The Role and Responsibilities of a General Estate Agent The Role of a General Agent in Real Estate Transactions What is the General Agent? A general representative is an individual, or a company, who has the authority and responsibility to act on behalf another person in a variety of business transactions. A general agent in the context of realty is someone who can represent a client for a wide range activities related to purchasing or selling property. General agents are typically given broad authority to make contracts and make decisions on behalf of clients. This can involve negotiating with buyers