Part 1 - Why an agent?
Part 2 - Pricing
Part 3- Mandate to Sell 
Part 4 - What to expect from me (and you)

Factors That Influence Overpricing

1. Extensive renovations / hidden costs
2. Desire to purchase in a higher-priced area
3. Original cost of home was too high
4. Lack of real market information
5. Building in "bargaining room"
6. Perceived emotional value

The Result of Overpricing

If the listing price is too high, you'll miss out on many buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. Chances are the offers won't even come in, because the buyers who would be most interested in your home have been scared off by the price and aren't even taking the time to look. By the time the price is corrected, you've already lost exposure to a large group of potential buyers.

The listing price becomes even trickier to set when prices are quickly rising or falling. It is critical to be aware of how fast and where the market is moving - both when setting the price and when negotiating an offer. Again, a well-trained agent is always in touch with market trends - often even to a greater extent than appraisers, who typically focus on what a property is worth if sold as-is, right now.

Knowing How to Price

When working with a real estate agent, it is critical that you have full confidence in that agent's ability and education. A skilled, knowledgeable agent should be able to explain to you exactly why your home needs to be priced at a certain level - compared to recent listings and sales of homes similar to yours.

Good agents also know exactly what the current pool of buyers are looking for in relation to particular styles and price ranges of properties. A skilled agent can recommend changes that will enhance the salability of your home, thus increasing the price - and/or decreasing the length of time before a sale.