Listing your home on the MLS is often the best way to invite competitive bids on your home. You can also list it for sale by owner. Either way, if you have equity in your home, you probably see dollar signs at the prospect of selling your house.
Unfortunately, you may not always make as much money as you’d hoped. There are lots of fees and expenses associated with selling a home.
How much can you expect to spend when you sell a property? Let’s go over the typically cost of selling a house.
What Types of Expenses Come Up When You Sell a House in Sacramento?
Realtor Commission: This is the biggest chunk of change associated with selling a home. You’ll probably pay 5-6% of your sale to the Realtors on both sides (the buyer’s agent and your own seller’s agent). For a house sold at $250,000, you could pay up to $15,000 in commission. That sounds like a lot (and it is) but remember that your agent can often connect you with good leads and negotiate a high selling price for you. The agent also makes sure your paperwork is filed on time and reduces your stress while you’re navigating the complicated waters of a home sale. In other words, with a good agent, you’ll feel like you got your money’s worth.
Staging: Before you can nab that great offer, you might have to spend some cash making your home look more inviting. About 28% of agents say they like to stage a home, spending an average of $400. Staging can include getting rid of clutter, moving around your furniture, bringing in different furniture, and adding new accessories.
Professional Photos: The majority of buyers expect to see high quality photos of your home on the listing. You can take some pics with your iPhone, but those may not cut it. A professional camera can maximize the lighting and make the colors look even brighter and cheerier than they do in person. Paying a photographer to come capture your home can cost about $200.
Landscaping: Curb appeal matters. If someone pulls up to your house and sees overgrown flowerbeds, dead grass, and weeds galore — they may not get out of the car. Landscaping can include something as simple as paying someone to mow your grass every week while the home is listed. It can also get as complicated as fixing a retaining wall and getting rid of a dead tree. Depending on the size and complexity of your yard, you could spend up to $3,000 in this department.
Repairs: Completing repairs is another major cost of selling your home. Guess what? Buyers don’t love noticing water marks on your ceiling or walking on super dirty carpet. Whether your toilet is running or you need to fix the front steps, you can expect to shell out hundreds or even thousands of dollars getting your property ready for an open house. At least, if you want to maximize the selling price.
Pre-Sale Inspection: You may also want to invest in an inspection before you list your home for sale. A professional inspector can tell you which red flags are likely to come up in escrow. You can get ahead of the game and know which repairs are required and/or recommended. The average cost of a home inspection is $315.
Want to Avoid Home Sale Costs?
If you’re trying to sell your home but you can’t afford a landscaping makeover or tons of necessary repairs, you might think you’re in a jam you won’t get out of. A few weeks of your home being on the market hasn’t delivered any offers.
What now?
Contact California Family Homebuyers today! We buy homes in any condition here in the Sacramento area. We will make you an all cash offer for your as-is property, and we can often close in around a week or two. You can say goodbye to the carrying costs of the property and move on with your life.
Reach out at 916-496-3737.