At some point in your life, you’re likely to find yourself either buying or selling a home. When that time comes, you might want to ask yourself some questions.

Can I figure like an accountant? Can I measure like a surveyor? Do I understand “legalese” like an attorney? Can I spot defects like an inspector? Can I inspire competitive bidding like an auctioneer? Do I understand zoning, building codes and taxes like a city or county employee? Do I understand human motivation like a psychologist?

Chances are you’ll be hard pressed to answer all those questions with a “Yes,” unless you’re a real estate professional. Why, you ask, would an agent be different? It has to do with daily “rubbing elbows.”

The daily routine of an active, highly committed real estate broker or agent is an exhausting one. During any 24-hour period, such a professional will likely have contact with loan officers, lawyers, tax collectors, land surveyors, insurance company representatives, mortgage lending officers, accountants, auctioneers, courthouse personnel, local businessmen, and — most importantly — buyers and sellers.

You’ll be needing their guidance as you move through the home selling or home buying process. They’ll help you find a wonderful loan officer when you’re a buyer and if you’re a seller they’ll confide in you their past experience (good or not so good) with the loan officer of your potential buyer. They’ll explain the tax pro-ration and the site survey. They’ll help explain the difference between habitability repairs which will need to be addressed and simple routine maintenance items. And if you’re fortunate as a seller to have multiple offers, they’ll explain the pros and cons of each offer and help you decide which offer will be the most likely get you to the closing table. If you’re the buyer in a multiple offer situation, they’ll help you construct an offer that will give you the best chance of being chosen as the winner by the seller.

Working at seven days a week, can you imagine how many individual contacts would be made in a year’s time? Such an active individual can mean the difference between winning or losing at real estate. After all, it’s who you know that counts, and now you know some of the benefits of choosing good representation for your next real estate transaction. Their guidance will make the entire process smoother and less stressful.