Real estate is something everyone has a relationship with. Unless you’re living off the grid in a yurt somewhere, you grew up in a home your parents or caretakers either rented or owned. From day one, the idea of real estate has been stitched into your life.

For decades, though, there was no such thing as a “buyer’s agent.” If you wanted to buy a home, you had to work with the listing agent—the person representing the seller. Only after enough lawsuits and unhappy buyers did laws change in the 1970s, and by the 1980s and ’90s buyer representation became widespread.

Fast forward to today, and the role of a buyer’s agent is often misunderstood. With lawsuits in the news, discount brokerages, and “DIY” real estate apps, the job sometimes gets reduced to little more than unlocking doors. If that were true, everyone could do it. Spoiler alert: they can’t.

Here’s what a good buyer’s agent actually does: They get you into homes you can’t find online—like off-market deals or opportunities that only surface through relationships. They filter out the junk so you don’t waste weekends on overpriced properties that don’t fit your life. And once you find “the one”? That’s when the finesse kicks in. Writing an offer that wins (without overpaying) is a skill set driven by human touch, not checkboxes on a portal.

Then there’s the orchestration: at least eight parties are involved in every transaction, and your agent is the one coordinating them so you don’t miss deadlines or trip over regulations you didn’t even know existed.

And finally—the emotional side. Buying a home isn’t just financial, it’s personal. No online portal will talk you through draining your life savings or calm your nerves when doubt creeps in.

At the end of the day, a buyer’s agent isn’t there to sell you a house—they’re there to get you the right house, on the best possible terms, while keeping you sane.

So the next time you hear someone say buyer’s agents just “open doors,” smile politely. Then tell them the truth: the good ones open doors—and keep them from slamming shut in your face.