I just wanted to share what I've found to be a common misconception among prospective home buyers. Most buyers understandably start their home search online and once they identify a home of interest they reach out directly to the listing agent. I would imagine that the rationale is that no one knows the home better than the agent selling it, which in some cases may be true.
The problem with this, however, is that the listing agent is working for the seller and their fiduciary duty is to them. What you need is an agent looking out for YOUR best interests and who will advocate for you on your behalf. That's not to say it needs to be an adversarial dynamic, but you do need someone in your corner who will go to bat for you. And that's where I come in! Feel free to reach out to further discuss the benefits of having your own realtor representation.