What You Should Expect From Your Real Estate Agent and What Counts as an Add On

Hiring a real estate agent should make your life easier, not more confusing. Whether you are buying or selling, there are some core services you should expect as part of the job and some extras that are considered add ons. Add ons usually come with additional fees or separate costs depending on the service and the situation. Knowing the difference helps you ask better questions and avoid surprises.

What You Should Expect as a Buyer

At a minimum, your agent should:

• Help you narrow down neighborhoods and homes that actually fit your goals and budget

• Set up and coordinate showings

• Explain the market in plain language so you understand pricing and competition

• Advise you on offer strategy and negotiation

• Walk you through the contract step by step

• Coordinate with the lender, title company and the other agent through closing

• Flag potential red flags in a property or in the deal

• Keep you informed and respond in a reasonable time frame

You are not just paying for access to homes. You are paying for strategy, guidance and someone to protect your interests during a very expensive decision.

What You Should Expect as a Seller

At a minimum, your agent should:

• Price your home based on real data not just hope or headlines

• Explain the selling process and timelines clearly

• Give you honest feedback on condition and presentation

• List your home in the MLS and syndicate it properly

• Handle photos and marketing coordination

• Manage showings and buyer feedback

• Negotiate offers and terms in your best interest

• Guide you through inspections, appraisal and closing

• Communicate consistently and clearly

The job is not just putting a sign in the yard. It is pricing, positioning, negotiating and managing the deal from start to finish.

So What Counts as an Add On

This is where a lot of confusion comes in. Some services are not automatically included and can vary by agent, brokerage or price point. In most cases, add ons come with additional fees or costs that are either paid upfront or reimbursed at closing.

Common add ons can include:

• Full or partial staging

• Professional deep cleaning or landscaping

• Pre sale repairs or improvements

• Twilight photos or video marketing

• 3D tours or special floor plans

• Paid social media or premium advertising

• Pre inspection reports

Some agents include certain things. Some offer them as optional upgrades. Some will front the cost and get reimbursed at closing. None of this is wrong. It just needs to be clearly explained upfront.

Why This Conversation Matters

As a client, you should feel comfortable asking:

• What is included in your service

• What is optional

• What costs extra and who pays for it

• What actually moves the needle in this market

A good agent will not oversell you on shiny extras. They will explain what is truly necessary for your price point and your goals.