The Difference Between Listing Agents and Buyer’s Agents

Enrique Medellin Real Estate Podcast

What is the difference between a listing agent and a buyer’s agent? Here is what you need to know about the duties and responsibilities of each job.

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What’s the difference between a buyer’s agent and a listing agent? Obviously, the listing agent deals more with listings and home sellers and the buyer’s agent focuses more on home buyers, but the duties of each agent are actually very different.
The primary focus for a listing agent is to assist the home seller in marketing their home. Their job is to ensure that the home that they are selling shines in the best possible light, to put the home on the MLS, get buyers to see the home, and negotiate offers with those buyers.
A buyer’s agent's primary duty is to take buyers to see homes, find them homes from the MLS, and help them identify what they’re looking for in their next home while being knowledgeable in all aspects of the market.
Because the duties of these two types of agents differ drastically, certain personality types tend to work better for each job. Listing agents tend to be more aggressive and focused on marketing while buyer’s agents tend to be geared more toward customer service and be consulting-oriented.

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One agent can’t protect the best interests of both the buyer and seller.

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Each agent has a fiduciary duty to their respective clients as well. The listing agent has a responsibility to the home seller to get the most money possible and the best terms for their home, while the responsibility of the buyer’s agent is to get the home buyer the best home for the best price on the best terms.
Why is this important information for you to have? If you’re considering buying a home, you may be tempted to call the listing agent for a property you like and work with them to complete the purchase. This is a bad idea because since the listing agent has a duty to the seller to get them the highest price on their home, it is not likely that they will keep your interests in mind during the transaction.
I definitely recommend hiring an individual agent to represent your side of the transaction. If you’re selling your home, hire a listing agent that has experience with listings and project management. On the other side, if you’re buying a home, be sure to hire an agent that deals exclusively with buyers. Hiring an agent to represent both sides may set you up for a potential disaster and a lot of conflicts of interest down the line.
If you have any questions about the duties of buyer’s agents and listing agents or would like to know how to choose the agent that best fits your needs, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!