I know he's exceptional because during the process he had several opportunities to work against my interests -- and he didn't. At one point he even recommended that I should not make an offer on a home that was being listed by another agent in his own company.
I can see where a buyer’s agent is sometimes needed like with 1st time buyers that need a lot of assistance in getting the home loan.
I tell sellers to try to sell it yourself 1st, one story I heard was where the realtor was planting the for sale sign and the next door neighbor came over and bought the house.
Most of the earn their fee, imo.
They have a fiduciary responsibility to you. That’s why.
An example of a Seller's agent being a jerk - I found a nice home and made an offer. The Seller countered. That was fine.
I wanted a couple things looked at in more detail in the home inspection.
The Seller's agent went off on my Buyer agent and refused.
I later found out that the house eventually was sold with the Seller Agent also representing the Buyer. And the house sold for LESS than what I offered (and by more than the 3% that my Buyer agent would have been entitled to).
The Seller agent cost the Seller money in that deal, as myself and the eventual buyer were both using a mortgage to buy.
I made sure that people in the area knew that the Seller agent cost the Seller money in the deal.