Knowledge is Power: How Much Does it Cost to Sell a Home?

As life goes, the things that were once a perfect fit, aren’t so perfect after a while.  This goes for homes as well, and now, you’ve made the decision that it’s time to move on.  So, you’ve been talking with your real estate agent and you’re thinking about your sale price. Remember that the amount you owe on your home subtracted from the price you sell your home for does not equal the amount you pocket.

Here are some of the areas to consider when placing your home on the market and the costs associated with them.

Initial walk through. Your realtor will conduct a walk-through with you when you first       decide to put your house on the market. This is the time to review the things that may need freshening up such as painting, flooring and landscaping. A fresh coat of paint can brighten a room and make it more inviting to the potential new owners; new carpet or laminate can easily update an outdated room and improving your landscaping adds curb appeal. Not to mention, all these little details will increase the value of your home and allow you to ask for a higher selling price. According to realtor.com improving your landscaping can raise your home’s value by up to 12% which can be significant.

Net Sheet. The net sheet will be done by your realtor and will list costs associated with service fees for both the buyer’s and the seller’s agents. There are settlement charges that will take care of the title company fee, the cost to wire monies, deed preparation, recording and lien release fees. You will also incur a fee for transfer of taxes and possibly some nominal brokerage fees.

Staging. You’ll want to make your home stand out among the rest and staging can help. There may be some cost involved with staging your home, such as a cleaning service, power washing or the cost to repair minor cosmetic issues, but it can certainly add more appeal to buyers. Staging often makes spaces look larger and listing photos pop!

Sometimes preparing your home to sell can take several years. Always remember that here at the HodosGroup we are here to guide you every step of the way regardless if you want to sell in 6 months or two years.  If you are looking to place your home on the market and would like to get started, please call us at 301.644.1056 and let’s discuss your needs.


Posted in Sellers