How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House? Key Expenses to Know

If you’re planning to put your house on the market, you might be focused on price. But this isn’t the only factor to consider before you stick a “for sale” sign in front of your home.

From agent commissions to closing costs and potential home improvements, the expenses can add up quickly. Understanding these upfront costs can help you maximize your profit and avoid last-minute surprises. Whether you’re upgrading to a bigger space, downsizing or relocating, knowing what to expect can make the selling process smoother and more financially rewarding.

Let's get into the costs of selling a house, including some of the hidden ones.

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just ~~$107.88~~ $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues

CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/y99mlvgqmn1763972420.png

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Agent fees

Typically, home sellers are responsible for paying commissions for both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. On average, real estate commissions run at 5% to 6% of a home’s sale price, with the money split between the seller’s and buyer’s agents.

On a $400,000 home, a 5% to 6% commission would equate to $20,000 - $24,000. (The median existing home sales price in the U.S. in July 2025 was $435,300, according to the National Association of Realtors.)

However, commission rate standards can vary depending on where you live. For instance, the average real estate commission in Georgia is 5.62%, compared to an average commission of 4.47% in Massachusetts, according to a recent Clever survey of real estate agents.

Granted, real estate commissions aren’t set in stone. Around four out of 10 real estate agents said they're willing to negotiate their commission rates, a FastExperts survey found.

Pre-sale home repairs

Many homes need fixing up before they go on the market for sellers to get top dollar. And today’s buyers have high expectations: 77% of house hunters recently surveyed by Curbio said they wouldn't consider a home that isn't move-in-ready.

While pre-sale home repair expenses can vary depending on the age of the property and its condition, sellers who make repairs before listing spend an average of $14,163, according to recent Realtor.com data.

Staging

Although it’s not a requirement, staging your home — where you declutter and decorate — can help your property sell quicker and for more money.

Consider that 20% of buyer’s agents say staging increases the value offered by 1% to 5% compared to similar homes on the market that aren’t staged, according to the National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Staging.

On average, staging costs between $800 and $2,800, HomeGuide reports. Although expenses can vary depending on the number of rooms and the length of the selling period.

Closing costs

Closing costs can vary too. Sellers typically pay closing fees of 1% to 3% of their home’s sale price to cover attorney’s fees, transfer taxes, title insurance fees, recording fees and outstanding property taxes.

That equates to $4,000 to $12,000 for a $400,000 house.

Moving expenses

The average professional local move (under 100 miles) costs $7,600, according to Move.org. A professional long-distance move, on the other hand, averages $9,140.

Pro tip: Treat moving estimates as a range, not a guarantee. Even well-documented quotes can change once movers account for time, weight or last-minute complications.

Also, don’t forget tipping. A good tip is $5 to $10 per worker per hour, according to Consumer Affairs.

Planning to move yourself? According to Angi.com (formerly Angie’s List), these are the typical costs for moving supplies:

Moving boxes: $1 to $10 per box, depending on size
Packing tape: $2 to $4 per roll
Furniture pads: $8 each
Packing paper: $10 per 10-pound box
Bubble wrap: $20 per box
Foam packing peanuts: $5 per bag

Rental trucks typically cost $130 for a small local move to over $3,000 for a long-distance move, according to Move.org.

That doesn’t include gas, insurance and towing equipment, such as a trailer or tow dolly.

Other costs for home sellers

Depending on your circumstances, you may also incur these expenses at closing:

Mortgage payoff: If you still have a balance on your mortgage, you’ll need to pay it off at settlement. This is typically done using a portion of the proceeds from your home sale. Ideally, you'd have enough equity to pay off your loan balance and to cover closing costs.
Capital gains taxes: Single home sellers selling their primary residence can usually exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains, while married couples filing jointly can usually exclude up to $500,000. If you exceed those exemptions and have owned your home for longer than a year, you can expect long-term capital gains tax rates of anywhere from zero to 20% depending on your taxable income.
Seller concessions: If you agreed to cover some of the buyer’s closing costs, you’ll pay them in the form of seller concessions at settlement. Another type of concession is a mortgage rate buydown, where you pay money to reduce the buyer’s interest rate.

The bottom line

Selling a home comes with its fair share of costs, from agent commissions to closing fees, but careful planning can help you keep money in your pocket.

So whether you’re reinvesting in a new property or simply looking to walk away with the best possible return, get to know the costs ahead of time to navigate the process with confidence.

Use the tool below, in partnership with Bankrate, to compare offers from different mortgage lenders.

Daniel Bortz is the Personal Finance Editor at AARP and is based in Arlington, Va. His freelance work has been published by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Newsweek, and Money magazine, among others.

With contributions from