What Does a Real Estate Agent Actually Do? A Beginner’s Guide for Buyers & Sellers
(Even Your 8-Year-Old Nephew Could Understand This)
🚀 Buying or Selling? You Need a Guide
Let’s be real — buying or selling a home is exciting, but it can also feel like stepping into a jungle without a map. There’s paperwork, laws, deadlines, and money on the line. Good news? You don’t have to do it alone.
You need a real estate agent — your personal guide, bodyguard, and expert negotiator — all in one.
🧑💼 What’s a Real Estate Agent, Really?
A real estate agent is someone who helps people buy or sell homes. They’ve studied, passed a state test, and work under a broker (think: real estate boss). But there’s a twist...
🤝 Agent vs. REALTOR® – What’s the Difference?
A REALTOR® is an agent who joins the National Association of REALTORS® and promises to follow a super strict Code of Ethics.
All REALTORS® are agents, but not all agents are REALTORS®. Bonus points if yours is one!
💼 What Your Agent Promises You (Fiduciary Duties)
Your agent has a LEGAL duty to act in your best interest. That means:
Obedience (follows your lawful instructions)
Loyalty (puts YOU first)
Disclosure (shares important info with you)
Confidentiality (keeps your private info private)
Accounting (handles your money and paperwork correctly)
Reasonable care (uses their knowledge to protect you)
Easy to remember: O.L.D. C.A.R. — because your agent’s job is to drive your deal safely to the finish line.
🏡 The Buyer’s Agent: Your Home-Hunting Sidekick
If you’re buying a home, a buyer’s agent helps you:
✅ Figure out your wants, needs, and budget
✅ Find homes (even ones not on Zillow!)
✅ Tour properties and spot red flags
✅ Make a strong offer
✅ Negotiate price and repairs
✅ Manage deadlines (like inspections and loan approvals)
✅ Close the deal — and hand you the keys!
They’re your personal advocate, making sure you don’t get ripped off or miss something big (like a cracked foundation or hidden fees).
🏠 The Seller’s Agent: Your Home-Selling Pro
If you’re selling, a listing agent helps you:
✅ Price your home right using local data
✅ Get it market-ready (cleaning, photos, staging)
✅ Advertise on MLS, Zillow, social media, etc.
✅ Host open houses and manage showings
✅ Review and negotiate offers
✅ Handle legal forms (like the SPDS in AZ)
✅ Make sure you get to closing without drama
They protect your bottom line, help avoid legal trouble, and get your home sold faster.
💸 But How Do Agents Get Paid?
Let’s bust a big myth...
Agents don’t get paid hourly or by the visit. They earn commission — a % of the final sale price, paid at closing.
📌 Example: If a home sells for $400,000 and the total commission is 5%, that’s $20,000. It’s split between the buyer’s agent and seller’s agent, and THEN split again with their broker.
⚠️ What’s New in 2024?
Because of a big court case (aka the NAR Settlement):
Buyer agents must now have a signed agreement with buyers before showing homes.
Seller’s agents can no longer offer to pay the buyer’s agent commission on the MLS.
Buyers may need to negotiate their agent’s fee into the deal — or pay it out of pocket.
👉 Bottom line: Everything’s more negotiable now. But your agent should break it down clearly.
🆚 Agent vs. Broker — Who’s Who?
Agent: Licensed to help with real estate deals. Must work under a broker.
Broker: A more experienced agent who can run their own office and supervise agents.
You’ll likely work with an agent, but the broker is behind the scenes, making sure everything’s legal and smooth.
⚖️ Dual Agency: One Agent, Two Sides?
Sometimes, one agent tries to represent BOTH the buyer and seller. Sounds simple, but it’s risky.
They can’t really fight for both sides — because one wants the lowest price and one wants the highest.
⚠️ In Arizona, this is legal — but only if both parties sign off.
✅ Why Having an Agent Matters
Let’s sum it up. A good agent helps you…
✔ Avoid mistakes
✔ Save time
✔ Make or save more money
✔ Stay out of legal trouble
✔ Stay calm through chaos
🎯 Final Thoughts: Choose Smart
Whether buying or selling, your agent is your coach, bodyguard, and strategy partner. Don’t pick randomly. Interview agents, ask questions, and make sure they’ve got YOUR back.
With the right agent, your real estate journey doesn’t have to be scary — it can be smooth, fun, and even profitable.
