What do estate agents actually do?

[Lancastri]

Is it all a big scam? Just watching Selling Sunset and they’re getting huge chunks of money for ‘showing’ a house?! There must be more to
it. What do they do? In the UK or the States - maybe it’s different? I’ve bought and sold a few houses and haven’t been particularly impressed by the service provided.

So my understanding is that In the US real estate agents aren’t contracted exclusively as in the UK so the commissions are higher because your chances of getting a sale are lower. Also I think they literally just work for commission. Also Selling Sunset is a docusoap for not necessarily reflective of reality 🤣🤣.

😂 selling sunset is so dramatic - if you look at their sales (the main girls) they also don't sell huge amounts.

I think they mainly work for commission and probably have very tricky customers at that price point. Also arranging escrows etc for the cash, staging the homes, marketing them, finding someone with a spare ten million dollars etc!

I know Selling Sunset isn’t real life 😂 but in the UK, do they do enough to earn their money?! What do they actually do? Hoping an estate agent will come on and put me right!

Really? Selling Sunset is not reality.
In the US estate agents have to pass an exam and be licensed. They get a much higher commission, and properties are not exclusive to one agency - there's a listing agent and a buying agent (agents can have both roles), and if you find a buying agent they can take you to any property on the market, and they split the commission with the listing agent. They do quite a bit of hand holding on whichever side they are working.
They tend to do a lot more to get the house ready for sale. They will tell a seller that they need to declutter, clean the carpets etc. Offers are in writing. They will attend the inspection and negotiate after that if needed. They will deal with any contingencies. They attend closings, which tend to be more formal affairs where the money is confirmed, the property is registered and the keys are handed over (though it can vary, but that's always been my experience). Basically agents follow the process more closely than they may do here.

Yes really @mondaytosunday What do UK estate agents do to earn their money? You sound like you know. Clearly some people sell/buy houses without one so what do you ‘need’ one for?