Real estate agents are professionals instrumental in connecting the buyer with the seller.
Additionally, many realtors manage rentals wherein they introduce tenants to landlords and oversee the maintenance of the property on behalf of the landlords the hill at one north.
. In most areas realtors are required to be highly educated, licensed and are regulated by a governing body.
Some real estate agents are also Realtors.
To utilize the title Realtor, an agent must be an associate of the National Association of Realtors which and a number of other requirements, requires Realtors to stick to a strict code of ethics and offers Realtors additional educational and designation opportunities.
Though not necessary by rule or law, it may be a wise decision to get the services of a Realtor.

What Do They Do….

Real estate agents bring together two or more interested parties, perform those steps necessary to successfully conclude a transaction and charge a commission for their services.
For sales transactions, they charge commission to owner while for rentals, commission is normally charged the landlord.
Real estate agents generally calculate their fee as a share of the value (in the case of a sale) and as area of the rent for rental units.

How Do They TAKE ACTION…

People who want to sell or rent their property leave details of their house with the true estate agent.
Along with all property details the true estate agent will routinely have keys to the home to facilitate showings.
Another interested party (i.e. the buyer/tenant), gets access to this information and to the property by contacting the true estate agent.
That’s how the agent becomes a hub of information.
Contrary to some common misconceptions, real estate agents typically represent owner or the customer but rarely both.

Why MUST I Use One…

First and foremost, to safeguard yourself. Real estate transactions are highly regulated, highly paper (document) intensive transactions.
The true estate agent possesses an in depth understanding of the laws, rules, regulations, disclosures and documentation essential to successfully complete the transaction to the satisfaction of the customer, the seller and the law.

Because realtors are most familiar with local market conditions, it is wise and makes sense to get the advice of one to get an idea of the current trends and pricing for properties within that market.
A good real estate agent will know the prices (or price range) of various properties of different kinds and at various locations within the spot.

Because of the real estate agent’s knowledge and expertise, property sellers often get yourself a few thousand dollars more for his or her property.

Many home seekers, including seasoned property investors use the services of real estate agents to find the best real estate bargains in easy and simple and quickest manner.

Furthermore, the very best agents analyze the wants and needs of a house buyer/tenant and provide valuable input regarding the kinds of properties open to them within their budget. Therefore, a good agent will not just present a list of available properties to the buyer/tenant but will actually discuss their needs and make suggestions.

The good real estate agent, working in this fashion benefits in at the very least two ways…
First and most obviously, once the real estate agent has the capacity to successfully complete the transaction the commission is earned and the real estate agent is paid…
and secondly, should they make the customer/client happy they earn an excellent reputation and often receive referrals (hence more business).

Worth Noting…

It is worth noting that there is a myth going swimming that real estate agents only focus on behalf of the seller, buyer beware.
This is simply not written in stone neither is it always the case. Realtors are, generally in most regions, highly regulated.
With few exceptions, real estate agents work either for the seller (as may be the case with many listing agents) or for the buyer (as may be the case for a buyer’s agent).
Additionally, some areas allow for dual agency where an agent can work for both seller and the customer or as a transaction broker where the agent represents the transaction itself and neither the seller nor buyer individually.

However, in the case of dual agency/transaction brokerage, remember that rule, regulation (law) and ethics do not permit the agent to do something in favor of either party during detriment to the other.
When you are unsure of the partnership between you and your real estate agent, usually do not hesitate to ask.