What Do Real Estate Agents Do?

How These Professionals Help You Buy and Sell a Home

Real estate agents make buying and selling a home easier. Agents are licensed professionals who must pass state-specific exams to ensure that they are qualified to represent homebuyers and sellers.

What Do Real Estate Agents Do for Homebuyers?

Real estate agents can help you find homes that meet your needs and fit your budget. Good agents are experts in their local markets. They understand the kinds and prices of homes for sale and are knowledgeable about neighborhoods, school districts, commuting, and public transportation, as well as other important community features.

A buyer’s agent can help you develop a list of potential homes to buy and schedule viewings of these houses for you. Your agent can help you make an offer to the seller, negotiate the sales agreement, coordinate home appraisals and inspections, and manage paperwork. Keep in mind that before touring homes, you will typically need to sign a buyer representation agreement with your agent. This agreement sets out the services your agent will provide and the compensation they will receive — which you and your agent negotiate directly.

Real estate agents can also help make sure your mortgage application and approval both go smoothly. Agents often attend closings with their clients, as well.

What Do Real Estate Agents Do for Homesellers?

Real estate agents make selling a home easier. They will help you choose the right sale price for your home. They make sure buyers can find your home by listing it in real estate databases called Multiple Listing Services (or MLS), on homebuying websites, and on social media, as well as through their connections to other agents.

Real estate agents can help you stage your home so it shows better to potential buyers. They will organize open houses and showings on your behalf. Your agent helps you review offers from buyers and negotiate the sale agreement with them.

Sellers’ agents often review the results of the home appraisal, especially when the appraisal price is lower than the sale price of the home. This is important because buyers will often try to negotiate a lower sale price when the appraisal comes in low. Sellers’ agents have access to real estate comps and other kinds of sales information that might help you argue successfully against a low appraisal.

Your agent will help you make real estate disclosures and ensure you follow any laws or regulations affecting the sale. They often attend the closing as well.

What Do Real Estate Agents Do at Closing?

At closing, your real estate agent might help ensure all necessary documents have been properly signed and notarized, escrow and sale funds have been correctly transferred, title insurance fees have been paid, the deed has been correctly updated, and more. This is work that can also be done by title companies and real estate attorneys. Some states require that a title company or attorney manage your closing.

What Do Real Estate Agents Charge?

Real estate agent commissions vary and are negotiable. Since August 2024, sellers and buyers each negotiate compensation with their own agents separately. Buyer's agent fees must be agreed in writing before touring homes. Seller-side commissions typically range from 2% to 3% of the sale price, but rates vary by market and transaction.