Your commission at The Agency Dallas pays for the full process of buying or selling, from pricing and preparation through marketing, negotiation and closing. It is negotiable, agreed in writing before any work starts, and normally paid from the closing. This guide lists what that work includes, so you can compare brokerages on what you get, not only on the rate.
The rules changed recently. Since August 17, 2024, the National Association of Realtors settlement has required written agreements with buyers before touring, and offers of buyer-agent compensation can no longer appear on the MLS (NAR, 2024). Texas then wrote the written buyer agreement into state law through Senate Bill 1968, effective January 1, 2026 (HousingWire, 2025). The result: you see what an agent charges, and what they do for it, before you commit.
What does a listing commission pay for at The Agency Dallas?
When you sell with The Agency Dallas, the commission covers the work our agents and our office do from the first conversation to the closing table:
- A price built from evidence. A home value drawn from recent sales on your block and the closest true comparables, not a citywide average.
- Preparation. A room-by-room prep list and introductions to vendors we trust, so the house is ready before it is seen.
- A marketing plan from our in-house team. Our marketing team works in the office for our agents and builds the print, digital and social campaigns for the listings we take.
- Reach beyond Dallas. As an independently owned office in The Agency's global network, our listings reach buyers well outside Texas.
- Negotiation. Offers, inspections and repairs, argued with real local numbers so you know where you stand at each step.
- Closing management. Our office team tracks every deadline with the title company and the lender, and your agent stays with you through the keys.
What does a buyer's agent fee pay for?
For buyers, the fee is set in the written buyer agreement Texas now requires before an agent shows you a home. With The Agency Dallas, that work includes:
- A planning conversation about timing, budget and must-haves before the search starts
- Lender introductions and a short list of homes that fit
- Tours on your schedule, including homes before they reach the market
- Offer strategy and negotiation backed by recent local sales
- Coordination of inspections, the option period, title and lender deadlines through closing
Not ready to commit? A short showing-only agreement covers a single tour.
Is The Agency Dallas more expensive than other brokerages?
Broker compensation in Texas is not set by law, and it is not set by our brand. Every fee at The Agency Dallas is negotiated with your agent and written into your agreement before any work begins. We do not publish a standard rate, because the right fee depends on the property, the price point and the work the sale requires.
What we suggest instead is comparing brokerages on what you net, not on the rate alone. A lower rate that leaves a home overpriced, under-marketed or poorly negotiated can cost a seller more than the difference in commission. Ask any brokerage you interview for a written estimate of what you will net, or what you will bring to closing, with title, lender and inspection costs listed separately. Our agents provide that estimate before you sign.
What should you ask any brokerage about its fee?
- What exactly does the commission include, in writing?
- Who prices my home, and which sales is that price built from?
- Who builds the marketing plan, and what does it include beyond the MLS?
- Who negotiates my offers and repair requests?
- Who tracks deadlines with the title company and lender?
- Is any fee owed if the home does not close, such as during a protection period?
- Can I see a written net estimate before I sign?
For the mechanics of how commissions are now negotiated, read how real estate commissions work in Texas after the NAR settlement. For listing rates at the high end, see what commission Dallas luxury listing agents charge, and for the full picture of selling costs, what it costs to sell a house in Dallas. Our How We Work page walks through the process step by step.
Who stands behind the agent you hire?
The Agency Dallas is an independently owned and operated brokerage at 8111 Preston Road, Suite 725, in Dallas, with fewer than 70 agents and more than $1 billion in closed sales. We stay small on purpose: fewer agents means more attention on every file. A leadership team of top-producing agents works in the office, reviews files and mentors our agents, so the commission you pay The Agency Dallas buys the experience of the whole office, not one person working alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is the commission at The Agency Dallas negotiable?
Yes. Broker compensation in Texas is not set by law and is fully negotiable. At The Agency Dallas, you and your agent agree on the fee together and put it in writing before any work starts. The right number depends on the property, the price point and the work the sale requires, so we do not publish a standard rate.
When is the commission paid?
Commission is normally paid from the closing. Your written agreement spells out any case where a fee could be owed without a closing, such as a protection period after the agreement ends. Your agent at The Agency Dallas goes over those terms with you before you sign, so nothing about the fee comes as a surprise later.
Do buyers have to sign an agreement before seeing a home in Texas?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, Texas law has required a written agreement before an agent provides substantive brokerage services to a buyer, and the agreement states how the agent is paid. If you only want to tour one home, a short showing-only agreement covers that visit without committing you to a longer representation.
Are there any fees besides the commission?
The commission covers your agent's and our office's work. Title, lender, survey and inspection costs are separate and are paid to those providers. Ask your agent for a written estimate of what you will net or bring to closing, and each of those costs will be listed on its own line so you can see the full picture before you sign.
How should I compare commissions between brokerages?
Compare what you net, not the rate alone. Ask each brokerage what the fee includes in writing: who prices the home, who builds the marketing, who negotiates and who manages closing deadlines. A slightly lower rate with weaker pricing or negotiation can leave a seller with less money at the closing table than a full-service listing.
Sources: National Association of Realtors, "What the NAR Settlement Means for Home Buyers and Sellers" (2024); HousingWire, "Texas law sets new buyer agency agreement rules" (2025).
