Value of using an real estate agent in the deal?

[Silver A.]

Hi BP family,

Please help me understand, why using an agent in the deal makes sense?

I have been flipping apartments for the past few years. Now I got a job as a real estate agent in a small local real estate company and I will be starting in 2012.

The main reason I have decided to become an agent again, is to have a cheaper access to the advertisement of my own flips, to get more leads, and find more properties to flip while I serve as an agent helping to advertise and sell properties, that have rejected "the offer from our partner to buy for flipping", but need to sell at market value. A commission from a deal every now and then is welcome :)

So it's all money.

I personally have sold my flips as FSBO-s, and I have avoided using an agent, because the % seems to be unjustified. Unless the agent has come to me with a client, who ended up buying the property from me.

Please help me see the other side of the coin, how does the customer win from using an agent?
What makes the service worth the price (5-6% from the selling price) to you?