George Schiaffino: When buying or selling real estate, you may find it helpful to have a real estate agent assist you. Real estate agents can provide many useful services and work with you in different ways. In others, the seller and buyer may each have agents. And some - times the same agents work for both the buyer and the seller. It is important for you to know whether an agent is representing you as your agent or simply assisting you while acting as an agent of the other party.