Do you know about the costs of selling your house in the Phoenix 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 (meaning no agent in between buyer and seller) will be a far better choice. In our latest post, we will dive into the costs of selling your Phoenix house using the three most popular methods. Compare all of your options before selling your house in Phoenix!
Costs Of Listing
Agent Costs
This will vary based on the agent you choose to hire and of course the market that you’re in. You will typically be paying about 6% of the final sales price to the agents involved in the deal. With some agents, you will also be responsible for the costs they incurred 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. We recommend this as a best practice. This small investment always seems to be a great investment. Some agents will utilize videographers or even drone service companies to get aerial shots of a property. You might also want to upgrade your online listings to “premium” so they show up at the top of the web page when people are browsing through houses in your area.
Repair Costs
Most houses will require at least a few repairs and some updating before going on the MLS. Once a buyer has been found, there will likely be negotiations as to who makes the needed repairs uncovered during the inspection. You can negotiate to either make some of these repairs or discount the sale price of the home. As the market softens, sellers are needing to be a bit more flexible here.
Cleaning And Staging Costs
Some sellers will have their homes professionally cleaned before putting them on the market. Many will remove personal belongings and clutter, storing all unessential personal items elsewhere else. It’s inconvenient but allows potential buyers to see themselves in a space once it has been depersonalized. 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. This can cost in excess of $1,000 a month or more and typically requires a contract of at least two months, so weigh the cost vs. benefit here.
Closing Costs
In a typical home sale, the seller will need to pay about 2% of the final sale price in closing costs. This in addition to 6% in commissions. 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
Selling your house with a Phoenix real estate agent can take a few months. And once a contract is signed it’s not uncommon for another 45 days to elapse before closing. 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 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 Phoenix area.
Escalated 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 Costs Of Your Time
When you choose to sell the property on your own via an FSBO listing, you will find yourself spending what may feel like an inordinate amount of time managing the sales process. 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 Phoenix house to a buyer such as Property Cartwheel, 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. And of course, we can always help you list it.