transaction together.
A real estate agent will track down homes that meet your criteria, contact sellers’ agents, and secure appointments for viewing the homes. On their own, buyers have a more difficult time with these things. This is even more so in the case when a buyer is moving due to relocation or employment opportunity and engages a “buyer’s agent” to handle matters
NEGOTIATING IS HARDER ON YOUR OWN
Negotiating is not like it used to be many years ago when you could talk directly to the home seller and "haggle" for their home. Unless you are negotiating on an FSBO (for sale by owner) property where the seller does not have an agent, the process is far more "sterile". There is typically a seller's realtor and a buyer's realtor on the transaction. Even if you aren't represented by a buyer's agent, you are only allowed to speak with the seller's agent. This will make your negotiation strengths weaker as the emotion a seller may have is shielded from you. However, having an agent represent you will put you on a more level playing field as you won't be negotiating with and against a far more experienced seller's agent. Your buyer's agent, if experienced, will be able to negotiate better on your behalf as they know the ins and outs to work with the other agent professionally. A good real estate agent will keep the transaction “at arm’s length,” such that personalities and emotions generally do not become involved. Negotiations take special skill and understanding of the psychology of offering and counter-offering as well as all the other terms and strategies that can sweeten a deal in your favor. Agents keep the transaction dispassionate and rational. For example, a buyer (you) might like a home but despise its wood-
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