Do You Have to Sign an Agreement to Tour a Miami Home?
Yes. Since the National Association of Realtors settlement took effect in August 2024, Florida buyers working with an MLS-participant agent must sign a written agreement before that agent shows them a home. In Miami, agents typically use one of three Florida Realtors forms: a Property Pre-Touring Agreement, a Showing Agreement limited to specific addresses, or an Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement. The scope, duration, and compensation terms are all negotiable, even though most buyers sign whatever is put in front of them without asking a single question.
By Lynley Ciorobea | July 3, 2026
If you're relocating to Miami from New York, California, or almost anywhere else, this is probably the first time an agent has asked you to sign something before you've seen a single house. It catches people off guard, and I understand why. You just want to look at a property in Coral Gables or Pinecrest, and suddenly there's a document in front of you with terms you don't fully understand.
You're not imagining the shift. It's real, it's required, and it's worth five minutes of your attention before you sign anything.
Why You're Being Asked to Sign Something Before You've Seen a Single House
The rule comes from a nationwide legal settlement, not from any individual brokerage trying to lock you in. Once it took effect in August 2024, any agent who's an MLS participant has to enter into a written agreement with a buyer before touring a property with them.
The intent behind the rule is transparency. Before, buyer-agent compensation was often baked into the MLS listing and buyers rarely saw the number or asked about it. Now, the agreement has to spell out exactly what the agent will be paid and by whom, so you know the terms before you're standing in someone's living room. I've written before about how this same settlement changed what Miami sellers pay toward buyer-agent compensation, and the two sides of this change are worth understanding together.
There's one exception worth knowing: you don't need to sign anything to talk to an agent at an open house or to ask general questions about their services. The requirement kicks in specifically when an agent is about to show you a property.
For Miami buyers coming from markets that never had this requirement, the instinct is to sign quickly just to get to the house. I'd slow down. What you sign here can affect who you're allowed to work with for weeks or months, not just for one afternoon.
What Florida's Three Buyer Agreement Forms Actually Say
Florida Realtors publishes three distinct forms, and which one your agent hands you matters more than most buyers realize.
Property Pre-Touring Agreement. This is the lightest version. It provides the required compensation disclosures for a specific showing without locking you into a longer relationship.
Showing Agreement. This covers one address, or a short, specific list of addresses. Think of it as a single-use agreement. If you tour a home in Coconut Grove under this form and then want to see a second property the same week, you'll need a new agreement for that address too.
Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement. This is the long-term version, and it comes in a few flavors: single agent representation (EBBA-8sa), transaction broker representation (EBBA-8tb), and a consent form for transitioning between the two (EBBA-8tn). Sign one of these and you're typically committing to work exclusively with that agent for the term of the agreement, often 30, 60, or 90 days, sometimes longer.
Florida Realtors updated all three forms again in January 2026, adding new audio and visual disclosure acknowledgments. That update matters in Miami specifically. A lot of the newer construction and renovated homes in Pinecrest and Coral Gables have doorbell cameras, interior sensors, and recording systems, and Florida is a two-party consent state for recordings. The updated forms make sure everyone understands what might be recorded during a showing.
Every version has to include one thing regardless of which you sign: a specific, dollar-amount or percentage compensation figure. It can't be open-ended, and the form has to state plainly that commissions aren't set by law and are fully negotiable.
What You Can (and Should) Negotiate Before You Sign
This is the part most buyers skip, and it's the part that actually matters.
Scope. An agreement written to cover "all of Florida" locks you to that agent for any property you look at anywhere in the state, not just the Coral Gables listing you called about. If you're only serious about a handful of southern Miami neighborhoods, ask that the agreement reflect that.
Duration. Agreements can run anywhere from a single day to several months. If you're early in your search and not sure this is the right agent yet, there's nothing wrong with asking for a one-day or single-property agreement. Think of it as a test run. If the relationship works, you can always sign a longer agreement later.
Compensation. The number on the form is a starting point for a conversation, not a fixed rate you're stuck with. Ask how the figure was determined and whether there's flexibility, especially at higher price points where the dollar amount on a percentage-based commission gets large fast. The same negotiating mindset applies once you're ready to make an offer. I've broken down how buyers negotiate price and concessions in Miami's current market in more detail.
Non-overlap. Agreements can't overlap. If you've already signed a Showing Agreement for one address, don't sign a broader Exclusive agreement that includes that same address without understanding how the two interact. Ask your agent to walk you through it in plain terms.
I walk every buyer I work with through this before we look at a single property, because I'd rather you understand exactly what you're agreeing to than sign something you feel unsure about later. If an agent rushes you past this conversation, that's information too.
