Thinking about selling your home on your own to save on brokerage fees? Here’s the hard truth: it usually ends up costing you. Last year, homes sold with an agent went for nearly 15% more than those sold without one. That’s not a small gap—it’s a big difference in your net profit. And right now, with more homes on the market, trying to go it alone is even riskier.

If you’ve been hesitating to purchase a home because you’re worried about a bidding war, it’s time to relax a little. Multiple-offers and escalating prices haven’t disappeared completely, but they’re much less common than they used to be.

Over the last 45 years, I’ve seen markets rise, fall, and everything in between—but one thing has always remained true: pricing your home right from day one makes all the difference. And in today’s market, that truth couldn’t be more important.