In years past, the metro Atlanta real estate market has, on occasion, been so sizzling hot that simply placing a "for sale" sign in the front yard might generate multiple purchase offers in a single weekend. Some areas were so sought-after that potential buyers would bid against each other for the right to own your home.

But today is not one of those times.

Buyers seem to be in a hibernation mode, under the mistaken impression that home values are actually falling, waiting nevertheless for an unexpected sign from the oracle.

In this market, if you need to sell your house, you need a real estate agent. In addition to the experience they bring to the table, the selling process involves a lot of work. Here are some of the things an agent can do for you better than you can do for yourself:

• Provide you with current information on what's sold recently in your neighborhood, as well as what the competition is offering. Agents can even find out about homes "under contract" and other homes that may be coming on the market in the near future. This market intelligence is vital today because your home's value is a function of what it takes to buy similar properties.

• Assisting you in the accurate completion of your Seller Property Disclosure Statement. While this form is not mandatory, you are required to disclose any conditions or circumstances surrounding your property that might negatively affect its value and that are not readily discoverable in a thorough inspection.

• Giving you advice and suggestions on what improvements to do (and what not to do) to make the house more attractive to buyers in your target price range. Owners waste millions of dollars yearly having the wrong home improvements made in hopes of commanding a higher selling price.

• Advertising your home in the proper media channels so that the maximum number of potential buyers is exposed to information in a timely manner. Your agent's real strength should be in marketing, and that is the art of gaining an advantage over the competition through the use of information.

• Placing your home in the Multiple Listing Service is a critical element in your marketing plan, because it enables all the agents in metro Atlanta to see that your home is available and that you will cooperate and pay them an appropriate fee for delivering their buyer to your doorstep. Remember that the hottest part of the buying market is corporate transfers into town. They have a real need to buy quickly, and most have cash from the sale of their previous home to the company relocation firm. And they don't sit in their hotel rooms calling "for sale by owner" ads. Instead, they work with successful agents.

• Getting your home viewed by as many agents as possible in "caravans" where agents go out in groups and simply see what's on the market. It's funny how many times a house will be sold by an agent who saw it last week on caravan. But if an agent previews a house, it becomes part of their mental inventory, and tends to sell more quickly. In addition, your agent will "talk up" your home to other agents as a good deal. This type of promotion would not be well-received if it came from you.

• Dealing with prospective purchasers who often have questions that they are reluctant to ask the homeowner. And screening out prospects who have no real chance of affording your home but are just window shopping. In addition, your agent will show your house to prospects when you are not available to do so and can hold open houses that allow nosy neighbors to view your home. These neighbors may have friends or relatives that want to live nearby, so it's smart to let them look all they want.

• Analyzing offers and handling negotiations between the parties are other parts of the agent's job. Because the agent has no emotional stake in the property, she can focus on bringing the parties to a "meeting of the minds" rather than having buyer or seller feel resentful. The goal here is to get the house sold, and agents can prevent the parties from killing their own deals.

• Seeing the deal through to closing is a major job. Your agent doesn't get paid until the papers are signed, sealed and delivered.