Washington: buyer-agreement requirements.

This page lists what Washington requires, at the state level, before a licensee represents a buyer: who regulates real-estate licensees, whether a written buyer agreement is required by state law or rule, the statute or rule that says so, and whether the state mandates an agency-disclosure form or publishes an approved agreement form.

It is built for broker-owners and transaction coordinators who need the state rule in one place before setting office policy. Read it alongside your brokerage's own forms and your broker of record's guidance — the written-agreement question became a national practice issue in 2024, but the rule that binds you is your state's, and it is the state rule this page cites.

Washington, field by field.

Regulating authority

Washington State Dept. of Licensing — Real Estate Brokers program (Washington Real Estate Commission)

Written agreement required by state law

Yes

Statute or rule

RCW 18.86.020 (brokerage relationships), as amended by 2023 c 318 § 2; earlier amendments 2013, 1997, 1996. Read at app.leg.wa.gov.

Agency disclosure form

Not verified. Washington's pamphlet and disclosure duties sit elsewhere in ch. 18.86 RCW, which we did not read. Confirm the current requirement and pamphlet with DOL.

State-approved form available

Not verified

Notes. 'A firm must enter into a services agreement with the principal before, or as soon as reasonably practical after, its appointed broker commences rendering real estate brokerage services.' Note the party: the agreement is with the FIRM, not the individual broker. There is a carve-out in the statute: 'A services agreement is not required when a broker performs real estate brokerage services as a buyer's agent solely for commercial real estate.' The 2023 amendment is the operative one for buyer agreements.