A heavy caution towards who you hire to sell your home or represent you through the purchase of a home has never been more important. There are many options as to who you can choose to represent you on either side of a transaction. You need to take time with this decision as it can be one that helps you earn, or potentially lose, a lot of money. Agents that are experts in their field are trustworthy, willing to go the extra mile, and can be real driving force behind a smooth and profitable transaction. Real Estate is a business with very little resistance to entry. Because of this, just about anyone can get their license and be a “real estate professional”. This idea alone should force you to be incredibly cautious in whom you choose. There are also many discount brokerages out there that offer money back at closing to a buyer. From my experience, many of these agents are not well versed in the locations they cover. This lack of local knowledge can cost you far more money than you will save by using such an agency. There is a reason why Mercedes does not discount their cars. If you have a good product, and believe in what you are selling, then you should be comfortable moving forward at your market value. With so many options in to choose from… be careful and make sure you do your homework!