Why won't the Business Broker tell me if the price is negotiable?

After successfully obtaining a business listing, the business broker or agent has important obligations to their clients (the Seller) when advertising and promoting the business for sale.

Section 10 (2) of the PAMD Real Estate Agency Code of Conduct requires that the price at which the business sales agent can offer the business for sale must be in accordance with the clients written instructions and they cannot offer the business at a higher or lower price without a written authorisation from the client.

If a buyer was to ask the business sales agent if the Seller would be willing to negotiate on the price, the agent could not answer this questions in other way except to state the current asking price unless the business sales agent had received written instructions that they could in fact state that the owner would consider negotiating the price and all offers would be considered.

If this is not stated in writing from the Seller, the business sales agent can not convey it to any buyers at any time.