What Do Real Estate Agents Do?

A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, and market properties, guiding them through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. Since each state sets its own licensing requirements, including pre-licensing education and a real estate exam, VanEd’s state-approved online courses are built to help you meet those standards. In the sections that follow, we’ll take a closer look at what real estate agents actually do for their clients.

Real Estate Agent Job Description

A real estate agent’s job is to represent buyers and sellers during real estate transactions, helping clients navigate everything from marketing and showings to offers, negotiations, inspections, and closing. While the role is often associated with touring homes, the everyday responsibilities go far deeper, requiring strong communication skills, market expertise, and careful transaction management.

Core Real Estate Agent Duties

On a day-to-day basis, real estate agent duties involve a mix of client-facing activities and behind-the-scenes work that keeps each transaction moving forward. While no two days are exactly the same, most agents can expect to spend time on the following core responsibilities:

• Listing properties for sale
• Showing homes to potential buyers
• Marketing and promoting listings
• Negotiating offers and counteroffers
• Guiding clients through inspections, appraisals, and closing
• Managing contracts, disclosures, and paperwork

Duties vary depending on whether the agent represents the buyer, seller, or both in a dual-agency situation.

Want to learn how to become an agent? Read our related blog: How to Become a REALTOR® 

What Does a Real Estate Agent Do for a Buyer and Seller?

Real estate agents provide specialized support depending on which side of the transaction they represent. Whether they’re helping a buyer find the perfect home or a seller maximize their sales price, the agent’s role is to provide guidance, expertise, and advocacy at each step.

Working With Buyers

Buyer’s agents help clients find the right property, evaluate neighborhood data, write competitive offers, and navigate every step until closing. The process is typically structured and sequential so buyers always know what comes next.

Step-by-Step: What a Real Estate Agent Does for a Buyer

While every buyer’s journey is unique, most transactions follow a similar path. Here’s a simplified look at the typical steps a real estate agent takes when representing a buyer:

1. Consultation: Understand the buyer’s goals, budget, and must-have features.
2. Property Search: Find homes that match their criteria using MLS and market tools.
3. Scheduling & Showing Homes: Arrange property tours and provide expert insights.
4. Offer Preparation: Write offers, explain contingencies, and run comps.
5. Negotiation: Negotiate price, repairs, and contract terms.
6. Inspection & Appraisal Coordination: Help buyers interpret results and respond strategically.
7. Closing Guidance: Ensure all documents, disclosures, and deadlines are met.

Working With Sellers

Listing agents develop a strategy to price, market, and sell a property quickly while maximizing the seller’s return. Their work starts before the home ever hits the market and continues through negotiations and closing.

Seller-Side Activities

To attract qualified buyers and secure the best possible offer, listing agents typically focus on a combination of preparation, pricing, and promotion. Common seller-side activities include:

• Conduct a comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Recommend an optimal listing price
• Provide staging and home-prep recommendations
• Photograph and market the property
• Promote the listing across MLS and online platforms
• Host open houses and private showings
• Review offers and negotiate terms
• Coordinate inspection responses and closing paperwork

To support these efforts, agents may also build a comprehensive marketing plan.

Marketing strategies may include:

• Social media advertising
• Email marketing
• Digital listing promotions
• Virtual tours
• Professional photography

REALTOR® Job Description vs. Real Estate Agent Job Description

A REALTOR® is a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to follow its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®, but all REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals who commit to higher ethical standards.

Real Estate Agent vs. REALTOR®

Although the terms “real estate agent” and “REALTOR®” are often used interchangeably, they are not identical. The chart below highlights some of the key differences between agents, REALTORS®, and real estate brokers:

Real Estate Broker Overview

A real estate broker has completed additional coursework and licensing requirements that allow them to supervise agents, manage transactions more closely, and often operate their own firm. In practice, brokers frequently review contracts, oversee compliance, support agents with complex negotiations, and help shape the overall business strategy of the brokerage.

Brokers tend to need continuing education courses to keep their license current. Explore VanEd’s CE courses to advance your real estate career.

Real Estate Agent Duties and Responsibilities in Practice

Real estate agents juggle many responsibilities simultaneously, balancing client relationships with detailed transaction management. To understand what this looks like in real life, it helps to group their work into a few major categories.

Core Responsibility Overview

Below is a high-level snapshot of how real estate agent responsibilities typically break down:

Let’s take a closer look at what each of these areas involves.

Marketing and Lead Generation

To grow their business and keep a steady pipeline of clients, real estate agents invest significant time in marketing and lead generation. This blend of traditional and digital strategies helps them build their brand and attract new opportunities. Common activities include:

• Prospecting and cold calling
• Running digital ads and targeted campaigns
• Creating high-quality listing descriptions and photos
• Hosting open houses and community events
• Managing online profiles, reviews, and websites
• Promoting listings across social media platforms

Client Communication and Negotiation

Strong communication is at the heart of every successful real estate transaction. Agents act as the central point of contact, helping different parties stay aligned while advocating for their client’s best interests. Their responsibilities in this area often involve:

• Explaining the buying and selling process in simple terms
• Providing feedback and follow-ups after showings
• Relaying updates between buyers, sellers, and other professionals
• Negotiating offers, counteroffers, repairs, and concessions
• Managing expectations around pricing, timelines, and outcomes

Paperwork and Compliance

Real estate transactions involve many legal documents and important deadlines, and it’s the agent’s job to help ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Agents must stay organized and detail-oriented as they handle documents such as:

• Purchase and sale agreements
• Listing contracts
• Mandatory state and federal disclosures
• Addendums, amendments, and contingency timelines
• Closing documents and compliance-related paperwork

This attention to detail helps keep the transaction on schedule and reduces the risk of legal or financial issues.

Coordination with Other Professionals

Real estate agents rarely work alone. Instead, they serve as coordinators, connecting clients with trusted professionals and making sure everyone stays on track. During a typical transaction, agents may work closely with:

• Appraisers
• Home inspectors
• Mortgage lenders and loan officers
• Contractors, stagers, and photographers
• Title and escrow officers

By keeping everyone informed and aligned, agents help ensure the deal moves smoothly from accepted offer to closing day.

Summary: What Real Estate Agents Really Do

Real estate agents serve as trusted advisors, skilled negotiators, market experts, and transaction managers. They help buyers and sellers navigate complex processes, protect their interests during negotiations, and make confident decisions during one of life’s biggest financial milestones. Beyond simply “showing houses,” agents provide the strategy, structure, and support that make a successful transaction possible.

If you’re ready to start your real estate career, VanEd’s state-approved online pre-licensing and exam prep courses can help you begin with confidence and flexibility. Head to our website to get started today!