http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/realestate/20cov.html?_r=1

What do agents do that you can't do?  Essentially nothing.  We're not talking brain surgery here.  And the bigger problem is that MOST agents do less than you could do worse than you could do it.  It's pathetic actually.

So why hire an agent?  Or should i say why hire a GREAT* agent?

That being said - the best agents have systematic procucedures and a well crafted marketing plans that create more exposure for your home and make the process a whole lot smoother, quicker, and much more efficient and easy for you to accomplish your goals.

I'm the type of guy who appreciates expertise.  People who are pro's at what they do (whether a carpenter, a dentist, a chef, a mover, a 

Hiring a real estate agent is a luxury purchase.  A convenience in many ways.  Not a necessity.  But the difference on just spending money on a car or on a vacation or whatever, is that hiring a great agent can often return you more money by fetching more money for your home than you may be able to get on your own.

Selling a home on your own is a real committment - time, effort, inconvenience

Details matter - After dealing with hundreds of home negotiations and dealing with contract details, financing, inspections, etc on each....many many things can go wrong or cause deals to fall apart.  Knowing where you can push and where you can't really only comes from experience

*couple of hints:

1. make sure to interview agents - don't settle on the first or hire someone becasue they sent you a postcard or even because the "do a lot of business".  (would you go to a doctor that "does a lot of surgeries" without see how many of those became malpractice suits?)

2. don't use your friend, or your neighbors friend, or your cousin, solely becasue they are a relative.  In a time when anyone can get a license with a 24 hour crash course over a weekend, be careful.  In fact be afraid, be very afraid.

3. Seek expertise.  See what each agent has written or spoken or been interviewed on the market.

4. Ask about their systems and procedures for selling your home.  Ask about their marketing plan.  Much more important than 

5. Don't hire someone just becaseu they tell you you can get the highest price.  Beware of "smoke blowers".  Sometimes better marketing means higher price

6. The best agents ask for YOUR committment as well. - Staging, keeping the place immaculate.

7. Look for sales skills.  Someone wants to slap a lockbox on your property? Run away.  You want someone their showing your home who is confident and enthusiastic about your home to promote it to buyers.  This is a RARE skill.  Not used car salesman blowhard sales tactics, but expert 21st century consultative sales skills that create a comfortable buying atmosphere for buyers to truly appreciate your home.

8.  Don't EVER hire an agent with less than 3 years of experience or fewer than 30 listing sold under their belt.  Most of what you're buying isexpertise and that ONLY comes from EXPERIENCE.

9. Find someone who's involved in the industry, in continual training (although skip the designation BS), in the community.  Someone who cares, who's aware, who's in this becaseu they're passionate about the industry, about their service.