It used to be that all real estate agents performed dual roles: helping homeowners sell their homes and working with buyers looking for new ones. In the last decade, however, a new breed of broker has emerged — one who specializes solely in representing the interest of homebuyers in real estate transactions.

If you don’t use a buyer’s agent, you could be selling yourself short. First, there is the potential for conflict of interest. Listing agents are working on behalf of the seller and are obliged to secure the highest price and best terms for the seller. Also, because an agent who works with buyers isn’t holding open houses, consulting with sellers or arranging for home inspections, homebuyers who choose a buyer’s agent get the benefit of their undivided attention.

“One hundred percent of my time is spent finding the perfect home,” says Shon Kokoszka, a buyer’s specialist for Keller Williams Realty in Denver. “As a direct result, I see more than 200 homes per month.” And that market knowledge can make the home-buying process quicker for the buyer. Kokoszka says he can eliminate homes that don’t fit his client’s preferences and “take them right to” those that do.

In most cases, choosing a buyer’s broker to represent you isn’t extra cash out of your pocket. Like most real estate agents, a buyer’s broker is typically paid out of the seller’s proceeds. Nonetheless, be sure to discuss your agent’s fees up front, and always know how much, and from which party, he or she is getting paid. For instance, if you end up choosing a for-sale-by-owner property, it is generally the buyer’s responsibility to foot the bill for the agent’s commission.

When it comes time to find a professional to represent you, home shoppers should evaluate a buyer’s agent in four areas, recommends Jon Boyd, president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.

Property valuation skills

You hired a real estate professional, so expect a specialized level of knowledge. “A well-trained buyer’s advocate will not only open the house, but will show you what’s good and bad and actively point out the negatives,” says Boyd.

Negotiation skills

Understand the agent’s philosophy and approach to negotiating a selling price.

Proof of savings

Ask your agent to provide documented savings from previous clients, suggests Boyd. “It’s a pretty important way for a buyer to rate a real estate agent who will work on their behalf.”

Buyer loyalty

“You really should get an idea of how loyal that company or individual will be to you during your transaction,” Boyd says. To gauge loyalty, ask your agent how many homes you will be shown that are listed within the buyer agent’s office.

In fact, some buyer’s brokers — called exclusive buyer’s agents — work for real estate companies that do not take listings of any kind, Boyd says. “In general terms, only a small percentage of home buyers ask ‘what real estate company would be best for my needs.’ They just look at homes,” says Boyd, who also works as a buyer’s agent in Ann Arbor, Mich. “In most states, a generic real estate agent is still representing the seller.”