You are off to a good start if you plan to hire a professional to sell your home. Yes, many people do "For Sale by Owner," but they are missing out on the expertise and knowledge that a professional brings to the table. When you hire one, don't expect to get the house on the market right away. Here are some steps your real estate agent will take before he sets up the listing:

1. The initial visit involves a preliminary walk-through of the house. He will make notes of the condition of the house as well as the flow of the floor plan. A real estate agent is an expert at what can close or break a sale when it comes to location and floor plan.

Some things you can't do anything about, like living next to a freeway, but you can diminish the affects of some negative aspects. For example, if you have a very small guestroom, he will suggest to ways to make it look bigger like leaving only essential furniture in the room, adding mirrors and making sure it is well lit.

The first thing he is going to tell you is to de-clutter. This means packing up all of your personal effects like pictures, knick knacks and excess furniture. If your floor plan doesn't make sense, he will suggest ways to arrange furniture to make it look more sensible. Be prepared for him to suggest some bigger changes as well. For example, replacing and updating worn carpeting cane make a significant difference in the look of the interior.

2. With the next visit, your real estate agent should bring a market analysis for you to look at and see how houses similar to yours are doing on the market. This is one of the main tools for arriving at an asking price which you will also decide on at this meeting. He will make his recommendations based on the market analysis and the pros and cons of your home.

3. When the house goes on the market, he should come by again to make sure that his recommendations and any changes you have made work. He will also offer last minute staging tips to help sway a buyer in your favor. There are little tricks of the trade that can help entice buyers. After it is listed, don't expect to hear from him every day. Likely, he will call when there is a prospective buyer or simply to do a weekly check in with you.

If at the first visit, he does not make a good impression, you should continue your search. You are not obligated to list with that person. Once you have found the right real estate agent, you are on your way to your first showing and he can wait for the offers to come rolling in.