So, you're thinking about selling your home and want to know what it's going to cost you to sell your home. Well, I'm here to help you out. Whether you're selling your home in Dutchess County, Orange County, Westchester, or anywhere in our area really, here are some common costs associated with selling your house.
Attorney’s fee – This is the fee you have agreed to pay your attorney for services rendered. Every attorney charges a different amount but expect to pay around $1,500-2,300 in our area.
Certificate of occupancy fees – If at some point you performed work that required a permit from your municipality and failed to have a final inspection to obtain a certificate of occupancy and “close” the permit, you may have to do so prior to selling your home. In addition, some municipalities in our area require an updated certificate of occupancy to be issued just prior to closing. Contact your local building department and ask if this applies to the sale of your property. The cost of paying the fines for not getting one are usually very low.
Real estate broker’s commission – This is the amount you agree to pay your listing broker that gets split between them and the buyer's agent. This number varies based on the listing agent that you choose, but is typically a percentage of the purchase price.
Mortgage principal remaining on the property – You will have to pay your mortgage lender the amount of principal remaining on your loan.
Moving expenses – The cost of moving to your next home can be significant. Plan your move well in advance and, if the move is related to your work, inquire if your employer will pay part or all of the expense.
Pre-sale inspection and/or appraisal – You may want to have the same type of inspections a buyer will request and/or the same type of appraisal the buyer’s lender will require prior to listing your home. This will help you to determine what needs to be done to prepare your home for sale and the best asking price. As a listing agent, I pay for these along with professional photography as part of listing with me.
Repairs subsequent to buyer’s inspection – If a buyer’s inspector’s report reveals serious problems that require repair or abatement, you may have to incur those costs as one of the terms of the contract of sale. This can come either as a credit, an amount off the purchase price, or you paying a contractor directly to do the work.
Staging costs – You may choose pay a professional to “stage” your home so it shows in a way to attract more buyers and yield a higher sale price.
Transfer tax - New York State charges $4 per $1,000 of the selling price up to $1 million; 1% additional over $1 million and some counties may levy more.
These are the big ticket items that you're going to run into when selling your home. The biggest factor in how much you net when selling your home is the sale price, and that's going to depend on market conditions and the Realtor that you use. If you're curious to know how much you could get for your home, head on over to my Valuation Page and submit a request and I will get back to you soon!
Thanks for listening,
