This involves a lot of time, effort, and patience, as well as specialized skills and knowledge. That is why most people turn to a REALTOR® for help.

When you sell your home, the REALTOR® will work for you as a client. You sign a contract with the agent, called a listing contract. The agent then works for you and receives an agreed commission when the house is sold.

In a seller/client relationship, the agent guides you throughout the real estate transaction, providing information on such issues as pricing your home, which purchase offers are fair, and how to structure a purchase contract to your advantage. It is the business of the REALTOR® to help you sell your home with minimum delay and to help you realize every dollar it is worth.

Although the REALTOR® works for you and owes you additional services, called fiduciary duties, the REALTOR® must also treat his or her buyer customers fairly. The buyer is generally the customer. There is no contract between the buyer and the REALTOR®.

Today, however, many home buyers use a buyer’s agent – a specialized REALTOR® who is the home buyer's client and works for the interests of the buyer. This makes it even more important for you to have an expert on your side looking out for your best interests.