I am biased because I am a Realtor and I would use a Realtor….You also can get a better rebate on the commission (assuming you can get the Realtor to give it to you), right now the Zip Realty commission is nothing when you compare it to what you really can get.
Also many people think they get a break when they go out and use the listing agents realtor to represent thier side. This is most generally not the case. Also the most compliants I receive from people is when they bought a home using the listing agent as thier broker. They thought they got a better deal when in reality the common theme I got was that they felt they were not represented as well as they had been in the past when they had a true buyers agent.
Of course many people do not know they can represent themselves. They can deal straight with the sellers agent AND they can not have an agent represent them. They CAN instruct the sellers agent to tell the sellers client that they are self represented so that the buyers agent commission does not have to be paid out.
I know alot of you guys trivialize the duties of a Realtor and that is okay, I understand that.
Anyways that is my two cents, yes I am biased, I will say that right up front, but my buyers are all very pleased with my service AND they enjoyed the rebate I gave them. In most all transactions you do on your own, or with an internet Realtor, things will go fine and you will be okay.