finding the actual properties is only a very small part of what a realtor actually does. anyone can go online, or drive around the city on any given afternoon.

finding the actual properties is only a very small part of what a realtor actually does. anyone can go online, or drive around the city on any given afternoon. in fact listings have been public for a long time. my very first tech job was at a real estate web startup back in 1997. rudimentary listings information was on the web nearly 20 years ago! and they still have in-network information that isn't available publicly. you better believe the other realtors in the agency get first pick of the hot new listings. as far as i'm aware there's no law that says the seller has to sell to any one type of person. you can have a completely unlisted private sale. the real value of an experienced realtor is making sure you are able to buy or sell the property you want, at a good price (to you), even in a hot or cold market. it's a sales and purchasing job. once paper is signed and the pressure is on and the clock starts ticking, things can get extremely complicated. a good realtor will guide you through the process. a bad one will let a good deal slip through your fingers, costing you a fortune!