What Is the Difference Between a Realtor and a Real Estate Consultant?
If you are looking to buy a home in the greater Houston area and are looking to hire a real estate agent or real estate consultant to help you with your search, you may be wondering what the difference is. Is a real estate agent or consultant better for your needs? A real estate agent is a commission-based position, who will show houses without an upfront fee. A real estate agent will only make money at the end of a sale and takes a percentage of the home sale for her paycheck. Real estate agents are more common than real estate consultants. A real estate agent who is part of the Houston Association of Realtors will need to follow a strict set of guidelines and a Code of Ethics to sell their Real Estate Agent status. However, a real estate consultant is affiliated with a real estate association and does not have a code of ethics to follow. A consultant is paid for their time, by the hour, rather than as a commissioned position, and will charge a standard hourly rate to buyers for home ...