If you’re looking to sell your Los Angeles home, one of the best tools you can add to your arsenal is partnering with a trusted local real estate agent. The real estate market in California is competitive, and selling a home is a complex process.

A trusted local agent with a top real estate brokerage in Los Angeles can help you demystify the process and get you the best value for your property when it hits the open market.

As of August, the average days on market in Los Angeles—that is, the time it takes for a home to sell once it has been listed—is 21 days. Homes typically sell for a median of $928,000, a 6.1% increase from the previous year.

This guide will provide you with a list of local trusted agents in your area from top brokerages or real estate companies in California, along with some alternatives to consider, particularly if you need to sell your home fast.

What is a real estate brokerage?

Real estate brokers are professionals with additional training and are licensed to run their own businesses, called brokerages. Agents without a broker’s license must work under a brokerage to legally buy or sell property and typically do so as independent contractors. Most brokerages make money by taking a portion of the agent’s commission from each successful transaction.

Since brokerages profit from agents’ success, it’s in a brokerage’s best interest to support its agents. For sellers, it’s important to consider the kinds of support that a brokerage provides its agents.

This support can often include training, access to large marketing networks, the latest technology, or a large support staff.

Why work with an agent?

There are several reasons why you should consider working with a real estate agent when selling your home rather than selling on your own.

One of the biggest reasons is that selling your home “for sale by owner” will typically net you less overall profit than selling through an agent—23.5% less on average, according to the National Association of Realtors. FSBO homes sold for a median price of $310,000 last year. In comparison, homes sold with the assistance of a real estate agent had a median sale price of $405,000. That’s a difference of $95,000.

Additionally, a real estate agent can help you get more money for your home sale but can also help you wade through a lengthy and complicated sales process.

An agent is your advocate for you and your property, and they can provide insight into their local market or assist you in finding a real estate attorney who can deal with any unexpected complications that might occur.