I think the whole point of this post to was to prove to her she was overly paranoid.. But at the same time I don't blame her for a being a little nervous considering someone is asking her to sign strange documents that she is unsure of what their meanings are. I think just educating yourself is important.

JR: The document says THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT at the top. The agent should explain exactly what it is, as Janice explained below.

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Yup no one in the past 3 weeks has asked me to sign a disclosure form and I have never been asked to show a license.. and thats between 5 different open houses in Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Bellmore.. all in Nassau.

JR: I follow the Department of State rules. I can't control how other agents do their business. I've been at closings where agents have asked their customers to sign the disclosure form. This, mind you, is a form that explains to the customer who the agent is working for, an important detail, wouldn't you agree? Any agent who does not have the form signed at first substantive contact is opening themselves up to a lawsuit. That's why the form came about-- because of a lawsuit.

On Long Island, and in all of New York State, agents are required by the Dept. of State to prove that at the "first substantive contact" with a potential client or customer, we have explained clearly our role in the marketing and sale of a property. The Agency Disclosure form is provided by the DOS, and the first thing it says is "This is Not a Contract," which should ease the mind the person who is afraid to sign anything. One of the purposes of an Open House sign-in sheet is to let the seller who came into the house. Any customer who is uncomfortable about future contact is free to make a "do not call" or "currently represented by X agent" next to his or her name; most agents will respect that. We probably should do a better job of explaining to the public that the agent who takes the time to ask a customer to sign an Agency Disclosure and/or Open House sign-in sheet is acting in a more responsible manner than one who does not.

I think the whole point of this post to was to prove to her she was overly paranoid.. But at the same time I don't blame her for a being a little nervous considering someone is asking her to sign strange documents that she is unsure of what their meanings are. I think just educating yourself is important.

Yup no one in the past 3 weeks has asked me to sign a disclosure form and I have never been asked to show a license.. and thats between 5 different open houses in Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Bellmore.. all in Nassau.

If your friend was selling her house and a bunch of strangers were coming in, do you think she would like to know who they were? Wouldn't you? As for the disclosure, you can scribble your name on it, it's no big deal. The fact is IMO if you're going into someone's home you should let them know who you are.

I just took one of the required classes, fair housing, and our teacher told the room that where he practices, in Nassau, they take one person at a time and that person has to present their drivers license or photo ID or they don't come in. People wait outside for their turn.

My personal opinion is it's too bad your friend doesn't like being asked all that information--I wouldn't let someone who told me that into any of my listings and I have turned people away for that very reason. With the homeowner PRESENT and fine with that. No one has a right to come into anyone's home.

To JR.. My friend says she doesn't like all the information that is being asked,.. where she lives, phone number, signature to a stranger.. ( which is understandable)

I'm sorry Laura, did your friend explain why you shouldn't sign? Perhaps I didn't phrase my question correctly. Because disclosure forms are VERY important.

yeah thats what my friend said also.. its sort of up in the air... I went to 3 open houses this weekend not one asked me to sign a disclosure form. I guess its not that important.

One of my friends suggested that I don't sign it.. I just wanted to see what the feedback was on this topic
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Because? What was your friends reason?

thanks for all your reply's I understand the whole disclosure form situation and will educate my friends on the situation also.

To Laura looking for house- Amityville.
I saw a nice one near the water in your town. It was seen in 3 or 4 movies. The family that lived there had a rough time of it. But it sure was a nice house. Those flies in the attic room can be removed easy enough. I think the walls talk to you if you own the house. Carl

I am casually looking now to see the market.. more serious in Dec. and will get an agent.. Open houses give you more of a non commiment and also allow you to research areas and homes in the area. I don't want to feel obligated to a agent now if I am not read to buy yet.
One of my friends suggested that I don't sign it.. I just wanted to see what the feedback was on this topic

In New York, agents "Should" get the disclosure signed at open houses. The law says we must disclosure who we are working for, the buyer or the seller. The law doesn't say you have to sign the form, but we need to get your name so we can still fill in a form and put on it that you didn't want to sign. It is all about disclosure! Did we tell you who we are working for, that is what the state wants to know.

We are also responsible for this open home and I wouldn't want an unqualified stranger walking through MY home if they won't even give me their name! Some smart agents ask to see driver's license in order to know they are getting the correct info on who is coming into the house. It is a matter of security. Of course, as agents taking the time to sit in an open house, we are looking, first to sell the home, second - to list other homes, and third - to find new buyers. IF you are already happily working with anothe agent, a couple things. One, tell the agent at the open house. We give extra cards to our buyers to give to OH attendants. No one wants to waste time following up with customers who have NO intention of being our customers. TWO - why aren't you seeing the house WITH your agent?

