Not engaging a buyer's agent via a contract is a mistake, but few people understand that. If you have no buyer's agent contract, then guess who you are dealing with? The seller's agent! Yes, that very friendly person that is driving you around to see homes, who listens to your negotiating strategy, your maximum price, and your other sensitive information, is bound by agency law and their state license board to share every detail with ... the seller and their agents. (Why? Because the seller is paying all the agents.) Oh, but you say, your nice agent would not do that! Well, let's say they don't do that. Then you have what is called "undisclosed dual agency", and that gives the seller and/or you a cause of action in court. All these agency options are explained in detail in that pamphlet they shove at you on first contact, but almost no one reads or understands.

>most will show you homes for free

I'm still looking for that real estate agent that does anything "for free".