{"id":28191,"date":"2021-12-02T07:03:56","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T15:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=28191"},"modified":"2026-04-08T01:16:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T08:16:51","slug":"average-cost-to-sell-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/average-cost-to-sell-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Should I Budget to Sell My House? Here\u2019s the Average Cost"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re antsy for new digs, and you just need to sell your current home to snag that dream house. But before you box up your prized LEGO\u00ae collection and book a moving truck, you need to answer the nagging question at the back of your mind: What\u2019s it going to cost to sell my house?<\/p>\n

In this guide, we dive deep into what costs sellers should expect to pay. Keep in mind that fees may vary widely based on your location, market conditions, and whether your home requires repairs before selling. We detail what costs you\u2019re likely to incur and what sellers pay on average.<\/p>\n

Kentucky-based Dianna Caldwell<\/a>, a seasoned agent with 16 years of industry experience under her belt, gave us a rundown of seller costs and what homeowners should budget before they sit down to the closing table.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Clay Banks \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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How much you can expect to pay overall<\/h2>\n

According to Caldwell, the average cost to sell a home can range between 7% to 8% of a home\u2019s purchase price. Depending on other factors such as your location, your home\u2019s condition, and current market conditions, that estimate can run up to 10%<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We break down what the cost of a home sale could look like based on the average U.S. home sales price of $453,300, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis. One item of note: We don\u2019t include your mortgage loan payoff in our cost estimate, so keep in mind that you have to pay off any outstanding home loan balances when you sell. Accounting for your payoff amount will help you determine how much cash you\u2019ll net after your home sale closes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Sample seller expenses for a $453,300 house<\/b><\/td>\nCost to seller<\/b><\/td>\nPercentage of home value<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Real estate commission<\/td>\n$27,198<\/td>\n5.8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Major home repairs<\/td>\n$12,117<\/a><\/td>\n2.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seller concessions<\/td>\n$9,066<\/td>\n2%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Local taxes and transfer fees<\/td>\n$4,533<\/td>\n1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Settlement and third party fees<\/td>\n$2,750<\/td>\n< 1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Home pre-inspection<\/td>\n$400<\/td>\n< 1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Home staging and preparation<\/td>\n$1,500<\/td>\n< 1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Utilities and upkeep<\/td>\n$750<\/td>\n< 1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Real estate agent commission<\/h2>\n

Commission fees make up the heftiest portion of a home\u2019s selling cost, accounting for 5% to 6%<\/a> of your home\u2019s sales price. According to national transaction data collected by HomeLight, U.S. home sellers pay an average of 5.8%<\/a> in agent commission. Typical commission fees vary depending on your home\u2019s location. Discover what sellers in your area typically pay by looking up your city using HomeLight\u2019s agent commission calculator<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sellers in San Francisco, for example, pay 5.04%<\/a> on average. At a median home price of $1,540,000<\/a> as of October 2021, the real estate agent commission cost to sell a home averages $78,232.<\/p>\n

Listing agents typically split the commission fee<\/a> with the buyer\u2019s agent, which the seller pays for when their home closes. Both the listing agent and the buyer\u2019s agent will then share a percentage of their commission with their sponsoring broker. According to a report issued by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), commission rates and splits tend to remain consistent in most areas<\/a>. And an adequate commission split plays a role in marketing your home to buyers.<\/p>\n

According to the agents surveyed, \u201cif these splits are below the typical rate for the area, buyer agents will have less incentive to show properties.\u201d<\/p>\n

Full service real estate agents offer a gamut of seller services, from social media marketing to professional photography and videography, says Caldwell. Not to mention negotiating a great deal and offering advice on how to prepare your home<\/a> to appeal to the widest range of buyers.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Matt Artz \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Major home repairs and renovations<\/h2>\n

\u201cHaving your home in the best condition possible when you go on the market is the most important thing,\u201d stresses Caldwell. The type of home repairs and renovations a seller should complete remains one of the more variable costs, but could end up one of the pricier expenses<\/a> for a seller. And the cost outlay ultimately hinges on your home\u2019s condition. Replacing a leaky roof, for example, averages $8,527<\/a> while repairing an HVAC unit averages $350<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Your location, price point, and market conditions can all impact which repairs and renovations you should focus on. For example, in a strong sellers market where owners receive multiple offers and therefore retain negotiation leverage, you could get away with minimal (or even zero) repairs. On the flip side, in a buyer\u2019s market, ensuring all of your home\u2019s major systems remain in working order can keep buyers from passing over your property for the one next door.<\/p>\n

The same mindset applies to renovations<\/a>. According to Caldwell, today\u2019s buyers look for turnkey homes, not sweat equity. Buyers \u201cdon’t want to do anything when they move in now, whereas ten years ago they wanted a fixer upper because they felt that they were saving money,\u201d she says. \u201cToday they don’t want that. They just want to be able to move in and [have] it be just like they want it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That may mean updating the kitchen\u2019s disco-era linoleum floors to tile at an average project cost of $1,929<\/a> or installing fresh carpet at an average price of $1,764<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Settlement and third party fees<\/h2>\n

Settlement fees, or closing fees, include costs related to the transfer and sale of your home, which may include:<\/p>\n