How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House? Key Expenses & Associated Fees

Agent Fees (6%)

One of the largest expenses in a traditional sale is the real estate agent commission, typically around 6% of the home’s sale price. This fee is usually split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. While it covers marketing, coordinating showings, negotiating offers, and managing paperwork, it can significantly impact your net profit. For example, on a $300,000 home, agent fees alone could be around $18,000. Choosing the right agent can help ensure that you get the most value for this investment, but it’s still a sizable cost that homeowners need to account for.

Closing Costs (1–3%)

Closing costs include all fees associated with finalizing the sale, such as title insurance, escrow fees, recording fees, and attorney fees. On average, these costs are about 2% of the sale price

but can range from 1%–3%, depending on your location and specific requirements. For a $300,000 home, this could add up to $3,000–$9,000. These fees are often overlooked until the closing table, so planning ahead is critical to avoid last-minute surprises that can eat into your proceeds.

Staging & Preparation (~$1,000+)

Staging a home can make it more appealing to buyers, potentially helping it sell faster and at a higher price. Basic staging may cost around $1,000, while more elaborate setups can cost several thousand dollars. Beyond staging, homeowners may invest in pre-sale repairs, painting, landscaping, or professional cleaning—all designed to maximize appeal but adding to overall expenses.

Marketing & Photography

While agents typically cover marketing and photography, it’s worth noting that these costs are factored into your commission. Professional photos, virtual tours, and targeted advertising can improve your home’s visibility and attract more buyers, but if you sell independently or want extra exposure, these services can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Homeowners Association (HOA) Fees & Transfer Costs

If your home is part of an HOA, you may be responsible for prorated dues, transfer fees, or special assessments. Depending on your association, these costs can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, and they’re often unexpected by first-time sellers.

Mortgage Payoff & Prepayment Penalties

If you still owe on your mortgage, the remaining balance must be paid at closing. Some mortgages also have prepayment penalties, adding another potential cost to your sale. Calculating your payoff amount in advance can prevent surprises at the closing table.

Property Taxes & Prorated Expenses

Sellers are typically responsible for property taxes up to the date of sale. Depending on the timing of the closing and your location, this can be a sizable amount. Additionally, you may need to cover prorated utility bills or HOA dues until the property officially transfers.

Home Warranty or Buyer Incentives

Offering a home warranty can make your property more attractive to buyers. Costs usually run $300–$600 for a one-year plan covering major appliances and systems. Sellers may also offer buyer incentives such as closing cost contributions or credits for upgrades, often ranging from $1,000–$5,000.

Unexpected or Contingent Costs

Even with careful planning, unforeseen costs can arise, including: additional inspections, appraisal gaps, last-minute repair requests, or delays in buyer financing. Contingency-related expenses can add stress and unexpected financial burdens to a traditional sale.

By understanding these typical costs, you can make informed decisions about selling your home. For those looking to avoid many of these expenses, options like selling for cash can provide certainty, save money, and simplify the process—eliminating many of the fees, repairs, and delays associated with a traditional sale.

Breaking Down the Expenses of a Home Sale

When you sell a home, the expenses can add up quickly and reduce the amount you actually take home after closing. From agent commissions to repairs, staging, moving, and even unexpected fees, each step of the process carries a price tag. To give you a clear picture, here’s how the cost breakdown might look for a $300,000 home. This example helps illustrate not just the percentages, but what those numbers really mean in dollars.

Selling a $300,000 home traditionally can reduce your net proceeds by $25,000-$40,000 or more, depending on repairs, incentives and unexpected expenses.

1. Avoid Costly Surprises

“Selling a home involves several costs that homeowners should be aware of. These include agent commissions, closing costs, potential repairs, staging, moving expenses, and potential capital gains taxes. Understanding these expenses beforehand can help homeowners plan their finances and avoid surprises at closing.”

