"I know a great real estate agent you should hire.

He’s very enthusiastic and well-intentioned. He’s also completely honest and trustworthy, and he really wants to do a great job for you.

On the other hand, he has never sold a house before. He has never taken a real estate course, does not hold a real estate license, and knows nothing about real estate law. He has no background in sales or marketing and doesn’t know anyone in the real estate business.

He does not know how to find prospective buyers (although he’s confident that won’t be a problem), and he admits to being completely unfamiliar with the elements of negotiating a real estate contract — in fact, he’s never even drafted a real estate contract.

He does not have access to the Multiple Listing Service (he’s not even sure what that is or what it offers) and he knows nobody in the mortgage, title settlement, or related fields, nor does he know anything about those businesses.

But like I said, this guy is honest, motivated, and wants to do a great job for you. Oh, and best of all, he’s free. Would you hire him?

No, of course not. It’s obvious why such a person is willing to work for free: Nobody would ever think of paying him!

Yet, if you’re planning to sell your home on your own, without the benefits of a real estate agent, this is exactly who you are hiring: You’re hiring yourself!!!"

~Ric Edelman from his book "The Truth About Money"