What Happens If You Don't Sign
You simply won't be shown the property by that agent. This isn't a Florida-specific quirk. It's a national requirement now, so you'll run into the same expectation whether you're touring a home in Miami-Dade or anywhere else in the country.
If you're not ready to commit to a single agent yet, that's a completely reasonable place to be, especially early in a relocation search. The Property Pre-Touring Agreement or a narrow Showing Agreement exists exactly for that situation. You don't have to choose between "sign nothing" and "commit for three months."
Your specific situation, whether you're touring one home or planning a broader search across Pinecrest, South Miami, and Coconut Grove, changes which form actually makes sense for you. That's exactly the kind of conversation worth having before your first showing, not during it. Once you're actually under contract, a different set of deadlines takes over. I've mapped out what happens after your offer is accepted in Miami so you know what's coming next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to sign anything to attend an open house?
No. The written agreement requirement only applies when an agent is about to show you a property outside of an open house setting. You can attend open houses and ask an agent general questions about their services without signing anything.
Can I negotiate the terms of a buyer broker agreement in Florida?
Yes. The scope, duration, and compensation figure are all negotiable. Florida's required forms have to disclose that commissions aren't set by law, and nothing obligates you to accept the first version an agent presents.
What's the difference between a Showing Agreement and an Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement?
A Showing Agreement covers one address or a short, specific list of addresses and doesn't commit you beyond that. An Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement is a longer-term commitment, often 30 to 90 days, where you agree to work exclusively with that agent across your search.
What if I sign an agreement and then find a house on my own?
This depends on the exact terms of your agreement, which is exactly why reading the compensation and scope sections matters before you sign. Some agreements are written narrowly enough that this wouldn't be an issue, while broader exclusive agreements may still apply. Ask your agent directly before signing if this is a concern.
Do out-of-state buyers relocating to Miami need to worry about this more than local buyers?
Not more, but differently. If you're moving from a state where this wasn't required, the paperwork can feel unfamiliar during an already stressful relocation. Understanding the three form types before your first Miami showing means one less unfamiliar thing to navigate during your move.
If you're starting a home search in Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest, Coconut Grove, or Palmetto Bay and want someone to walk you through exactly what you're signing before your first showing, I'm happy to talk it through. Reach out anytime.
About Lynley Ciorobea
Lynley Ciorobea is a Miami-born real estate professional known for helping homeowners successfully prepare, position, and sell their homes across Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, and the surrounding southern Miami neighborhoods. Since 2007, she has built her business around thoughtful strategy, strong negotiation, and a marketing-first approach designed to help listings stand out in an ever-evolving market.
A true local, Lynley grew up in Pinecrest and graduated from Palmer Trinity School before attending Duke University, where she earned a BA in Psychology. Her deep roots in Miami give her a nuanced understanding of the architecture, lifestyle, and character that make each neighborhood distinct. From classic Old Spanish homes in Coral Gables to newer construction in South Miami and Pinecrest, she brings a local perspective that goes far beyond surface-level market knowledge.
Over the years, Lynley has naturally become a trusted resource for homeowners preparing to sell. Many of her clients come to her long before their home ever hits the market, looking for guidance on timing, pricing, improvements, and how to position their property thoughtfully. She approaches each listing as a strategic launch rather than a simple transaction, combining market insight, negotiation experience, and elevated marketing to help sellers move forward with clarity and confidence.
As the founder of the Lynley Residential Group, Lynley remains personally involved in every listing she represents. She leads each transaction from initial strategy through closing, ensuring that every detail — from pricing and preparation to storytelling and exposure — reflects the uniqueness of the home itself. Her work often centers on architecturally interesting properties and homes where thoughtful positioning can make a meaningful difference in outcome.
Throughout her career, Lynley has consistently ranked among the top real estate agents in Miami. She has been recognized as part of EWM's Chairman's Club, placing in the top 5% of the company; in 2022 she was honored as the #2 individual agent at the company overall with $37 million in annual sales; and she's a leader in Miami with Real Broker. With more than $100 million in career transactions and more than 60 5-star Google reviews, her experience spans a wide range of property types while maintaining a strong focus on seller representation in southern Miami.
Beyond her work with clients, Lynley is known locally for her market insight and community-focused content. Through her weekly newsletter, neighborhood videos, blog posts, and social media, she shares thoughtful perspectives on the Miami real estate market and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Her approach is informative without being overwhelming, offering homeowners a clear understanding of how market conditions affect real decisions.
If you're preparing to sell a home in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, or nearby areas, Lynley offers a local perspective shaped by experience, relationships, and a genuine understanding of what makes Miami homes so special. Learn more at lynleyresidential.com.