Selling Your House: Understanding the Costs Involved

Posted by admin on April 19, 2025

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Selling Your House: Understanding the Costs Involved

Costs to Prep Your Property

Getting your home ready to sell is where you’ll first face costs. Though the exact preparations will vary based on your property and its overall condition, you can generally expect to perform some level of:

Cleaning: A top-to-bottom cleaning is critical, particularly before photographing and listing the home. Though you can DIY this, a professional deep cleaning can cost between $200 and $400.
Repairs: Address issues like holes in walls, broken doors, or chipped paint. Minor repairs often cost at least a few hundred dollars.
Staging: Professional staging can boost a home’s value by 1% to 10%, with an average cost of $1,100.
Exterior Updates: Landscaping by a pro ranges from $1,300 to $5,300, while exterior painting costs slightly less.
Energy Audits: Required in some areas, these cost $100 to $300. A pre-listing inspection ($300–$400) can also identify defects.

Real Estate Agent Commissions

Most agents charge a commission of 6% of the sale price, paid from your profits. For a $200,000 home, this equals $12,000.

Closing Costs

Sellers typically cover:

Property and transfer taxes
HOA fees
Attorney fees
Title insurance
Escrow fees

You may also owe capital gains taxes or mortgage prepayment penalties.

Negotiable Expenses

Buyers may request these, which you can negotiate:

Seller Concessions: Funds to reduce the buyer’s closing costs.
Post-Inspection Repairs: Fix issues found during inspection or offer repair credits.
Home Warranties: Typically $200–$500, often covered by the seller.