agency
Designated Agency (South Carolina)
When one South Carolina firm has written agency agreements with both buyer and seller, it may use dual agency (limited services to both) or designated agency, both on Commission-promulgated forms. In designated agency, the BIC designates different agents for the seller and the buyer, giving each client near single-agency advocacy, and confidential information is not imputed among the designated agents, the BIC, and the clients. Dual agency consent must be signed by the buyer before writing an offer and by the seller before signing the contract.
- Exam tip
- 'Dual dilutes, designated divides.' 'Not imputed' is the signature feature of designated agency; for dual consent, buyer before the offer and seller before the contract.
- Example
- A firm lists the Chen house and an associate has a buyer client who wants it; the BIC designates separate agents and both clients sign the designated agency agreement.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23