How Much Will You Get When You Sell Your House?

Costs like repairs, traditional real estate agent fees, and other expenses impact how much money you’ll get when you sell. Here’s what to keep in mind.

No doubt you’ve invested a lot in your home, so you want to walk away with a boost to your bank account. But many costs can eat into your profit; however, that’s not to say you still can’t pocket about 80 percent of the house sale price. You can use an online calculator to help determine your net proceeds.

What’s key to maximizing your profit is knowing what expenses to expect. While every home sale is different, there are variables that help determine how much money you’ll get to keep.

Real estate agent commissions

A good traditional real estate agent can be a big help in selling your home. They can help you set a price, come up with a selling strategy and provide guidance on negotiating with buyers—all of which can be intimidating. But that wise counsel will cost you about 5-6 percent of a home’s sale price. That’s $10,000-$12,000 on a $200,000 house.

Alternatives that reduce commissions

If you don’t want to go the traditional real estate agent route, because you want to avoid paying that commission or you prefer to sell your house as-is, you have options.

FSBO (For sale by owner) – If you’re a DIYer this may be for you: You will list the property, show it to buyers, negotiate and handle tasks like transferring title. The upside is all the money that stays in your pocket. However, according to the National Association of Realtors®, the typical FSBO home sold for $225,000 compared to $330,000 for agent-assisted home sales, so help may be a worthwhile investment.

Sundae – A marketplace connecting homeowners to investors who compete to buy your dated or damaged house as-is, Sundae offers a service that is much easier than selling alone, but without charging fees to you, the seller. You simply fill out some forms online and a local expert will prepare your listing with photos and 3D tour, and order an inspection if needed. You can have offers to review in days.

Pre-listing inspection

Getting a home inspection before you list it is smart, since the last thing you want is some big reveal that scares off a buyer or a major, expensive repair late in the game. Make sure you get a good one. Ask friends for referrals and checkout online reviews. The $300-$500 that’s typical for home inspections, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, can provide peace of mind.

Prep work and repairs

Your real estate agent will expect you to prep your home for sale, since buyers on the multiple listing service (MLS) prefer turnkey options. Staging your home, getting it all dressed up to look like something in magazine, may cost from several hundred dollars to a couple of thousands of dollars. But according to a 2021 survey by Real Estate Staging Association the staged homes on average sold 9 days faster and $40,000 over list price.

You’ll also want to take care of any repairs. They might include fixes of foundational issues, (exterior and interior sheetrock cracks, uneven floors, and rotten wood), electrical systems, (incoming power lanes, household wiring, electrical boxes, lights, etc.), roof repairs, roof replacement, water heater, water damage, leaky pipes, septic systems, HVAC, mold, and termite damage. Costs will vary, but here are ballpark figures.

Sources: thisoldhouse.com; fixr.com; angi.com; ahs.com; homeguide.com

Sell as-is without repairs

If you choose to sell your house as-is, the buyer may want to negotiate a lower price, since they will have to make the repairs after the sale. One advantage of using the Sundae marketplace is that you can sell your home without making repairs, regardless of the condition of your home, and since buyers compete, you’ll get the best price possible.

Mortgage payoff and final bills

If you have a balance on your mortgage, a home equity loan, or a line of credit on the property, you will have to pay those off when you sell the house. Your final obligations could also include pro-rated taxes, insurance, liens, utility bills, and HOA fees.

Closing Costs

Closing costs can be 3-6% of the loan amount, and are typically paid at your closing meeting. These costs can include attorney fees, title insurance, recording and escrow fees, transfer taxes, property taxes, and HOA fees for example.

Moving and storage

Don’t overlook the expense of moving and any storage fees if needed. Moving costs vary, but Moving.com says the average cost of a local move is $1,250, and a long-distance one (more than 1,000 miles) is nearly $5,000. As for storage, $180 a month is typical, according to Move.org.

With Sundae, you don’t have to worry about what to do with unwanted stuff, you can leave it behind at no extra cost.

Taxes

Capital gains taxes are what you owe on any profits made from selling an appreciating asset like your home. The good news is the first $250,000 of profits from a primary residence is usually not taxed, if you file alone (or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly). If you’re selling a second home, you may have to pay capital gains at a rate of up to 20%, depending on your tax bracket and other factors.

How to get the most net profit from house sale

When you sell your home, there are many costs that you can’t do much about. On the other hand, if you’ve got the time and energy to go without a traditional real estate agent, you can save a sizeable commission. By working with Sundae, you can save on those fees as well as a lot of extra effort.