Agent, Realtor, Broker: What Do You Call a Person Who Sells Houses?
What do you call the person who helps you sell or buy your home? Learn the differences between real estate agents, Realtors, and brokers.
If you’re selling or buying a home, you may be wondering what kind of agent you need to hire. You may even ask, ‘What do you call a person who sells houses?’ What’s the difference between a buyer’s agent, a listing agent, a seller’s agent, a Realtor®, and a broker? What qualifies an agent to meet your unique homeownership needs?
Step one: Talk to an expert!
Selling your house soon? Connect with a top agent near you to get an expert opinion on how much your house will sell for, what to fix before listing, and the latest local housing market trends.
In this article, we explain the roles agents play in your home sale or purchase, their required level of experience, and the services they provide in your home sale or purchase.
To better answer your questions, we spoke with top-performing agents Rick Ruiz, who sells homes nearly 46% quicker than the average Las Vegas agent, and Robert Dombrowsky, who works with over 85% more single-family homes than the average Fair Lawn, New Jersey agent.
In real estate, it’s not about the name on the front of your jersey. It’s about the name on the back of your jersey. The brokerage you hire is only as good as the agent that’s working for you, who’s going to be out there doing the work, publishing the listing, negotiating prices.
Rick Ruiz
Real Estate Agent
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Rick Ruiz
Real Estate Agent at GK Properties5.0
- Years of Experience
23- Transactions
1297- Average Price Point
$252k- Single Family Homes
1079
Agent vs. Realtor® vs. Broker
Dombrowsky sums up the similarities between agents, Realtors®, and brokers as follows:
“A real estate agent is licensed by their state to help their clients buy and sell houses. An agent becomes a Realtor® by joining the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which adds an additional layer of professionalism.
“A broker is a licensed agent who has taken more classes and received additional licensing that makes them eligible to run or own a real estate office. An agent cannot do that unless they get a broker’s license.”
Now, let’s discuss the nuances between agents, Realtors®, and brokers.
What is a real estate agent?
Real estate agents are licensed professionals who typically work as independent contractors for a brokerage to guide and represent their clients through a real estate purchase, sale, or rental. While agents may help buy or sell homes or both, and some specialize in luxury, commercial, or condominium sales, the role an agent plays often varies depending on their client’s needs.
Regardless of the role they play, an agent is legally obligated to protect their client’s interest and get the best sale price, or the best deal, for their client. The different types of agents include:
- Also known as a seller’s agent, the listing agent helps homeowners sell their homes, using expertise and knowledge of the local market to get the best sale price and ensure all the legal requirements are met for a successful home sale.
- The buyer’s agent helps a buyer locate and purchase a home, negotiating the best deal for their client.
- A rental agent or leasing agent helps individuals find and secure a rental property and understand the lease agreement terms. Rental agent fees are usually paid by the landlord, but in some areas or with certain agents, renters may also be required to pay fees.
“In real estate, it’s not about the name on the front of your jersey. It’s about the name on the back of your jersey. The brokerage you hire is only as good as the agent that’s working for you, who’s going to be out there doing the work, publishing the listing, negotiating prices,” says Ruiz.
