What Does a Real Estate Agent Actually Do?

A buyer’s agent represents your interests throughout the home-buying process, taking on far more than just showing properties. They provide insight into current market conditions, helping you understand pricing trends and determine fair value for homes. With access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), they can quickly identify listings that fit your needs and preferences. Once you've selected homes to see, they handle the coordination with sellers and listing agents to schedule convenient tours.

When it’s time to make an offer, the agent works closely with you to develop a strong proposal, negotiate effectively, and manage any counteroffers. They take care of the contract process, ensuring all documents are accurate, complete, and submitted within required deadlines. They also guide you through inspections and appraisals, helping coordinate appointments, explain results, and connect you with reliable professionals. If any unexpected issues arise—such as title complications, appraisal discrepancies, or delays—they step in to help resolve them quickly and keep your purchase on track.

Why You Might Want a Real Estate Agent 

Even though it's entirely possible to buy a home without an agent, most buyers still prefer to work with one—and for good reason. Navigating the home-buying process can be overwhelming without someone experienced to guide you, especially when it comes to understanding market conditions, evaluating properties, and making informed decisions. Agents also have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which gives them a broader range of homes to show you, including ones that may not yet be widely advertised.

When it’s time to make an offer, an agent brings valuable negotiation skills to the table, helping you craft offers that are competitive and well-positioned to succeed. They also manage the paperwork, making sure all legal and contractual requirements are met on time, which reduces the risk of costly mistakes. And perhaps one of the biggest advantages is that, in most cases, the buyer doesn’t pay the agent’s commission—the seller does—so you benefit from expert support without incurring extra costs.

When It Might Make Sense to Buy Without an Agent 

There are situations where buying a home without an agent can be a reasonable choice. This is often the case for experienced buyers who already understand the legal and market dynamics involved. It can also work when the purchase is happening between people who know each other, such as family members or close friends, or when a real estate attorney is involved to help manage contracts and ensure due diligence is properly handled. Some buyers feel comfortable handling negotiations themselves, especially when purchasing a property listed as For Sale By Owner (FSBO). However, going this route requires extra caution. You'll need to research comparable home prices, understand the details of contracts, and possibly bring in professionals like a lawyer or inspector to cover areas that an agent would typically manage.

Risks of Going Solo 

While it’s entirely possible to buy a home without an agent, doing so can expose you to several risks that may not be immediately obvious. Without expert insight into the local market, there’s a greater chance of overpaying for a property simply because it’s difficult to accurately assess its true value. You might also miss important issues during inspections—things a trained eye would typically catch or flag for deeper evaluation. Navigating the legal aspects of a real estate transaction without professional guidance can lead to mistakes in contracts or overlooked contingencies, which could create complications down the line. Negotiating directly with a seller or their agent can also put you at a disadvantage if you’re not experienced in structuring competitive offers. And beyond the technical aspects, managing the entire process on your own—from research and paperwork to timelines and communication—can quickly become stressful and overwhelming.

Final Thoughts 

If you’re buying a home for the first time or don’t have much experience with the real estate process, working with a knowledgeable agent can make a big difference. An agent not only understands how everything works, but also helps you avoid common mistakes, handles complex paperwork, and looks out for your best interests every step of the way. Their guidance can ease the pressure and make the entire experience less overwhelming.

However, if you’re already familiar with the process, confident in your ability to handle negotiations, and have access to reliable tools and information, buying a home without an agent is possible. It just means you’ll need to take on more responsibility—spending time researching the market, understanding legal documents, and possibly consulting a lawyer or other professionals to ensure nothing important is missed.

In the end, the choice really depends on how much support you feel you need, how much time you can commit, and how comfortable you are managing the details of what is likely to be one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.