One of the most difficult tasks of any real estate agent is educating the seller on the value of their home in today's market...and having them accept a fair listing price. As a seller you'll need to rely heavily on your agent in achieving a realistic selling price. You should be aware that the original purchase price and investments made in the home may have no bearing on its market value. Prices can vary widely from home to home and neighborhood to neighborhood. In the end your home is only worth what someone is willing to pay and what you're willing to accept.

A second major step for the seller is to stage the property to appeal to the broadest possible audience. Your real estate agent can offer you some valuable tips which should be followed. Home selling is a partnership between the agent and the seller. Both must work in harmony to achieve success.

Once the homeowner has done his/her part it's up to the agent to advertise and show your home to prospective buyers. Your agent's long experience in the real estate industry will match buyers to your home based on a number of criteria.

My agent spent an hour with me asking questions and determining what my home buying desires were before setting out to look a properties. In the end we both agreed that at my stage in life a condo would be best suited to my needs. We then talked about what type of condo would be ideal. In my case, a high rise apartment, no higher than the fifth floor with a east facing.....and in a relatively new building. We spoke of taxes, condo common fees, security, the building's reserve fund and all other matters touching the type of residence I would purchase. After our meeting he knew exactly what I was looking for. He showed me to a beautiful building on the water with a garden park just accross the street. The condo apartment was everything I was looking for and more....best of all it was something I could afford. An offer was made that afternoon and a deal was reached the next day. Such is the value of a good real estate agent.

That was 5 years ago. I'm still pleased today with the service and the condo apartment. One more point.... The value of my property has increased, despite the real estate downturn.