What can a real estate agent do

to sell my house that I can´t do for myself?

Actually, facts and experience show the difficulties of trying to sell your own house usually far outweigh the benefits.  Here´s what your agent does that a homeseller can´t do or finds hard to do.

*  Places your property in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which exposes your house to all buyers working with cooperating member Brokers.  This effectively puts every agent in town to work helping to get your house sold.

* Provides solid, up-to-date market information with recent sales and current listings which helps you price your house realistically. Such pricing is crucial to the possibility of a quick sale at the best price obtainable.

* Shows your house whether you´re in or not, saving you hours of "minding the store."

* Provides pre-qualified buyers who know what they want and how much they can afford. Screening prospects saves you from the hassle of keeping appointments with "sightseers" and protects you from the threat of "unwelcome visitors."

* Shows your house to its best advantage.  Buyers often shy away from asking homeowners questions.  Homeowners are sometimes defensive about defects in their houses.  An agent can answer necessary questions objectively and guide the buyer to a purchase.

* Helps you negotiate a satisfactory sale.  Without an experienced mediator to act as a buffer between the parties, many situations bog down.

* Leads both you and the buyer through the puzzle of rates, points, fees and financing options, helping with loan placement and follow-up, including the provision of names and telephone numbers of specific loan officers.  Without expert knowledge of alternative financial resources, many sales are lost, especially in tight money markets where knowledge of  buy downs, variable-rate mortgages, graduated-payment mortgages and various types of seller participation come into the picture.

* Protects your interests from contract to closing with an understanding of real estate  procedures.  An agent has the ability to smooth the way toward agreements and the experience to attend to all the details that must come together before settlement can take place.