A Buyer Representation Agreement (BRA) is a written contract that formally establishes the working relationship between a buyer and their agent, defines the agent’s responsibilities, and outlines compensation. As of August 2024 all buyers are required to sign one before touring homes in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Jai Williams is a licensed REALTOR® with active licensure in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. She serves buyers, sellers, and relocating families across all three states and provides real estate guidance and referral connections for clients nationwide.
Why a Written Agreement Is Now Required
The NAR practice changes that took effect August 17, 2024 changed two things: offers of buyer agent compensation can no longer be made through the MLS, and agents working with buyers must have a written agreement, including the agent’s compensation, before touring a home with them. This is an industry and MLS requirement rather than a state law, and it applies to buyers working with Jai in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
What the Agreement Covers
A BRA defines what the agent is obligated to do on your behalf, the duration, geographic scope, compensation structure, and cancellation terms. Jai walks every buyer through the agreement in complete detail before asking them to sign anything.
Does Signing Lock You In
No. A typical BRA runs for 90 days and most include a mutual release provision allowing either party to exit if the relationship is not working. Jai does not hold buyers to agreements that are not serving them well.
How Each State Handles the BRA
Tennessee: TAR Forms and Seller Disclosure. Tennessee buyer representation agreements typically use Tennessee REALTORS® (TAR) forms, and agent conduct is regulated by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC). Tennessee requires sellers to complete a formal property disclosure, giving Tennessee buyers documented information about known defects as part of the standard transaction.
Georgia: GAR Forms and Caveat Emptor. Georgia uses forms developed by the Georgia Association of Realtors (GAR). Georgia’s caveat emptor doctrine means the seller has no automatic obligation to disclose property defects. In Georgia the Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement is often a negotiated exhibit rather than a mandatory requirement.
Alabama: State Specific Requirements. Alabama requires specific agency disclosure language at or before the first substantive conversation about a specific property, triggered earlier in the buyer relationship than in Tennessee or Georgia. Alabama uses its own state-specific contract forms.
Why Tri-State Experience Matters
Working with an agent licensed and actively practicing in all three states eliminates the confusion that comes from working with an agent who only knows one state’s rules. Jai is licensed and active across Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama with secondary MLS memberships in all three states.
See the full resource guide: Buyer Representation