Can a Realtor Show a Home Without a Buyer's Agreement in Ohio?
Two changes landed in 2024: the national Realtor settlement on August 17, 2024, and Ohio's House Bill 466 on October 24, 2024. If you're buying a home in Ohio, you need to understand exactly what you're signing (and why it actually protects you).
What the Law Now Requires
Two rules work together here:
- Before a showing: since August 17, 2024, the national Realtor settlement requires Realtors (members of the National Association of Realtors who use the MLS) to have a written buyer agreement signed before they tour a home with you.
- Before an offer: Ohio's House Bill 466, effective October 24, 2024, made written agreements part of state law. An Ohio real estate agent must have one in place before writing an offer on your behalf, and the law spells out what the agreement has to contain.
In practice, expect any Realtor to ask you to sign before your first showing.
| Agreement Type | What It Means | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusive Buyer Agency | You work only with this agent for a set period | Buyers who've found their agent and are ready to commit |
| Non-Exclusive Buyer Agency | Agent represents you for a specific property or showing | Buyers still exploring their options |
| No Agreement (Unrepresented) | You contact the seller's agent directly | NOT recommended — you have zero representation |
What Must Be in the Agreement
Under Ohio law, every written buyer agency agreement must include:
- An expiration date
- Compensation terms — exactly what the agent will be paid and by whom
- Whether the agreement is exclusive or non-exclusive
- A conspicuous statement that commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable
- Fair housing language, including that blockbusting is illegal
What buyers often don't ask: Can the success fee be negotiated? Yes. A strong buyer's agent — like those at The Haney Group with Coldwell Banker Heritage — will walk you through every line of this agreement with full transparency before you ever step foot in a home.
Open Houses: The One Exception
You do not need to sign a buyer agency agreement to attend an open house. You can walk through, ask questions, and get a feel for the property — no commitment required.
However, the agent hosting that open house represents the seller. Anything you share about your budget, motivation, or timeline can be used against you in negotiations. Being unrepresented at an open house is fine; being unprepared is not.
The Unrepresented Buyer Risk — What Nobody Tells You
You can tour a home without any agreement by working directly with the listing agent — but you become an unrepresented buyer. That agent's fiduciary duty is to the seller.
| Factor | With Buyer's Agent | Unrepresented |
|---|---|---|
| Negotiation Advocacy | Full representation | None |
| Access to Comparable Sales Data | Yes | Limited |
| Disclosure of Property Issues | Agent must advise you | Agent advises seller |
| Offer Strategy Guidance | Yes | None |
| Cost to You | Often $0 (seller-paid) | Still $0 — but you lose the expertise |
Going unrepresented doesn't save you money. It just removes your advocate.
What If the Listing Agent Represents You Too?
Some buyers skip the agreement with their own agent, then ask the listing agent to represent them once they find the house. Here's the catch: to represent you, the listing agent needs a written buyer agreement with you too. It's the same kind of document. You'll also sign a dual agency consent.
And under Ohio law, a dual agent cannot advocate or negotiate on behalf of either the buyer or the seller. They have to stay neutral. So you sign the paperwork anyway, and you still don't have anyone negotiating for you on the biggest purchase of your life.
What This Means When You Work With The Haney Group
Doug Haney and The Haney Group / Coldwell Banker Heritage have guided numerous buyers through Springfield, Dayton, Columbus, and surrounding areas. Their approach to the buyer agreement process reflects exactly what this new law was designed to encourage: radical transparency.
When you sit down with The Haney Group before your first showing, you'll know:
- Precisely what services you're receiving
- Exactly how your agent is compensated
- Whether a non-exclusive agreement makes more sense for your current stage of the search
One thing that sets The Haney Group apart: they will negotiate on your behalf to have the seller cover their success fee — meaning in most cases, you get full professional representation at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
And if things aren't working out? The Haney Group backs every relationship with their No-Handcuff Guarantee — if you're not happy with their services, they will cancel the contract for you. No hassle, no hard feelings. Coldwell Banker Heritage's backing means access to market data, legal compliance infrastructure, and a referral network that independent agents simply can't match. The buyer agreement isn't a trap — in the right hands, it's a roadmap.
Key Decision Factors Before You Sign Anything
🟢 Reasons to Sign an Exclusive Agreement
- You've interviewed the agent and trust them
- You're actively ready to buy within 90 days
- You want full negotiation power and market intel working for you
🔴 Reasons to Start Non-Exclusive
- You're early in your search
- You want to visit a specific property without full commitment
- You're still comparing agents
⚠️ Things Buyers Often Overlook
- Duration matters. A 6-month exclusive with the wrong agent is painful. Ask about 30 or 60-day terms with renewal options.
- Success fee clauses vary. Some agreements obligate you to pay your agent even if the seller won't. Read it carefully.
- "Non-exclusive" doesn't mean "no commitment." It still binds you for the specific property shown.
- Termination clauses. Can you exit the agreement if the relationship isn't working? The Haney Group backs this up with their No-Handcuff Guarantee — if you're not happy with their services, they will cancel the contract for you. No hassle, no hard feelings. A confident agent doesn't need to trap you.
Quick Reference: Ohio Buyer Agreement Rules at a Glance
| Scenario | Agreement Required? |
|---|---|
| Showing scheduled by your Realtor | ✅ Yes — before the showing (Realtor settlement rule) |
| Your agent writes an offer for you | ✅ Yes — required by Ohio law (HB 466) |
| Open house (public) | ❌ No |
| Listing agent shows you their own listing | ❌ No (but you're unrepresented) |
| Listing agent represents you too (dual agency) | ✅ Yes — buyer agreement plus dual agency consent |
| Virtual/video tour with your agent | ✅ Yes |
| Must it be exclusive? | ❌ No — non-exclusive is permitted |
Before Your First Showing: A Buyer's Checklist
- Interview at least two agents — ask each how they handle the buyer agreement
- Request a non-exclusive agreement for your first showing if you're undecided
- Ask for a plain-English explanation of the success fee clause
- Clarify the termination terms — a professional won't flinch at this question
- Verify your agent is a licensed Realtor — not just a licensed agent — to ensure NAR compliance
The Haney Group's team at Coldwell Banker Heritage welcomes every one of these questions. Agents who avoid them are telling you something.
Ready to buy in Ohio with zero guesswork?
Connect with The Haney Group at Coldwell Banker Heritage →
Doug Haney | Springfield, Dayton, Columbus, and surrounding areas
