Ask HN: Tips for writing a stellar resume

I have started a job search after being in the same company for 6 years and am finding it extremely difficult to come up with a resume that looks good, is concise, and conveys everything I would like to. I've basically forgotten the skills of making a good resume after being in one place for so long. I have a few questions that I hope the community can help me out with:

1. How important is the resume for a developer? Could I get away without having a resume?

2. Does it make sense to hire someone to do this resume writing for me? I would prefer someone who would talk back and forth with me and eventually come up with a resume that would highlight my best qualities. Do such services exit?

3. Are there any tips on making the resume look "good"? I have come across resumes that use the perfect layout coupled with the perfect font and color selection, and I can't figure out how to do that for myself without spending a lot of time researching fonts and colors and their combinations.

For reference, I am in a senior developer position looking for a similar role going forward.

Thanks.