As realtors have to make sure that this information is disclosed to you and that is why we have the clients sign. As far as the sign in sheet, the listing agent should have this information and know who is viewing the property. If you are already working with another agent then mark that down or hand the agent your agents card.

If all you are trying to do is avoid contact, just mark your name with "no contact, please." If not interested in the house, say so. Agents don' t want to pursue non-buyers. believe me.

We also worried a little that the agents sitting open houses would start calling us, but they don't! We are already working with our own agent, and instead of leaving our contact information, we leave her name and office.
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A better thing to do would be to sign your name and tell the agent you are already committed to another agent. We like to know that.

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Yes, of course. In my effort to be brief, I was incomplete. We always say that we are working with someone already, and ask if it is okay to leave her contact information instead of ours. Sorry for my earlier short and sloppy answer. I was only hoping to encourage Laura to not assumeand/or worry that she would be bombarded with unwanted calls and emails from other agents, and that it really would be okay to sign in at open houses.

We also worried a little that the agents sitting open houses would start calling us, but they don't! We are already working with our own agent, and instead of leaving our contact information, we leave her name and office.
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A better thing to do would be to sign your name and tell the agent you are already committed to another agent. We like to know that.

Joanna gave the best answer. An agent is custodian of the house. If she were my agent she gets plaudits and medals for being responsible and professional. She takes care of it because someday it may be yours and you would want that kind of care wouldn't you? A better way put it is, why are some agents treating the house so carelessly by letting strangers walk thru without identifying themselves?

To Scott
In New Hampshire you might be able to just post a sign, but the buyer is looking at homes in New York and the New York Department of State has different regulations

Yes, by New York State Law, at first substanive contact, we are to disclose to you that we are working for the seller. If you walk through a home and have no interest in it, you don't have to sign, but once you start asking questions, we are required by law to have you sign the disclosure, which is not a contract, just "Disclosing" we represent the seller. Why all Realtors don't do this, is a good question, but it is required by law. As far as Sign in Sheets are concerned, no you don't have to sign in, but why wouldn't you? True some agents might call you to see if you have any interest in the home, so why not just leave an email address....

At an open house, an agent can post a sign disclosing they work for the seller in open and easy to see spot rather than having everyone sign individually. as far as a sign in sheet you dont have to sign but not all agents will let you go through the property without doing so.

We also worried a little that the agents sitting open houses would start calling us, but they don't! We are already working with our own agent, and instead of leaving our contact information, we leave her name and office. If anyone wants to follow up, they do it through her. (Of course, that means that we need to let her know what open houses we have been to, and what we think, so that she can give the feedback when they call her.) You might also ask your agent to give you some of his/her cards to leave.

Once in a while we will get a note to say thank you for attending the open house (if we've left our address...in addition to our agent's name), but we hardly consider them to be "bombarding" us.

I wonder who is advising you not to sign in?

You're signature acknowledges that the agent did their job and disclosed to you that they are representing the seller at the Open House. If anything is said, it could be construed as substantive contact.

Saying Hello, may not be considered substantive contact, but if the Realtor gives you any information about the home or neighborhood, that might be considered substantive contact. Some people do not understand that it is not a contract and balk when asked for the signature, so some Realtors don't ask for it until a question is asked. It is much easier to get it over with as you're signing in.

We are required "at first substantive contact" to explain agency to you and have you sign a disclosure (which is not a contract). Signing this disclosure states that we have explained it to you.

Why do few agents ask you to sign, and others don't? I require all my open house visitors to sign it because I obey the law. I cannot control or explain how other agents do business.

Regarding the sign in sheet: you are entering someone's private home. If someone were to come into your home, wouldn't you want to know who they were? We extend the same courtesy to our clients.

Why don't all the brokers require you to sign it? Why is it a select few? It just seems like its not necessary if not everyone is doing it.

Brokers are bound by strict regulations to have disclosure forms signed by customers/clients at the point of first substantial or substantive contact.

I forgot to add what happens if you go through the house then they ask you.. but you dont' like it.. do you still have to sign?
I just don't want to bombarded by realtors with phone calls and emails. I rather sign it later if I am really truly serious about the house. Then contact the realtor if I want to go through with a possible bid.
Also I think one out of five realtors will have that disclosure sheet, why don't all of them have it.
Just to put this out I have been signing in but have been given advice not to anymore..

You can refuse to sign both, but why would you want to? You can't expect an agent to agree to give you free access to someone else's house unless you are willing to identify yourself and refusing to sign the Agency Disclosure form doesn't achieve anything (it is not a contract), but gives the agent a headache. They are required by NY State Law to give it to you, so if you don't sign it, they have to complete an affadavit later to say they gave it to you and you refused to sign. At my open house, you wouldn't get past the door, sorry.