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Agreed, Redfox. But it's important to distinguish between a good and respected agent and some of those so-called 'literary agencies' popping up by the minute on the net. It's so darned easy for an enthusiastic/desperate new author to step right onto a landmine and to be separated from what cash he might have with advice to hire recommended services (of dubious value and inevitably linked to the 'agent' him/herself).
Go to someone like John Jarrold or another worthy agent and you're sure of a fair decision. If accepted as a client, you will get the very best of expert advice. He makes his living from reasonable agency fees when he places work, not directly from the author him/herself. Too many new agencies (with zero standing in the industry and little if any chance of placing an author [even if they bother to try]) have only one type of book in mind ... the author's check book. Many even charge for reading submissions and land the supposed client with bills for alleged print-outs and postage to publishers and editors they claim to be in bed with.
Rule of thumb: Any publisher or agency actively soliciting manuscripts, any immediate wild enthusiasm shown, any hint of a fee of any kind or offer of 'extra editorial and technical services' is a massive red flag. Check out publications, trace the authors and swap emails with them. Better still, look eslewhere.
Cheers. Neil
PS: I've sometimes advised authors (not my own because they don't need to play games) to deliberately leave a ridiculous, glaring typo on page four or five of their submission to an untried-and-untested publisher/agent. If it ain't immediately pointed out (formally or informally), your work has not been read and the responder is after your buck and not your book. N
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