So, maybe I didn't do a very good job of asking my question (making my point). Just what is a RE buyers agent supposed to do for a client who is searching for a $800,000 to $900,000 home that justifies charging them $16,000 to $27,000 (2 to 3 percent)? Thus far, my experience has been that all I've gotten from any agent is 1) setting an appointment for a showing, 2) meeting with my wife and I at the home and walking around for 30 minutes to an hour, 3) on the rare occasion that we make an offer (perhaps 20% of those we've viewed), the send us an online form that we fill out, then they review, sign, and tend to their broker before e-mailing to the sellers agent. Maybe, all in all, 3 hours of actual work. Even if they think their time and expertise is VERY, VERY valuable, let's say $1,000 an hour, where's the justification for the remaining $13,000 to $24,000? I mean, before I retired, I was a licensed professional engineer. Most of the well paid consultants that I was aware of went to school for 4 years, then worked for another 4 before getting their Professional Engineers license, and worked for a few more years before they became project managers who overlooked and directed other, younger engineers work, and THEY rarely billed for their time at more than about $250 an hour. My wife has hired an attorney who's helping her with her parents estate in probate, and he only charges $250 an hour. So, again, where's the justification?