Comment by robocat

To be more explicit: as a buyer, especially in a tight market, the seller’s agent will often do things or reveal information to the buyers benefit (against the interests of the seller they are supposed to represent).

There are “rules” to how the game is played, and how the information is revealed, and a lot of it seems hidden (in fact I have seen agents that don’t understand the perverse incentives!). A seller’s agent will usually need to make sure they have deniability, and they will prefer options where the vendor remains happy (so the vendor will use them again, and recommend the agent to other sellers).

I have only a very little experience, and none in the USA, but that was what I noticed in my own country.

It surprises me how little effort people put into understanding the game, given that playing it well can easily make the same difference as many years of income.