A buyer’s agent is a real estate professional who represents the buyer, helping them find homes, negotiate, and complete the purchase. When an open house visitor is already working with a buyer’s agent, they are represented, which changes how you follow up.
Knowing whether a visitor has a buyer’s agent is the highest-value question on a sign-in form. An unrepresented visitor is a potential client; a represented one is usually a courtesy contact whose agent you would coordinate with.
How that representation is documented changed with the 2024 NAR settlement, which pushed written buyer agreements to the front of the relationship in much of the country. The practical effect at an open house is that “do you have an agent?” is a question with a firmer answer than it used to have. Requirements vary by state and brokerage, so follow your broker’s guidance rather than a general definition.