On average, most consumers only move once about every 7 years or so and for the typical consumer, a good real estate agent can be worth her weight in gold as far as the negotiation skills and technical experience brought to the table. However, if you are a professional real estate investor selling properties every month, you need lower cost options that will not eat into your profit margins. Many companies offer a flat-fee listing service that will substantially reduce the cost of marketing a property on the MLS which can add up to tens of thousands of dollars saved if you're flipping houses. As a business owner, your number one priority is to keep your eye on the bottom line. As Ben Franklin said, "A penny saved is a penny earned." In this case we are talking about a whole lot of pennies! If you can show up on time, dress professionally, and communicate well, you should list your property with a flat-fee listing service and pocket the commissions you'll save. With all that extra change in your pocket, you can invite me to lunch. Win-win!

http://www.thestreet.com/story/13319909/1/will-real-estate-agents-become-obsolete.html