You have probably heard a family member or friend say, I am going to get into real estate and make a pile of money! That is probably why there are so many agents. In some cities almost one percent of the population either has, or at one time had, a Real Estate license.

The truth is you can make excellent money selling real estate but few agents actually do. Most agents in are part time, and only a small percentage of real estate agents do the majority of the business.

If you want to sell right, you need a full-time professional who loves to sell real estate. For her or him, it isn't work it's a pleasure fueled by passion. So much so that they've become an expert in Buying and Selling real estate of all shapes and sizes.

They're up by seven every morning, out in the field, and going to preview other agent's listings. They know the real estate inventory in your area and the surrounding areas like the back of their hand. When it comes time to sell your home, your agent has mastered the selling process and can help you package and market your property so that you'll sell it for the highest price in the shortest amount of time.

Not only do they know the process inside out and upside down, they've assembled a champion real estate team of professional appraisers, inspectors, loan officers, title officers, escrow agents, buyer's agents, marketing & closing coordinators, and insurance agents that know the answers to all the questions that you must know to ensure a smooth home selling experience. Their team will help you ensure that your home sale doesn't go bad or fall through.

Preferably, your agent is at local board meetings, open houses, etc. finding the best possible prices for homes in your area. They'll often know of buyers looking for homes in your area before your home is even made available.

A great agent can be a great source of insider-only information that most people haven't a clue about.

Did you know that many real estate offices have in-house lists of potential buyers they market to each other, that aren't public knowledge?

You need that kind of professional on your team, after all, if you have a $35,000 tax question, you would seek an accountant's advice, right? If you have a $325,000 real estate question, you need a great real estate professional!

A great real estate agent must know your immediate and surrounding areas. This takes years of studying the markets and continually staying apprised of which homes are for sale and for how much.

While you are concerned with whether you should paint your home prior to selling, your agent is researching every possible comparable home sold (past & present), regional appreciation, time-on-market statistics, and potential buyers for your home.

Your real estate agent should put you ahead of the pack and help you get the highest price for your home or property.

There are charts to give you ideas on how to price your home with your agent. There are tips on how to prepare your home and forms to help gather the information you need for prospective buyers. Do your research and build a good relationship with your agent, and your home selling process will be a positive and very successful one.