Do you know about the costs of selling your house in the Chesapeake area? Learn what to expect before putting your house on the MLS, selling on your own, or working with a direct buyer. You might be surprised at how the costs of selling can eat away at your profits!
Selling your house can be expensive. There are a number of things to pay for both before and after the sale. If these costs are particularly high, a direct sale will be a far better choice. In our latest post, we will dive into the costs of selling your Chesapeake house using the three most popular methods. Compare all of your options before selling your house in Chesapeake!
Costs Of Listing
Agent Costs
This will vary based on the agent you choose to hire. You will typically be paying about 6% of the final sale price to the agents involved in the deal. With some agents, you will also face costs for marketing and administrative services. Be sure you know what’s included before signing a listing agreement.
Marketing Costs
Whether or not your agent includes marketing services in their rate, there are a few marketing costs you consider adding. For example, many sellers will hire a professional photographer to take pictures of their home. Some will utilize videographers or even drone service companies to get aerial shots of the property. You might also want to upgrade your online listings to “premium” so they show up at the top when people are browsing through houses in your area.
Repair Costs
Most houses will require at least a few repairs before going on the MLS. Once a buyer has been found, there will likely be negotiations as to who makes the repairs found during the inspection. You can negotiate to either make some of these repairs or discount the sale price of the home.
Cleaning And Staging Costs
Closing Costs
Most sellers will have their homes professionally cleaned before putting it on the market. Many will remove personal belongings and clutter, storing all unnecessary things elsewhere. Some will even hire a professional stager to come in to make the house look as if it came out of the pages of a magazine.
In a typical home sale, the seller will need to pay about 2% of the final sale price in closing costs. This can be negotiated up or down between the buyer and seller, but 2% is typically what you can expect to pay.
Continued Ownership Costs
Listing your house with a Chesapeake real estate agent can take a few months. During this time, you will still be responsible for the property taxes, utility bills, homeowners insurance, maintenance, landscaping, and possibly a mortgage. When you add up all the expenses of owning the house each month, it can amount to thousands of dollars!
Costs of An FSBO (For Sale By Owner) Listing
While trying to sell your house on your own will help you avoid commissions and agent costs, there are other costs to consider. In addition to many of the costs above, here are some additional costs to expect when selling your house in the Chesapeake area.
Heightened Marketing Costs
When listing your house, the addition of extra marking is at your discretion. However, when you are selling on your own, 100% of the marketing is up to you. You will have to pay for all online listings, printed materials, signage, and open house costs. You will likely want a professional photographer to come in to help you present the house in the best light. You can also opt to add things such as virtual tours or videos of your property.
House Preparation Costs
Getting a house ready for a sale can take a lot of work. As with a listing, there are a number of things that will need to be done before the house is advertised for sale. You will need to thoroughly clean the house from top to bottom. You should make any needed repairs, and be prepared to make more after the inspection process. Many sellers will also face storage fees for their unnecessary items, as well as the cost of a professional stager or decorator.
The Price Of Your Time
When you choose to sell the property on your own via an FSBO listing, you will find yourself spending an excessive amount of time dealing with the sale. You will need to be available for showings, create listings and marketing materials, respond to questions, process paperwork, handle negotiations and more.
Costs of Selling Directly
None
When you opt to sell your Chesapeake house to a buyer such as ABF Investment Group, you will be able to avoid all of the selling costs mentioned above. There are no fees, repair costs, or even closing costs. We buy directly, as-is, potentially saving you thousands of dollars along the way.
Do you want to avoid the costs of selling real estate in the traditional way? We are here to help! Contact us today to learn more! +1 (888) 263-6660
How do I calculate my actual net proceeds from selling a house in Chesapeake?
Start with your expected sale price, then subtract your mortgage payoff, any liens, closing costs, and — if you list traditionally — agent commissions and negotiated repair credits. What’s left is your net proceeds. A cash offer simplifies this math because there’s no commission or repair-credit line item to subtract, so the number you’re quoted is much closer to what actually lands in your pocket.
Are closing costs in Chesapeake different from other parts of Hampton Roads?
Not dramatically — closing costs like title fees, recording fees, and prorated property taxes are fairly consistent across Hampton Roads cities, with small variations by title company and locality. The bigger factor is usually who pays what, which is negotiated per deal. In a direct cash sale, it’s common for the buyer to cover most or all closing costs, which is worth confirming upfront rather than assuming.
What does it cost to leave a house sitting on the market longer in Chesapeake?
Every extra month typically means another mortgage payment, another round of property taxes and insurance, plus utilities to keep the house habitable for showings. If the home doesn’t sell quickly, sellers often end up cutting the price too, compounding the loss. These carrying costs are a major reason sellers compare total time-to-close, not just sale price, when weighing a listing against a direct cash offer.
Do I need to pay off my mortgage before I can sell my house in Chesapeake?
No — you don’t pay it off out of pocket beforehand. Your mortgage balance is paid directly out of the sale proceeds at closing by the title company, and you receive whatever is left over. If you owe more than the home is worth, that’s a separate situation that needs to be worked out with your lender before or during the sale, so it’s worth checking your current payoff amount early.