You don't have to have an agent as a buyer. Real estate listings are easy to come by, and you could just even drive around a neighborhood and stop in to any home with a "for sale" sign yourself.

But if you've hired an agent, why wouldn't you pay for their time?

While you're window shopping, they drive you around (or at least drive to the homes with you in their own car, paying for the car, maintenance, gas and insurance), they give you their advice on the homes and neighborhoods you see, answer questions about the home, about how the sale will go or any other questions you have about real estate, giving you the benefit of their years of experience in the industry.

They take time out of their life to give you rather than being with their families, or with clients who are actually serious about buying.

I honestly don't understand how someone could take all that from others without trying to compensate them for all they've given you.