2. Close Quickly with Confidence

“Selling a home comes with more costs than most expect—closing fees, repairs, inspections, taxes, and agent commissions can quickly eat into your equity. For older or problem properties, these expenses can outweigh the benefits of a traditional sale. A cash offer can eliminate these headaches—no agents, no endless showings, just a fast, fair deal so you can focus on your next chapter.”

3. Skip Fees & Repairs

“Having the proper expectation makes or breaks the selling process. Unfortunately, many misunderstand the true cost of selling, leading to stress and disappointment.

Traditionally, selling costs include agent fees, attorney fees, taxes, inspections, title, recording, and more. Add in repairs before listing and possible buyer re-negotiations after inspections, and money disappears fast.

Do your homework. Know your options, whether on the market or to a Home Buyer. We get joy in buying houses because we see how happy people are when they receive a solid offer, have the opportunity for a smooth and quick closing (without any surprise fees), and are able to be guided into having the right expectations through the entire transaction.”

4. Get Certainty & Speed

“Many homeowners overlook pre-listing expenses like home inspections, staging, professional photography, and necessary repairs. In our experience, properties with foundation issues, water damage, or years of neglect can require substantial investment before listing. Moving costs, temporary housing, and storage fees can also accumulate quickly. Some face unexpected expenses like HOA transfer fees, municipal inspections, or last-minute repair requests from buyers.

At New Again Houses, we eliminate the traditional selling costs that burden homeowners. You'll avoid agent commissions, lengthy inspections, appraisals, and financing contingencies. We close in as little as 7 days, pay all closing costs ourselves, and buy homes in any condition—even those with fire damage, foundation issues, or extensive repairs needed. While our cash offer reflects the property's as-is condition, homeowners often net comparable proceeds after avoiding traditional selling expenses, repairs, and carrying costs. Most importantly, you get certainty and speed without the stress of showings, staging, or dealing with buyer financing falling through.”

5. Simplify the Entire Selling Process

“In a traditional scenario where sellers list their property for sale with the help of a realtor, sellers are responsible for a variety of closing costs, including real estate broker commissions, buyer

incentives, transfer taxes, pro-rated property taxes, title service fees, recording fees, and attorney fees. But closing costs are not the only costs incurred in the sale of a property. Buyers may find items that they want to have repaired before they will close on the purchase of the property. Sometimes, items discovered during the buyer's due diligence are simple and inexpensive to fix and other times they are more costly.

Sellers can avoid almost all of these costs of selling by selling their home to a cash buyer. Cash buyers typically cover all of the seller's closing costs except for pro-rated property taxes. Cash buyers also do not require homeowners to make any repairs to the property before closing on the sale. This makes the process of selling your home simple and straight-forward.”

6. Cut the Extra Work & Expenses

“Selling to New Again houses will save you money in fees. The process is fast and easy when we do all of the work for you.”

7. Sell As-Is Without Cleanup

“There are so many costs associated with selling a home, from title/closing costs (recording fee, deed preparation fee, title agency costs, etc.) to more hidden costs like large item trash removal or some simple home repairs to get the house in the best possible condition. With a cash buyer, you can sell the house to exactly as the house currently is (so forget the cleanup fees!) and we will also take care of those more obvious closing costs!”

8. Decrease Stress & Increase Profits

“Homeowners should plan ahead for expenses like repairs, inspections, commissions, and closing fees, as these quickly reduce profits. Selling for cash helps avoid many of these costs and delays, offering a straightforward process that saves money, reduces stress, and ensures a faster closing.”

9. Keep More of Your Equity

“A traditional sale may get you a higher listing price, but by the time fees, repairs, and commissions are factored in, the profit isn’t always what you expect. A cash sale, on the other hand, offers certainty, speed, and peace of mind—often putting just as much money in your pocket with far less hassle.

If you’re ready to sell quickly and keep more of your equity, working with an experienced real estate investor like New Again Houses for a cash sale might be your smartest move.”