Who is responsible for representing a buyer or seller client's interests within a brokerage?

The designated agent is the individual within a brokerage who is specifically assigned to represent the interests of either a buyer or a seller. This representation is crucial in real estate transactions, as the designated agent has the legal responsibility to act in the best interests of their client, ensuring that their needs and objectives are prioritized throughout the process.

The designation of a designated agent typically comes from the brokerage's policy and is established through an agreement with the client. This agent has the authority to negotiate on behalf of the client, provide advice tailored to the client's interests, and carry out necessary actions to facilitate the transaction.

Other roles such as principal, customer, and general agent do not focus solely on this dedicated representation of a single client's interests in real estate dealings. The principal refers to the client themselves, while a customer is generally someone who may receive services but does not have a formal agency relationship. A general agent, on the other hand, might have broader responsibilities across various transactions or areas, but does not provide the focused, exclusive representation that a designated agent would.