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Listing agent vs. selling agent: What’s the difference?
Whether you're buying a new home or selling your current one, you'll likely need a real estate agent to guide you through the process.
Dublin Homes, Real estate agents assist you in the marketing and sale of your home. Dublin Homes, Real estate agents will help you find and purchase a home. Although their jobs seem similar, their roles in the transaction are very different. If you're serious about buying or selling a home, it's wise to understand the roles of each type of agent and the benefits of having an agent on your side.
The difference between listing and selling agents
Both real estate professionals play key roles in the home-buying process, but they work on opposite sides of the transaction. Real estate agents represent home sellers; as the name suggests, they create and list a home for sale. What's somewhat confusing is that sales agents represent the buyer's interests and are therefore also called buyer's agents.
What does a listing agent do?
A real estate agent also called a seller's agent, represents the seller in a real estate transaction: they put the house on the market. Their job is to set a competitive price for the home and then attract potential buyers to visit it. By working with a real estate agent, you'll benefit from their experience and knowledge of the local real estate market. They have the most up-to-date and detailed information on comparable property sales in your neighbourhood, allowing them to set the right price for your home.
Once the price is set, real estate agents actively market the property. They help you present the home in the best possible light and often hire professional photographers to take high-quality photographs. Real estate agents not only show the home and conduct tours but also help evaluate potential buyers. Once the offer is received, the real estate agent guides the seller through negotiations, handles the paperwork, and ultimately closes the sale. For their services, real estate agents typically receive a commission of around 2–3% of the sale price.
What does a selling agent do?
A real estate agent represents the buyer during the sale of a home. It may seem confusing, but the terminology makes sense: before closing, the agent representing the buyer is often called a buyer's agent, which makes sense. Once both parties agree on the terms and the purchase contract is finalized, the buyer's agent is called a listing agent. Why? Because they found a buyer who purchased the home.
A real estate agent helps property seekers find suitable properties. They identify properties that may interest their clients, contact agents for showings, make offers to sellers, and, after accepting the offer, accompany clients through to closing.
The services of a real estate agent can be especially valuable in a highly competitive real estate market. With an experienced broker on your side, you'll be able to compete more successfully, especially in bidding wars. A real estate agent's commission is typically the same as a broker's: between 2 and 3 per cent.
Do you really need one (or the other)?
The internet has changed the way people search for homes, and the pandemic has changed it even more. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more than half (51%) of homes purchased in 2022 were found online.
Of course, you can search for your home yourself or post a "for sale" sign, but getting help from a professional has its benefits. In some cases, this may even be necessary: some brokers only accept offers from the buyer's representative. According to NAR data, 86% of buyers and sellers use real estate agents, and agent-backed listings typically sell for nearly $100,000 more than homes.
