what a real estate agent does
real estate agents usually specialize in either commercial or residential real estate in either case their duties largely depend on whether they work for the buyer or the seller agents who work for the seller known as listing agents advise clients on how to price the property and prepare it for sale they commonly supply tips on last minute improvements to boost prices or encourage faster offers seller agents market the property through listing services their network of professionals and others and advertisements agents who work for the buyer search for available properties that match the buyer s price range and wish list these agents usually look at past sales data for comparable properties to help prospective buyers create a bid that is at least realistic 2from there the agents act as go betweens for the principal parties conveying offers counteroffers and other questions back and forth essentially negotiating on the client s behalf once a bid is accepted agents on both sides have work ahead helping their clients through the paperwork communicating on their behalf advising on inspections and moving and generally shepherding the deal through to closing 