09/23/2026
*LONG POST INCOMING*
Yesterday someone sent me a DM respectfully asking the following question: “if I can see every listing on Zillow/Redfin/Realtor dot com, is there a point to having a realtor before I’m ready to make an offer?”
This is a great question and very fair. I’m going to put my response below in case anyone else was wondering the same thing. Keep in mind this isn’t the end-all list of reasons to have a good realtor; it was the most important points that rose to the top of my mind first without writing a Harry Potter sized book.
“For starters, you’re mostly correct in saying everything is on Zillow/realtor/etc. Every listing actually has a private “agent notes” section that consumers will never see on any of the public real estate sites. Agents often put valuable information like defects of the home and age of major systems (roof, HVAC, plumbing, etc) in this section.
But honestly, a good agent is valuable long before that, as they can use the MLS search portal to set up an automated email that delivers all the new listings directly to your inbox. Gone are the days of scouring Zillow looking for houses! You provide the search parameters and you get one email a day whenever something matching your parameters is listed. Even if you’re not ready to buy right now, this is a useful tool that shows you a regular snapshot of the market so you know what to expect when that time comes.
On the topic of resources realtors have access to, a good realtor will have recommendations for a loan officer who can get you pre-approved before you start touring properties. There’s nothing worse than seeing a home you love and not being able to make an offer because you waited to get pre-approved and/or your loan officer stumbles through the process and takes too long (I’ve seen both of those happen!).
Next, your agent will schedule the showings on houses you want to go see, where they’ll be your second set of eyes and ears. While you’re looking at the kitchen and imagining the layout of the living room, we’re paying attention to the fact that none of the doors close on their own (a sign that the house could have foundation issues) or the noise from the nearby roadway, which you may not notice until the excitement has worn off and you hate the house you own because you can hear every tractor trailer that goes by.
Even crafting the offer to achieve the best outcome for you is a skill that makes good agents worth dealing with. Emphasis on the “good” — any agent can write up an offer but good agents will advise you on how to ask the seller for credits toward your closing costs or ways in which you can lower your monthly payment.
There are other huge intangible skills that good agents offer in navigating the market, like negotiating ability, intuition/market knowledge (is it going to be hard if you ever have to resell this house, or did it sit on the market so long this time because the current listing agent made an error when they brought it to market?). My job is to help you and advocate for you and make sure you’re making the best decision for your personal circumstances.
All these services and most of the time you don’t even have to pay for them — 99.9% of the time, the seller pays the buyer’s agent’s commission. You’re supplying all the money by buying the house, but it’s coming out of their bottom line earnings, so it’s kind of a chicken vs. egg debate, but ultimately it’s not an out of pocket cost you incur directly. We don’t get paid until you transact, and sometimes that means months/years of working for free… but a good agent will show up every day and serve you the same way they would a cash buyer who’s ready to write an offer right now!”
