When there are more homes available for sale than the marketplace demands, selling a home requires an extra level of attention and professionalism. Every effort must be made to make your listing the most appealing, from the staging to the price. That is why hiring a selling agent is a critical move when selling during a buyer's market.
The duties a selling agent will perform depend on the contract signed, but in general real estate professionals will execute in four key areas.

* Analysis: A selling agent will analyze the comparable home sales in your area and recommend a listing price. This is perhaps the most important step in the home sale process. Price too high and you will turn off prospective buyers. Price too low and you won't make the most on your investment. The insights of a trained and experienced Realtor can drastically reduce the guess work.

* Staging: Preparing a home for sale takes work. A good selling agent has a knack for knowing how to make a home look its best. To-do items might include painting, clearing clutter, updating floors or fixtures, rearranging furniture and even small scale home improvement projects. Done right, staging can increase appeal and even price.

* Marketing: Marketing a home for sale takes a lot of time, organization and attention to detail. In addition to posting in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), there are Internet opportunities, print advertisements, and direct mail options. Other marketing efforts include open houses for both Realtors and the public.

* Negotiating: The act of negotiating a price that both parties are comfortable with is no easy task. A selling agent can offer invaluable advice on counter-offers, contingencies, timelines and more. Also helpful is expertise on what makes one offer or buyer more appealing than another.