Should I Sign "Exclusive Right to Represent Buyer Agreement"?

[Chase Schmidt]

Newbie Here,

Just got off the phone with an agent who says that in the state of Virginia it is required to have a signed "Exclusive Right to Represent Buyer Agreement" before he shows me any homes. Now I have no problem with loyalty, but this doesn't sound like either a true statement or a good idea if I'm looking at properties from all sources including non MLS.

Any words of advice or experience with realtors in this type of situation.  I looked, but didn't find anything that said they are required in Virginia either?  Anybody know how this would work if I were to sign and then buy from a wholesaler or private owner? 

[James Wise]

That sounds a little fishy to me.

I don't work with clients that use multiple Realtors but I would never make a buyer client sign one of those things. I think that exclusive Realtor/Client relationship should be built on trust.