Listing your home isn’t free. There are costs, chores and a lot of work that goes into getting your home ready for the market. Before you list your home, think about the time, energy and money that go into it. If you have a direct buyer, with a great offer, it is often preferred to the hassle and out of pocket costs of listing. What it REALLY costs to sell your home in Front Royal.
Commissions, Staging & Yard Work, Oh My!
Cleaning
The initial priority is to ensure the home undergoes a comprehensive cleaning regimen, covering every nook and cranny. This entails thorough cleaning of windows both inside and out, meticulously addressing grout and tile surfaces, as well as attending to baseboards, molding, and often-overlooked areas such as window sills and ceiling fans. If you have pets, it’s crucial to pay particularly close attention to eliminating pet hair and any associated odors. While cleaning the home yourself is an option, it’s important to recognize that achieving the same level of precision and efficiency as a professional cleaner may be challenging. Moreover, maintaining the home’s cleanliness for showings, open houses, and unexpected visitors can consume a considerable amount of time and energy.
Landscaping
Never, ever, ever neglect the yard when selling your home. Your will want to make sure your yard had excellent curb appeal and isn’t overgrown or filled with weeds. Just like the cleaning, you can do this yourself, but you will some have some hard work ahead of you. You will want to:
- Trim back trees and bushes.
- Weed the lawn and open areas.
- Plant flowers and appropriate plants.
- Fix anything in need of repair.
- Add fresh paint to outdoor trim, mailbox, door, etc.
- Add seating and other elements of staging to make the outside areas more welcoming
The backyard should exude warmth, inviting guests to relax and enjoy the outdoor space, while also being meticulously maintained. As for the front yard, it serves as the initial point of contact, making it imperative to ensure it creates a positive and lasting impression.
Storage & Moving
Even if you are still living in the home, once you put it on the market, it is smart to get some of your personal items packed and stored, ready for your move. Having your personal items around the home can make it feel cluttered and dissuade buyers from having interest. While your home is listed, you will need somewhere to keep your stuff. This might require storage offsite. If you are staying somewhere temporarily until your house sells, your will likely be paying rent in addition to your mortgage. (And don’t forget, two sets of utility bills.)
Following the completion of the sale of your house, you will undoubtedly encounter the financial obligations linked to the process of relocation. Will you engage professional movers to handle the logistics, or do you intend to undertake the packing yourself through a do-it-yourself approach? Additionally, do you anticipate needing to rent a truck for transporting your possessions to your new residence? These are all pivotal factors that necessitate thorough deliberation and integration into your budgetary preparations..
Listing Fees, Agent Fees, Administrative Fees and Notary Charges
Collaborating with a real estate agent introduces an array of fees and charges that may catch you off guard. (These charges are SEPARATE from the commission, as discussed later.) Agents typically pass on various expenses to you for marketing, listing, and administrative tasks, including clerical duties and printing services. Additionally, you’ll encounter costs for notarization and other miscellaneous charges that accumulate swiftly.
Commissions
This aspect carries significant weight. Engaging a real estate agent to facilitate the sale of your home entails the payment of a commission, typically averaging around 6% of the final sale price. While variations may occur, 6% serves as a reliable estimate. When determining your asking price, it’s imperative to factor in these commissions alongside other associated expenses outlined previously.