agency
  • b.Waive the licensee's duties to the client
  • c.Let the consumer know whether the licensee represents them before confidential information is shared
  • d.Set the sale price

South Dakota requires licensees to disclose their agency status so a consumer knows whether the licensee represents them before sharing confidential negotiating information. The disclosure is informational and does not by itself create representation; separate agreements establish the relationship. Providing the disclosure at the appropriate time is a frequently tested statutory duty.

Statutory Requirements: Agency and Disclosure

In South Dakota, a licensee or firm may represent both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction only if:

  • a.The transaction is commercial
  • b.Both parties give informed written consent
  • c.The commission is doubled
  • d.The two parties never meet

When a licensee or firm would represent both parties in the same transaction, South Dakota law requires the informed written consent of both. A licensee acting for both sides cannot fully advocate for either and must not disclose one party's confidential information to the other. These statutory limits protect consumers.

Statutory Requirements: Agency and Disclosure

A South Dakota licensee representing a client owes the client statutory duties that include:

  • a.Honesty, reasonable care, and confidentiality
  • b.A guarantee that the property will sell
  • c.Free legal representation in court
  • d.Payment of the client's closing costs

Under South Dakota law, a licensee owes the client duties such as honesty, reasonable care, and confidentiality, and must protect the client's negotiating information. These duties do not include guaranteeing a sale, providing legal representation, or paying a client's costs. Establishing and documenting the relationship clarifies what the client can expect.

Statutory Requirements: Agency and Disclosure

When acting for both the buyer and the seller with consent, a South Dakota licensee must NOT:

  • a.Present written offers to the seller
  • b.Treat both parties honestly
  • c.Keep records of the transaction
  • d.Disclose the highest price the buyer will pay to the seller

A licensee representing both parties must not disclose one party's confidential information, such as the highest price a buyer will pay or the lowest price a seller will accept, to the other side. The licensee must still deal honestly with both, present offers, and keep records. Protecting confidential information is a core limit on dual representation.

Report