What Are the Duties of a Real Estate Agent? (And What You Should Expect)

By Rebecca Sabot, Real Estate Agent
© Rebecca Sabot. All rights reserved.

When people hear “real estate agent,” they often think: show houses, put up a sign, negotiate, done.
In reality, a great agent is part market analyst, part contract translator, part strategist, part counselor… and occasionally part therapist (no invoice for the tears—just kidding… mostly).

If you’re buying or selling in Bismarck, Mandan, Lincoln, and surrounding North Dakota communities, this guide breaks down what a real estate agent actually does—especially the duties that protect your money, your time, and your sanity.

The Big Picture: What a Real Estate Agent Is Hired to Do

A real estate agent’s job is to help you reach your goal (buy or sell) with less risk, fewer surprises, and stronger outcomes. That includes:

• Protecting your interests through fiduciary responsibilities

• Educating you on the process and paperwork

• Negotiating terms and solving problems

• Providing local market knowledge and pricing guidance

• Coordinating timelines, people, and tasks

• Advising you through decisions without pressuring you

And yes—doing it while keeping the deal moving forward when inspections, appraisals, lenders, and life all happen at the same time.

Fiduciary Duties: The “I’m Legally On Your Side” Part

When an agent represents you, they owe you fiduciary duties—meaning they must act in your best interest within the scope of the law and your agreement.

Common fiduciary responsibilities include:

Loyalty

Your agent must prioritize your interests, not what’s easiest, fastest, or most convenient.

Confidentiality

Your agent should protect sensitive information—like your motivation, bottom-line price, timelines, or personal situation—because that can be used against you in negotiation.

Disclosure

Your agent must disclose material facts they know that could affect your decisions (and what is required depends on state rules and the transaction).

Obedience

Your agent must follow your lawful instructions. (“Lawful” matters—your agent can’t help you do shady stuff. Sorry.)

Reasonable Care and Diligence

Deadlines, documents, communication, and details—this is where experienced agents quietly save deals.

Accounting

Handling money and transaction-related items properly and transparently.

In plain language: fiduciary duties are why you want an agent who treats your transaction like it’s their own.

Education and Guidance: Forms, Processes, and “What Does This Mean?”

Real estate isn’t just emotional—it’s paperwork-heavy and timeline-driven. One missed checkbox can become a big problem later.

A strong agent helps you understand:

• The purchase agreement and what you’re committing to

• Deadlines (inspection, financing, appraisal, title work, contingencies)

• Addendums and amendments

• Seller disclosures and how to interpret them

• Inspection reports and what’s normal vs. alarming

• The closing process and what to expect on signing day

This is especially important for first-time buyers/sellers or anyone who hasn’t moved in years—because the process changes.

Local Market Knowledge: Pricing Reality, Not Internet Fantasy

Online estimates are great for entertainment. Like reality TV. They’re based on algorithms—not what buyers are doing this week in Bismarck-Mandan.

A local real estate agent should bring:

• Neighborhood-level pricing insight

• Knowledge of what features matter locally (garage sizes, basements, specials, flood zones, snow management, schools, commute patterns)

• Current competition (active listings) and buyer demand

• What’s happening with new construction, inventory shifts, and seasonal trends

• What the numbers mean for your strategy (pricing, offers, concessions)

This is where a professional earns their keep: making sure you’re not overpaying, underpricing, or misreading the market.

Negotiation: Price Is Only One Piece

Negotiation isn’t just “get a lower price.” It’s building the best overall deal with the least risk.

Your agent negotiates:

• Purchase price

• Earnest money terms

• Inspection requests and repairs

• Seller credits

• Closing costs and concessions

• Possession date and occupancy terms

• Appraisal issues and value gaps

• Contingencies and timelines

Often the best negotiation is the kind that keeps everyone calm and moving forward—because a deal that “wins” but falls apart isn’t a win.

Strategy + Marketing: Getting Eyes, Offers, and Better Terms

For sellers, an agent should do more than “throw it on the MLS.”

That includes:

• Pricing strategy based on the local market and buyer behavior

• Presentation guidance (repairs vs. leave it vs. credit)

• Staging and photo prep coaching

• Marketing plan (professional photos, listing description, timing, exposure)

• Showing strategy and offer management

• Net proceeds guidance and decision support

For buyers, strategy might include:

• Offer structure that strengthens your position

• Competitive tactics that still protect you

• Guidance on neighborhoods and resale value

• Helping you avoid money-pit properties (or at least spotting red flags early)

Counseling: The Human Side of Real Estate

Buying and selling a home is personal. People second-guess. Emotions spike. Family opinions appear out of nowhere.

A good agent helps you:

• Make decisions with clarity, not panic

• Sort priorities (must-haves vs. nice-to-haves)

• Stay grounded during negotiation

• Navigate disappointment without making expensive mistakes

• Keep a long-term view (especially with buyers)

This is one of the most underrated duties: being the steady voice when everything feels like a lot.

Coordination: The “Project Manager” You Didn’t Know You Needed

Real estate is a group project with multiple moving parts:

• Lender

• Title company

• Inspectors

• Appraiser

• Attorneys (if involved)

• Contractors (sometimes)

• The other agent + the other party

• And you, living your normal life

Your agent helps coordinate:

• Scheduling

• Deadlines

• Document flow

• Communication between parties

• Problem-solving when surprises pop up

In other words: they reduce friction so you don’t have to quarterback the chaos.

My Take, Locally

I’m Rebecca Sabot, a full time realtor serving Bismarck, Mandan, Lincoln, and surrounding North Dakota communities. My job is to be your advocate, educator, strategist, and calm problem-solver—so you feel confident from planning through closing day.

If you want to know what you should realistically expect from a real estate agent (and how to spot the difference between “helpful” and “truly professional”), I’m happy to walk through it with you.