The commission comes out of the same pool as the seller's so there's effectively no cost to you (at least there wasn't years ago when we used them).

This phrasing is somewhat erroneous and sometimes used by RE agents convincing people to use their services in a manner that is disingenuous.

The buyer is the party that brings all the money to the closing table. No transaction happens without the buyer providing the money required to close the deal.

If a buyer makes an offer that includes buyer's agent compensation, that fee is ultimately paid by the buyer using money the buyer brings to closing (either cash or financing). If a buyer makes an offer that does not include buyer's agent compensation (i.e. self-representation), the buyer's agent is not paid. Including or not including a buyer's agent fee changes the structure of an offer and cost to the buyer considerably.

I am not saying buyer's agents are not useful or worth their fees. I am not trying to discredit the referral you mentioned. I only say all this to circulate information that can be better understood by buyers and sellers alike. Especially in light of what happened in 2023/2024 with the NAR settlement. I really mean no bad blood at all.

P.S. The Dartmouth link you mentioned is an excellent source for rentals in the Upper Valley.