Currently our firm is transitioning from sellers agency to buyers agency. Has anyone been involved in this type of change within the past 12 months? How has it been overall for the agents and customers?

Some companies here did it and all the agents left. After a while, your buyers are going to want to sell and this company would turn them down. I think Century 21 bought out the firm. They were doing great the first few years until they limited their agents' business. All of the top agents who had been with them for the pat 3 years left.

It's all going to depend on how well the company makes and manages the change.
For a start, they need to train their present agents in the subtle but very significant difference in approaches to the market. It involves a whole lot more than simply canvassing for buyers. At the least, they need to consult with REBAC and either hire agents with the ABR designation or ones that are prepared to take -- and complete -- the courses. They could also usefully connect with NAEBA and look at what the EBASearch site has to say.
If they do things right, they're likely to succeed beyond all expectations. They'll be serving a market niche that is becoming increasingly worthwhile. Just ask me and I'll tell you that in the three years since I gave up listing anything, I've never had it so good!

Duncan
PS. For reference go to:
http://www.rebac.net/
http://www.naeba.org/
http://ebasearch.com/index.htm

So what happens when your buyers want to sell? Do they get referred out or do you help them anyway?

I don't get why people think just representing one side on a brokerage level is a great thing. I know it supposedly let's you concentrate on a certain type of prospect and "sets you apart", but do buyers or sellers really care if all of your other clients are buyers or sellers?

If an agent only represent buyers or sellers because they prefer one over the other, fine, but to run a brokerage that way? Seems like you'd lose repeat business and lose good agents, just like the buyer's only company in town (who now represents both sides).