There are several costs you’ll have to cover when you list your Scottsdale home, and these charges occur before listing, during the listing process, after an offer has been made, and finally at closing. Our latest blog post details some of these various listing expenses so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not a direct sale would be better for your particular situation.
Prices for listing a home in Scottsdale can differ to a great degree. Much depends on the condition of the house, necessary repairs, where it’s located, and so on. Also, each real estate agent has their own way of conducting things—some will charge you additional fees while others include everything in one cost. Before signing an agreement with anyone, make sure you’re aware of what it’ll actually cost to list your home in Scottsdale.
The costs associated with getting started
Before you get started with an agent or listing, take care of the following. Some can be done by yourself, while others might require payment. You may need all of them, but each one is important to think about.
Cleaning
To make your home more appealing and welcoming, you should start by making sure it is clean. You can do a decent job cleaning it yourself, but if you want to achieve remarkable results, hire a professional who will clean your homefrom top to bottom—this will give the whole house an entirely different look.
If you’re not replacing the carpets or flooring, have them professionally cleaned as well. Don’t forget about the exterior of your home; if you have a second story, pay someone to wash your windows!
Storage
Get rid of the clutter! Now is a great time to go through your belongings and get rid of anything you don’t need. When people come to tour your home, they don’t want to see piles of personal items or any kind of a mess. So make sure everything is packed away neatly before showings begin. You may need to find an offsite storage space or pod for extra things.
Repairs & Upgrades
Fix any visible damage, like cracks in the walls or old paint. You might also want to make small upgrades, such as new fixtures or hardware. By doing this, you can help improve the value of your home. Just be aware that you will have to pay for these things upfront.
Landscaping
A stellar home listing starts with an alluring yard since it’s the first thing prospective buyers see. Not only should it be tidy, but also be used to flaunt your house’s best features. Many homeowners achieve this by adding greenery, flowers, extra doors, or fencing.
While The House Is Listed
If you want to avoid shelling out more money while your home is listed, opting for a fast and direct sale upfront is ideal. Keep in mind that even while your property is on the market, you’re still paying various fees associated with keeping it up for sale.
Monthly Costs
Even though your home is on the market, you are still responsible for monthly utility bills. And even if you have already moved out, water and electricity must stay turned on for potential buyers who wish to view the property. Also, homeowner’s insurance and property taxes must be paid until closing day.
As the homeowner, you are still responsible for cleaning and routine maintenance of the property until it is officially sold. This could take a matter of months, and during this time, you could end up spending thousands of dollars unnecessarily.
Marketing
While some real estate agents market their listings well, others simply do not. If you want to sell your home successfully, make sure that the listing has excellent photography of the property from different angles, as this is one of the biggest potential deciding factors for buyers.
Some people even go the extra mile by hiring drone photographers for an aerial view of their homes.
After An Offer Has Been Made
If you want to avoid being responsible for additional fees like insurance, utilities, and taxes past the day of closing, consider making a direct offer to a company that buys homes as-is. Most offers come with an inspection and appraisal process attached, which could end up adding more money to what you’re already paying for the home.
Negotiated Repairs
After the inspection, you will need to negotiate repairs depending on the damage. If there is a severe problem with the home, the potential buyer will likely request that it be fixed before continuing with the sale. (Banks also aren’t likely to fund a loan for a damaged property.) And if your buyer decides to rescind their offer, you have to disclose what needs repairing to all future buyers.
At The Closing Table
Commissions
Upon completion of the sale, you will sign over a check to your agent. This is typically equal to 6% of the final home sales price.
Closing Costs
Together, these various fees are called closing costs, and they’re added to the final sale price of the home. Examples of these expenses are filing documents, searching for the property title, credit check charges, taxes related to transferring ownership, and more. On average, this will total up to another 2% of your sale price.
The benefits of a direct sale might outweigh the costs of listing, depending on your property. Consider allocating money elsewhere if it doesn’t make sense to list right now!
Looking to sell your home but dread the thought of expensive listing fees? At United Home Offer, we buy houses in Scottsdale, AZ for fair cash offers, which you can receive in just two days. Get in touch with us today by message or phone, and let’s get started.
