Thinking of selling your home on your own? Online listing sites may lure you into thinking that the process is simple. Take a few photos, buy a "For Sale" sign and wait for buyers, right? But the process is much more complicated than that. If you're considering selling your home on your own, here are a few sure signs you should call a professional real estate agent.

1. You're not sure what your home is worth

Calculating the right price for your home is an art and a science. Price your home too high, and it can grow stale, sitting on the market. Price it too low, and you could leave money on the table. Agents have the most current information about how much comparable homes in your neighborhood sold for and how long they were on the market. Agents use their deep knowledge of local and national market factors and the nuances of your home to calculate the right price.

2. You're losing sleep because this sale will be the biggest financial transaction of your life

Rest easier with an agent – research finds you'll make more money. According to the National Association of Realtors, the typical FSBO (for sale by owner) home sold for $185,000 in 2015, compared to $240,000 for agent-assisted home sales.

3. You can't decide whether or not to renovate your 1980's-era chrome and mirrored dining room before listing

Your favorite HGTV host may say buyers love the 80s, but is that what home shoppers in your area are looking for? An agent knows which features and design styles are selling now in your area, the details of competing homes in your neighborhood and the relative value of different renovation projects.

4. You think "staging" refers only to Broadway musicals

An agent knows how to best show off your home's features. He or she can provide tips for basic de-cluttering and furniture rearranging. Your agent may also have a great referral for a staging pro.

To learn more about the services an agent can offer you, call me today!