A real estate salesperson is more than just a “salesperson.” They act on your behalf as your agent, providing you with advice and guidance and doing a job – helping you buy or sell a home. While it is true they get paid for what they do, so do other professions that provide advice, guidance, and have a service to sell –such as Certified Public Accountants and Attorneys
The Internet has opened up a world of information that wasn’t previously available to homebuyers and sellers. The data on listings available for sale is almost current – but not quite. Sometimes, you need the most current information about what has sold or is for sale, and the only way to get that is with an agent.
If you’re selling a home, listing it in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) gives you access to the most buyers. Only a licensed real estate agent member of your local MLS can get your home listed there, which automatically lists it on some of the major real estate websites. The MLS is your agent’s best tool if you’re buying or selling a home.
However, the role of an agent has changed in the last couple of years. In the past, agents were the only way home buyers and sellers could access information. Now, agents are evolving. Because today’s home buyers and sellers are much better informed, expertise and ability are becoming more important.
The real estate agent is becoming more of a “guide” than a “salesperson” — your representative in buying or selling a home.