In the event you’re planning on shopping for or promoting your own home this 12 months, then likelihood is you’re contemplating working with an actual property agent. A fantastic actual property agent may also help make the homebuying or promoting course of simpler, much less traumatic, and assist you to get the correct deal. However, what precisely does an actual property agent do?
On this Redfin article, we’ll define what an actual property agent does and their obligations. Whether or not you’re promoting a home in Baltimore, MD, or shopping for a house in Charlotte, NC, right here’s what you may anticipate out of your actual property agent all through the method.
Key takeaways
- An actual property agent is a licensed skilled who represents consumers or sellers in a house buy or sale.
- A great actual property agent understands the native housing market, guides you thru the shopping for or promoting course of, and advocates to your objectives.
- They usually earn a fee, typically a share of the house’s remaining sale worth, although this quantity is negotiable.
What does an actual property agent do?
A actual property agent is a licensed skilled who assists purchasers in shopping for, promoting, or renting properties. To grow to be an actual property agent, people should full state-required coursework and go a licensing examination. As soon as licensed, brokers usually work underneath a brokerage.
There are three widespread varieties of actual property brokers:
- Purchaser’s brokers: Purchaser’s brokers symbolize potential homebuyers. They present properties, reply questions alongside the best way, and assist make a suggestion on a house.
- Vendor’s brokers: Typically known as itemizing brokers, a vendor’s agent represents owners seeking to promote. They market the property, entice consumers, and negotiate with potential consumers.
- Twin brokers: Signify each the client and vendor in the identical transaction. This apply is restricted or prohibited in some states because of potential conflicts of curiosity, so test your native legal guidelines.
What providers do actual property brokers present?
An expert actual property agent is your private advocate. They need to have the ability to provide the perception and help it’s essential make knowledgeable selections, whether or not you’re promoting or shopping for. All actual property brokers ought to have the ability to present the next providers:
| Native market experience |
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| Schedule showings and open homes |
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| Steerage on the mortgage course of |
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| Deal with negotiations |
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| Handle needed paperwork |
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| Oversee the closing course of |
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What do purchaser’s brokers do?
- Discover houses to tour: Your agent ought to assist you to discover houses that meet your necessities and finances. They’ll ship you potential houses, hearken to your desires, and recommend neighborhoods that meet your standards and finances.
- Give recommendation a few house: Actual property brokers have expertise touring and inspecting houses, to allow them to provide you with trusted recommendation a few property. For instance, they might see pink flags in a house that you could be not. They doubtless have perception into why the house is in the marketplace, if the sellers are in a rush to promote, or if the house had current renovations.
- Suggest lenders and extra: Brokers work with quite a few lenders within the space, to allow them to suggest lenders that meet your wants. Purchaser’s brokers must also learn about homebuyer help packages it’s possible you’ll qualify for. In the event you want a specialised house inspection, like sewer or termite, your agent can join you with the correct skilled.
- Write a suggestion and submit it: Your agent can information you thru the method of making a suggestion and negotiating the most effective deal. They’ll know what contingencies to incorporate, what deadline to request, and extra.
What do itemizing brokers do?
- Assist worth your own home: Your agent will assist you to decide the correct worth to listing your own home. They’ll use comparable properties, that are lately offered houses within the space just like yours, to assist decide your own home’s worth. Your agent will ask you questions on your own home’s options to make sure they’re pricing your own home competitively.
- Counsel minor updates and staging: Your agent is aware of what is going to assist your own home stand out. For instance, they might recommend fast upgrades like a contemporary coat of paint, changing lightbulbs, and eradicating private belongings from the house. When you’ve got worn furnishings, they might suggest utilizing knowledgeable stager to make your own home look up-to-date.
- Market your own home: Actual property brokers are consultants at advertising properties to allow them to assist you to promote your house. From coordinating itemizing images and staging to advertising your own home on-line and through house excursions, your agent will spotlight your own home’s finest options. They will additionally use their community to draw potential consumers.
- Analyze presents: The best provide isn’t all the time the most effective provide. When you’ve got a number of presents on your own home, your agent may also help you select the correct provide and negotiate the most effective deal to your wants.
Actual property agent vs Realtor®
Your actual property agent may be a Realtor®. A Realtor® is an agent or dealer who belongs to the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors® (NAR). As of Might 2025, there are about 1.45 million Realtors®. Realtors® should adhere to NAR’s Code of Ethics, which outlines skilled requirements for working with purchasers and different actual property professionals.
All Realtors® are actual property brokers or brokers. Nonetheless, not all actual property brokers and brokers are Realtors®.
Actual property agent vs dealer
You could have additionally heard the time period actual property dealer and marvel how that’s completely different from an actual property agent. A dealer is a licensed agent who has earned extra certifications that permit them to handle a workforce of brokers and open a brokerage firm. Actual property brokers should work underneath a brokerage. In states like Colorado and New Mexico, all brokers want an affiliate dealer’s license.
FAQs about actual property brokers
How do I discover a actual property agent?
There are many methods to discover a trusted actual property agent. For instance, you may look on-line at actual property brokers in your space, converse to household and pals, or ask your lender.
Who pays the actual property agent charges?
Patrons and sellers negotiate who pays the actual property agent charges. Previous to the NAR settlement in 2024, sellers usually paid each purchaser’s and vendor’s brokers. Redfin anticipates that sellers will proceed to cowl the client’s agent fee payment in lots of transactions, however more and more, these charges will probably be negotiated as a part of the provide.
When am I obligated to work with an actual property agent?
You’re typically not required by regulation to work with an agent to purchase or promote a house. In the event you select to work with an agent, it’s possible you’ll have to signal an settlement that outlines providers and compensation. Patrons could also be requested to signal a purchaser’s company settlement, whereas sellers signal a itemizing settlement earlier than placing a house in the marketplace.
At Redfin, purchaser agreements are versatile. Earlier than the primary tour, purchasers signal a easy payment settlement on-line that doesn’t require unique illustration. A purchaser’s company settlement is just wanted when submitting a suggestion (until required earlier by native regulation) and may be canceled if the provide isn’t accepted.
Different brokerages might have stricter phrases and should cost consumers even when they don’t buy a house. All the time evaluation cancellation phrases earlier than signing.
Do I would like an actual property agent?
It’s potential to purchase or promote a house with no actual property agent. Remember an important agent can give you invaluable perception in regards to the native housing market, advise you alongside the best way, and make the method much less traumatic.
What’s a closing agent?
A closing agent is an actual property skilled who manages the ultimate steps of an actual property transaction. They make sure that all paperwork are correctly executed and funds are distributed appropriately. They coordinate between consumers, sellers, and lenders to confirm that each one authorized and contractual obligations have been met earlier than the property formally modifications possession.
What does a industrial actual property agent do?
A industrial actual property agent makes a speciality of promoting industrial actual property, like workplace buildings and purchasing facilities. They usually have the identical obligations as residential actual property brokers, however have extra expertise in leasing industrial properties.
