You have decided to put your Stafford house on the market for sale with a realtor. However, there are costs you need to think about before you can list your property for sale.
I know you are excited about getting to the closing table, but let’s see if financially it would make sense to sell my house Stafford, TX before you list it on the MLS with a realtor.
The price to sell a house in Stafford can fluctuate greatly. It all comes down to the house itself, the needed repairs, the location, etc.
Each real estate agent will work a bit differently. Some will charge you for things, while others are “all-inclusive.”
However, before you commit to an agreement, continue reading this article to find out what listing your house in Stafford will really cost you!
Upfront Costs
Before you even talk to an agent or get started on a listing, you will need to take care of the following things.
Some you can do yourself, while others you might have to pay for. You might need all of these things, but they are all important to consider.
After all, you want to make sure you do what’s necessary to put a great house on the market.
Cleaning
To create an environment that is appealing and welcoming, you will want to make sure the house is clean.
You can do a good job yourself, but bringing in a professional to do a thorough cleaning of the house from top to bottom, can make your home look a lot different.
If you aren’t replacing the carpets or flooring, you will want to pay to have a professional clean those as well.
After getting the inside of your home cleaned and ready for potential buyers. Don’t forget about the outside.
If you don’t have a pressure washer handy , you can always higher a company to come out and take care of it for you.
Storage
While cleaning the home, it is a great time to pack away all of your unnecessary items.
People don’t want to see personal possessions or clutter when touring your home, so you will want to make sure everything is packed away.
You might need to consider an offsite storage space or pod to hold your items until you have moved into a new house.
A quick tip, remember to take down all photos of yourself or your family.
Repairs & Upgrades
You will want to fix up anything visibly broken or worn. This includes fixing and painting walls, replacing cracked tiles, and smoothing floorboards.
You might also take this opportunity to make minor upgrades such as new fixtures or hardware.
Adding new hardware and painting the baseboards will make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home.
Spending money on these items can improve the value of your home.
However, you need to have the upfront cash to do the work.
Landscaping
You can’t have a beautiful listing with an ugly yard. The front yard is the first thing people see. This should not only be cleaned up but also used to showcase your home.
Many people will add plants, flowers, new doors or fencing to make their curb appeal pop.
Also, adding new mulch and fresh flowers is a nice finishing touch.
While The House Is Listed
While the property is on the market, you will still find yourself paying to have it for sale.
There are many expenses you will be paying during this time.
However, if you did decide to sell my house Stafford, TX, you could avoid paying much of these costs.
Monthly Costs
While the house sits on the market you will still need to pay the monthly utilities. Even if you have moved out of the house, you still need to keep the water and electricity on for people viewing the home.
You will also have to continue paying the homeowner’s insurance and property taxes up until the day of closing.
You will also need to continue taking care of the cleaning and routine maintenance of the home.
With many properties sitting on the market then having to go through escrow, it could be months until the house has officially closed.
During this time, you could be out thousands of dollars you could have otherwise kept in your pocket.
Marketing
Some agents will include great marketing, while others will not. To successfully list your house, you will want to ensure there are great listings and great photography of the home.
Some people are even hiring drone photographers to capture their homes from above.
Finding unique ways to get your home to stand out when your selling in a crowded market will go a long way.
After An Offer Has Been Made
Once an offer has been made, and accepted, you will still be responsible for the insurance, utilities, and taxes up until the day of closing.
Depending on the lender this could add several weeks to your timeframe. In turn, adding more money you are paying to own the home.
Most offers are contingent on an inspection and appraisal process.
You can avoid the below costs with a direct offer from a company that purchases as-is.
Negotiated Repairs
Once the inspection has been completed, you might have to negotiate repairs based on what the buyer needs to be repaired.
If there is a major problem with the house, the potential buyer will likely request it to be fixed before finalizing the sale.
Just an FYI, the bank isn’t likely to fund a loan for a damaged property either.
The bank uses the home as collateral incases the homeowner defaults on the loan, Therefore, the bank has no interest in financing a damaged property.
If your buyer decides to rescind the offer, you will need to disclose the needed repair to all potential buyers going forward.
At The Closing Table
Commissions
Once you are signing final sale paperwork, it is also time to sign over a check to your agent. This will typically run about 6% of the final sale price of the home.
Closing Costs
Many additional fees are lumped together as closing costs. These include document filing, title search fees, credit check costs, transfer taxes, property taxes, and more.
On average, this will cost around 2% of the final sale price.
Once you tally all the costs, you can see that listing may not be right for every property.
Many people find greater benefits by choosing a direct sale! Run the numbers for yourself, and make the decision that works best for you!
Conclusion
The cost of selling your home the traditional way can be a lot of money. Besides, it does work for most homes that are sold.
But what if that model doesn’t work for your situation and you need to sell my house Stafford, TX. Try selling directly to an investor in your area.