What Does a Real Estate Agent Do?

You often hear that you shouldn’t sell your home without the help of a real estate agent, or that you need an agent to help get your offer accepted on the house you’re hoping to purchase.

If it’s your first time buying or selling, you may wonder what real estate agents do, and why you should use one during your upcoming transaction.

Keep reading as we take a look at all the things you can expect from your real estate agent, how they play a crucial role in your homeownership journey, and how they make the process seamless for you.

How Real Estate Agents Support Sellers and Buyers

Real estate agents are licensed professionals who support real estate transactions. Agents can support either side of the transaction, working as either a buyer’s agent (representing a buyer) or a seller’s or listing agent (representing a seller).

While there are some distinct tasks for both the selling and buying sides of the deal, the core work of agents remains the same in both.

On a daily basis, agents:

• Answer their client’s questions. Whether it’s helping you understand the process or digging into the details of an offer or contract, agents aim to be the trusted expert for each of their clients.
• Handle all of the paperwork. They stay on top of the myriad of documents that facilitate your home purchase or sale.
• Negotiate the deal. They might make it look easy, but there’s a lot that goes into negotiating a sale. Especially in a hot market, agents can spend a lot of time getting to an agreeable sale price.

You’re Counting on Your Real Estate Agent’s Expertise

Even if you have a good understanding of the real estate process, your agent will undoubtedly have more. This is their area of expertise and what they do day in and day out.

On top of the core tasks they perform for their clients each day, the experience and expertise of an agent are where their value to you really shines.

• Agents know the area and local housing market like the back of their hands. They typically have a good idea of whether a price is above or below market and can advise you on what to expect on everything from appraisal values to getting your offer accepted.
• Agents know every step of the process. They will walk you through what you’ll need to do every step of the way. Even if you’ve bought or sold a house before, processes change over time. Your agent will let you know what to expect step-by-step.
• Agents make themselves available and always support you. A good real estate agent is answering your calls, emails, and texts, and anticipating your needs before you even know them! Even when the going gets tough, they help keep you on track to close your deal.

What Buyer’s Agents Do

A buyer’s agent has expertise in the parts of the process specific to the buyer’s side of the transaction.

This includes:

• Being a ninja home finder. You can search Zillow, Trulia, and other property listing websites from your couch. But as a buyer, your agent will go several steps beyond that. They’ll know about listings before they hit the market. An exceptional buyer’s agent will use their connections and industry savvy to get your offer in front of the seller as quickly as possible.
• Talking you up to listing agents. Your buyer’s agent will sell your offer to listing agents. They will highlight everything that will help you stand out, from mortgage pre-approval to how quickly you can close on the deal.
• Getting your offer accepted. In a seller’s market, you’re competing against a lot of other buyers. This is where your buyer’s agent can truly shine with their unique approach to negotiating a fair deal that rises above the competition.

What Seller’s or Listing Agents Do

Just like the skills that characterize an outstanding buyer’s agent, there are several areas where you can expect a stellar seller’s agent to stand out.

The best seller’s agents will:

• Help you put your best listing forward. They will make recommendations before you even put your home on the market, whether it’s repairs, staging, or a professional photographer. Putting your best foot forward from the start is your best chance of getting the highest offer and selling quickly.
• Help you set the right price. The housing market can move fast, and you don’t want to sell yourself short or price too high and scare buyers away. Your listing agent will help you walk that line.
• Verify buyers as they submit offers. While an offer might initially sound great, your agent will carry out the necessary due diligence. This is important so that you don’t miss out on the right offer by accepting another one that can’t reliably make it to the closing table.
• Help you sort through multiple offers. You might think you can pick the best offer on your own – the one with the highest price! But that isn’t always the best offer. Your agent’s due diligence, expertise, and intuition make for a reliable counterpart in this decision-making process.

As you’ve learned, real estate agents do a lot—perhaps more than you previously realized. Everything they do benefits you, their clients.

When you’re ready to buy or sell your next home, connect with our team, who can introduce you to the best real estate agents in the areas we serve, and when you’re ready, provide the best home financing options for you.