Which statement accurately reflects a statutory duty of a single agent?

Which statement accurately reflects a statutory duty of a single agent?

• A. The agent's duty is to maximize their own commission
• B. The agent may disclose price, terms, and motivation to the buyer
• C. The agent should promote interests of all parties equally
• D. The agent must carry out the terms of the written agreement

Answer: (D)

Understanding the duties of a single agent means acting in the client’s best interests and honoring the agreement you have with them. A fundamental statutory duty is to perform according to the terms of the written agreement. That means carrying out the contract’s provisions, respecting timelines, and fulfilling the promises made to the client. This adherence is what a fiduciary relationship expects and what the law requires, so it’s the best fit for what a single agent is obligated to do. The other statements stray from that duty. Pursuing the agent’s own commission concerns personal gain rather than the client’s interests and breaches the fiduciary obligation. Disclosing a buyer’s or seller’s motivation to the other party can violate confidentiality and is not a blanket duty of a single agent. Treating all parties’ interests as equal aligns more with a transaction broker role, not a single-agent relationship.

Understanding the duties of a single agent means acting in the client’s best interests and honoring the agreement you have with them. A fundamental statutory duty is to perform according to the terms of the written agreement. That means carrying out the contract’s provisions, respecting timelines, and fulfilling the promises made to the client. This adherence is what a fiduciary relationship expects and what the law requires, so it’s the best fit for what a single agent is obligated to do.

The other statements stray from that duty. Pursuing the agent’s own commission concerns personal gain rather than the client’s interests and breaches the fiduciary obligation. Disclosing a buyer’s or seller’s motivation to the other party can violate confidentiality and is not a blanket duty of a single agent. Treating all parties’ interests as equal aligns more with a transaction broker role, not a single-agent relationship.