My current home is new construction from a decent builder. The realtor helping me sell my old house offered to represent me in the purchase of my new place. I thought he was just trying to make the fee, but he definitely earned it. He found items the builder and I both missed at every walk through. He made sure every option and upgrade I picked were actually installed in the house. I could have done all of this myself, but he saved me quite a bit of time and the builder seemed just a bit more responsive when my realtor was involved.