Selling · · 2 minute read
How much does it cost to sell a house?
How much it costs to sell a house in Ohio: commission, repairs, seller closing costs and taxes, line by line, to estimate net proceeds.
"What will I clear?" is the first question almost every seller asks, and it's the right one. Here's every line item that typically comes out of your sale price before you see a dollar.
Agent commission
Commission is negotiable and varies by market, but it's typically the largest cost in a sale. This pays for marketing, negotiation, transaction coordination, and access to the buyer pool through the local MLS.
Prepping the home for sale
- Minor repairs: fixing the things a home inspector would flag anyway
- Deep cleaning and decluttering: consistently one of the highest-return, lowest-cost improvements
- Staging: ranges from a consultation to full furniture rental depending on the home
- Professional photography: non-negotiable in a market where buyers decide whether to tour a home based on photos alone
Closing costs
Sellers typically cover title insurance, transfer taxes, prorated property taxes, and a portion of escrow fees. These vary significantly by state and county.
Buyer concessions
In some markets, sellers cover part of the buyer's closing costs or offer a credit toward repairs identified during inspection. This is a negotiation lever, not a guaranteed cost, and your agent should help you decide when it makes sense.
Your remaining mortgage balance
Don't forget this one. Your net proceeds are calculated after paying off whatever you still owe on the home, including any home equity loans or lines of credit.
A simple way to estimate your net proceeds
- Start with your expected sale price
- Subtract your remaining mortgage balance
- Subtract estimated commission
- Subtract estimated closing costs (2 to 4% of sale price is a reasonable placeholder)
- Subtract any repairs or concessions you expect to make
The result is a rough estimate of what lands in your pocket, and it's usually smaller than sellers expect on their first calculation.
Want an actual number, not an estimate? Contact me for a free, no-obligation home valuation and a real net-proceeds worksheet based on your specific property. Or see what every listing gets.
