It’s not free to list your house. There’s always a cost, tasks and so much effort that is applied into preparing your house primed for the market. Prior to putting your home up to list, consider the time, energy, and money that you’ll put up. In case you got a direct buyer, with a nice offer, it is usually favored to the inconvenient and additional listing cost. What it REALLY costs to sell your home in Wichita.
Commissions, Staging & Yard Work, Oh My!
Cleaning
First thing’s first. Your house has to be completely cleaned from all throughout. Windows must be wiped inside and out, grout and tile tidied up, baseboards and molding, including all hidden places along with window sills and ceiling fans. In case you have pets, be very mindful of pet hair and odors. You may be able to do your own cleaning but it may not be of a similar standard in terms of accuracy and efficiency as that of pro cleaners. Also, maintaining your house for perfectly tidy for viewing, open houses, and unexpected visits requires more time and energy.
Landscaping
Don’t ever disregard the yard if you’re selling your house. You should see to it that your yard has that remarkable curb appeal and is well trimmed without the sight of weeds. The same as cleaning, this can be done on your own, but it may take lots of effort on your part. 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 must be inviting, attractive, and well-groomed. The front yard is your first impression, be sure it’s a good one!
Storage & Moving
Although you still live in the house, as soon as you list it in the market, the wise thing to do is to pack and store some of your personal stuff, prepared when you move. Keeping your personal stuff inside the house will give it the appearance that it’s messy and may discourage buyers and make them lose interest. Since you have already listed your house, you would need a place where you can put your things. You would need to have a place to keep your stuff away from your house. In case you’re living at a different place for the meantime until your home is sold, it may be costing you rent along with your mortgage. (And don’t forget, two sets of utility bills.)
In the instance that you sold your home, there will be moving costs. Are you going to get mover’s help? Are you gonna be doing the packing on your own? Will you need a truck? All of these are costs you need to take into consideration and include in your budget.
Listing Fees, Agent Fees, Administrative Fees and Notary Charges
If you partner with an agent, that might cost plenty of fees and charges you may be unprepared for. (These charges are IN ADDITION to the commission, which we talk about below.) You may shoulder several fees that agents would pass on such as marketing, listing, and administrative tasks including clerical and printing. Additional fees for notarization and some more small charges may add up quickly.
Commissions
This can be huge. Once your house is sold via an agent it qualifies them for a commission. That should be 6% of the sale amount. Ia can be more or less, but 6% is a good estimate. So you need to always take thought of the commission and other fees listed above when your computing for your asking price.