If you are a Buyer and are house hunting with a REALTOR, there are many things you must know in order to receive the greatest benefit;

• Be sure your agent is a REALTOR. This is a national designation that assures you your agent is a member of the local, state and National Association of REALTORS.  It also assures you that they are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
• Is your REALTOR representing you as a Buyer's Agent? In Georgia, agents may represent Buyers, Sellers, or Both. (Dual Agency) It is in your best interest that you be represented in a real estate transaction unless you are well versed in the subject.  The Purchase and Sale process is often challenging and complex, sometimes even to the expreienced agent.  The Buyer's Agent must provide full disclosure  concerning the property, can assist you in negotiating offers, provide comparable sales to determine the correct value of any home, and see you through all the way through the closing process.  The service is FREE because your agent will be paid at closing by the Seller.
• Is your Buyer's Agent providing you with recent comparable sales in the area to determine if a home is actually worth what the Sellers are asking.  Home prices are determined by what someone has already paid for a similar home in the area and may have nothing to do with the 'List Price'.
• Is your REALTOR suggesting that you have an independent home inspection done? What you see may not be what you get, and the best way to discover possible hidden material defects in a house, although not foolproof, is by having a home inspection. Be sure your inspector does not do repairs because you don't want the same person who is telling you what's wrong, telling you how much it will cost to fix.
• Is your Buyer's Agent recommending several good lenders with whom he has had good experience?
• Is your Buyer's Agent recommending a good real estate attorney who will see to it that you receive a clear and marketable title and that the loan closes on time?

If you are not being represented in the transaction (in writing by law if you are in Georgia) and are a Customer, then your agent can be your arms and legs, but not your brain.  In other words, he/she can show properties to you but cannot give you their opinion of the property, help negotiate an offer, or in any way assist you with their knowledge and experience in the transaction.  BUYER BEWARE!