First of all, a Realtor is a hardworking person trying to earn a living just like anyone else. Their paycheck is called a "commission" and its the same thing you get every friday, only Realtors may have to go weeks without one. Realtors never really know exactly when a paycheck will be coming to them.
When you start working with a Realtor you will be signing either a listing agreement so they can market & sell your home, or a buyer's agency agreement so they can represent you in the buying process. Realtors are held to high ethical standards, rules & regulations in order to keep their license.
When you have a buyer's agent, understand right up front your responsibility to the Realtor if you decide to run off & buy a FSBO (for sale by owner). Time is money, and using a Realtor's time for showings & contracts etc. and then going behind their back to buy a FSBO is taking away their time to earn their living. If you enter a FSBO into the process and your Realtor cannot get the FSBO to pay the commission, then it is your responsibility to pay your agent. Many times the Seller will agree to pay at least a portion of the commission and the buyer can pay the remaining amount. Sometimes the Seller will pay the entire commission but your agent needs to contact them rather than the buyer making the contact.
On the same token, when listing your home you are to refer all inquiries to your agent. Some people have been known to have a side agreement with their neighbor during the listing period. Turning down offers the Realtor brings to them and then the minute the listing expires they sell it directly to the neighbor. The whole point is -pay the Realtor that is putting in many hours and working for you - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I think it's something we all learned in Kindergarten called the golden rule. It all boils down to respect for others and their time.
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