With so many get rich schemes on the Internet and advertised on television, it's easy to believe that we no longer need real estate agents to help us sell or buy property, but nothing could be further from the truth. Real estate agents (REAs) are trained and licensed to help their clients get the best deal possible. They also work with lenders on a continuous basis which means they sometimes know about programs you're not even aware of-programs that can essentially save you money in the long run. And they take the time to get to know their neighborhoods which means that they actually become experts at knowing what neighborhoods match your needs and wants, which homes fit both your budget and your dreams, and how to negotiate a much better price for your home!

So what does all that really mean to you? That means the real estate agent you hire has a vested interest in helping you receive the best deal possible.

If that's not enough to convince you that hiring a real estate agent is a smart move, consider this:

1. REAs are licensed.

Real estate agents are licensed by the state and if they are associated with the REALTORS® association, they are kept abreast all changes in the law-as they pertain to real estate.

2. REAs do all the grunt work so you don't have to!

If you're the buyer, they'll check out houses that look like a good fit for you, prior to asking you to view the house. That way, they can tell you if a house is worth your time or not. They'll also check into disclosures on the property and other valuable information you should know before you by. And they'll direct you to the resources you need to make informed decisions instead of throwing out statistics and information that may be misinterpreted or misquoted.

And if you're the seller, they'll do all the advertising, networking to find qualified buyers, open houses, and whatever else it may take to sell your home-within reason. And they'll deal with all those lookey-lous who have no intention of actually buying your place.

3. REAs are knowledgeable.

While real estate agents cannot tell you what to sell your house for, they can tell you what the market will bear, what the house down the street sold for, what deterrents can prevent your home from selling at a good price, what things can be done to your property to increase its value, and then based on market supply and demand help you sell your home for as close-if not right on target-to your asking price as possible.

4. REAs handle all the paperwork.

Real estate agents are trained to understand how purchase agreements work and what needs to be filled out where. This alone can save you thousands of dollars because if this is filled out incorrectly, it could prevent the sale of your home. And let us not forget those pesky disclosure agreements. Do you really know what all the legalese means?