Beyond the sale: What does a real estate agent do?

What you’ll learn ✅

—The roles and responsibilities of real estate agents when buying and selling homes

— How real estate agents differ from brokers and realtors

— Tips for deciding whether you need a real estate agent

— Ways to find a competent real estate agent who matches your goals and personality

When you imagine a real estate agent‘s day-to-day life, you might picture a busy professional hunting down properties, showing homes, and making offers — and that’s a big part of their work. But these agents do a lot more behind the scenes, from filling out legal paperwork to analyzing markets.

In this guide, you’ll learn what a real estate agent does and how they guide homebuying (and selling) journeys. We’ll also explain what sets these agents apart from other real estate professionals and cover how to find someone you can work well with.

What’s a real estate agent?

Real estate agents help buyers and sellers handle real estate transactions. On the seller’s side, an agent uses their knowledge of the local market and compares recent sales to settle on a listing price. Agents also run open houses and organize staging to make homes look presentable.

For buyers, real estate agents find promising properties and set up tours. Agents also help buyers put together offers and close on homes.

Good real estate agents need to know a lot about the locations where their clients buy and sell properties. They also have to understand what affects property values so they can list homes with accurate pricing. The best agents can share details about everything else buyers care about too, such as walkability and local school quality.

In the United States, all agents need a real estate license granted by their state to legally do business. To get that license, they’ll need to show that they understand real estate laws and best practices. And even though most agents do a lot of their work independently, they must be supervised by a licensed broker.

There’s a lot of jargon in the real estate industry, and it’s easy to mix up different types of professionals. Here are a few other important players that often get confused with agents.

What does a real estate broker do?

Real estate brokers are a notch above agents because getting a broker’s license is more difficult and takes special training. For that reason, brokers can hire and manage a team of real estate agents, taking a cut of all commissions. They can also work independently if they want, unlike real estate agents who have to work under a broker’s direction.

What does a realtor do?

A realtor (often stylized as REALTOR®) is a real estate agent or broker who belongs to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). All an agent has to do to become a realtor is abide by NAR’s code of ethics, which is designed to put the client’s interests first, and pay membership dues.

What does a real estate agent do for you?

The main duties of a real estate agent are listing properties, working with buyers and sellers to find matches, and negotiating deals. Their tasks vary based on who they’re working for — agents carry out research and hold open houses for sellers, and they search for properties and set up viewings for buyers.

Depending on the state, your real estate agent may also have to draw up complicated legal paperwork, especially the purchase contract. Even if that job falls to a real estate attorney, the agent still double-checks each document to make sure everything looks correct.

Finding the right real estate agent can be a slog, and you may spend more time pouring over reviews and sitting through phone screenings than touring beautiful homes. That’s why Better makes it simple and painless to find a real estate agent you love. Our hand-picked roster of in-house and partner agents know the industry inside and out, so they can help close your next real estate transaction twelve days faster than the average. Plus, working with a Better agent and getting a mortgage with us can save you up to $2,000 on your closing costs.

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What does a listing agent do?

Listing agents work with clients to sell homes at good prices. When agents work for sellers, they’ll need to:

— Do market research: Listing agents use their knowledge of local market conditions and recent sale prices of comparable homes (or “comps”) to find the right price — one that nets a good profit for the seller but isn’t unrealistic.

— Stage the property: Agents coordinate with staging companies to spruce up homes so they look appealing during open houses.

— Market the property: To find buyers, listing agents take pictures and film video tours, promote the property online, and hold open houses.

— Sort and negotiate offers: Once offers come in, the agent reviews them and helps you choose the best one. Your agent can also negotiate with the buyer’s agent to try and get a higher price or make other custom agreements.

What does a buyer’s agent do?

Buyer’s agents help clients search for new homes and navigate the purchase process. This means they:

— Find properties: Buyer’s agents scout listing databases and real estate websites to find potential homes.

— Answer questions: Agents need to field a lot of questions about the buying process. They walk clients through every step so buyers feel prepared.

— Arrange showings: While listing agents are responsible for open houses, buyer’s agents often set up solo visits to potential properties.

— Write and negotiate offers: When a client finds a home they like, the buyer’s agent puts together a competitive offer. Like listing agents, they can haggle for a more favorable sale price and other conditions that matter to the buyer.

— Run inspections and close paperwork: Agents can help buyers set up inspections to make sure houses are sound, and put the finishing touches on paperwork once clients accept offers.

How can you find the right real estate agent?

Here’s how to find information about real estate agents:

— Look online: Websites like Better pre-vet real estate agents, so all of them come highly recommended. You can also check reviews for real estate agents in your area to see what previous customers think. 

— Check with friends and family: Word of mouth is a good way to find an agent you can trust. If you know someone who’s recently bought or sold a home, find out how they felt about their agent.

— Ask lots of questions: When you find a real estate agent who seems promising, ask questions to test their knowledge and see if they understand your priorities. For instance, ask about how long they’ve worked in the area, how market prices have changed over the years, and what the neighborhoods you’re looking at are like.

— Verify credentials: Check with your state’s real estate licensing board to make sure the agent you choose has a license in good standing, and see if they have any past or pending disciplinary actions on their record.

Do you need a real estate agent?

You can go without an agent when buying or selling a home, but that’s uncommon since real estate transactions are complicated. If you’re on the fence about finding an agent, these questions can help you make the right decision:

— Do you have strong negotiation skills?

— Do you have the legal background to comply with real estate laws?

— Do you have a strong understanding of the local real estate market?

— Do you have a flexible schedule for managing showings, inspections, and tight deadlines?

— Do you have good relationships with real estate professionals like inspectors and attorneys?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, you’re probably best off working with an experienced real estate agent.

Partner with industry-leading real estate agents at Better

Real estate agents juggle many tasks, from navigating legal red tape to organizing inspections. They take care of the difficult details so you can focus on selling your house and shopping for your new dream home.

But you need to know your real estate agent has the credentials and experience to get you to the finish line. At Better, we’ve already done that legwork, and you can explore our list of agents to find the best professionals in your area.

Choose Better to find a competitive interest rate and an experienced real estate agent who cares.

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FAQ

What does a real estate agent do for me?

Real estate agents help you buy or sell a home. They understand local market conditions, know how to price and promote a property, and create and review offers.

Who does a real estate agent represent?

Real estate agents usually represent either the buyer or the seller in a transaction. But sometimes they play both roles at once in an arrangement called dual agency.

Where does a real estate agent work?

Real estate agents work for agencies called brokerages. Agents’ work often keeps them out and about, but they may go into an office for tasks like writing and reviewing contracts.

How do real estate agents make money?

Real estate agents earn commissions from their clients. Those commissions often fall in the 5–6% range and are based on the sale price of the home. Buyers and sellers pay for their own agents independently, though sellers may still cover this cost as a concession.