Average Cost to Sell a House in Colorado

Many homeowners are wondering if now is a good time to sell a house. It really depends on your situation, but you should know that selling a house isn't free — in many cases, it's quite expensive.

In fact, the average home seller in Colorado loses about 10.22% of the sale price to selling costs.

By working with Semya-Moya, however, you could save $7,103.25 selling a $537,600 house — the median value for homes in Colorado. That's because Clever agents only charge 1.5% to list your house, as compared to the state average of 2.73%.

Average cost to sell a house in Colorado

How much does it cost to sell a house in Colorado? It depends on the sale price, realtor commission rates, and the condition of the home — among other things.

The average home seller in Colorado ends up paying about 10.22% of their sale price on selling costs when it's all said and done. For a median-priced home of $537,600, that comes out to about $54,927.

For a more specific estimate of costs to sell your home, check out our home sale calculator below.

Common expenses for home sellers in Colorado

Specific costs to sell your house may vary depending on your circumstances, but below is a list of some of the more common expenses. Talk to your realtor to see which expenses you should plan for and how much you can expect to pay.

Some expenses are unavoidable, but there are ways to bring down the total cost to sell your house.

Since realtor commissions take up the largest portion of your costs to sell your home, they're the first place you should look to save money. You can do this by selling for sale by owner (FSBO) or by hiring a discount real estate broker.

Be aware that saving on your listing commission by selling FSBO doesn't mean you'll get the same sale price, and you could end up losing money in the end.

You're better off working with a company like Clever. You'll keep the benefits of a full-service agent while getting a discounted rate on your listing fee.

How much will I make selling my house in Colorado?

How much you make selling your house depends on a lot of factors — most importantly, the value of your home, your mortgage balance, and agent fees.

If you don't have a mortgage, all you need to do is subtract the total cost to sell your home from the sale price. On average, selling costs are 10.22% of the total cost. So, you could make $482,673 if you sell your house for the state median home value of $537,600.

However, most homeowners have a mortgage on their home. In Colorado, the average homeowner owes $273,718. In this case, subtract your mortgage balance from the total proceeds to determine how much profit you're actually making.

Your agent should provide you with a seller's net sheet that outlines all the expected costs, including your mortgage balance, to show you how much you'll walk away with after the sale is complete.

» MORE: See what other factors affect your home sale profit

Cost of selling a house calculator

Use this home sale calculator to get a better idea of how much you'll have to spend to sell your home — and how much you'll take home after!

Home selling costs in Colorado: An in-depth breakdown

Preparing your home for sale

Unless you plan to sell your house "as is" or to an iBuyer, you'll probably need to do some kind of prep before listing it.

If you're interested in an easy cash offer, you might consider the iBuyer option.

iBuyers purchase homes in their current condition with no required improvements, saving you time and money. The downside is they tend to offer below market value in exchange for convenience.

To find out how much an iBuyer would offer for your house, fill out the form below to compare offers from top cash buyers.

If you want the highest sale price, a traditional listing is your best bet. That also means you'll need to do some kind of prep before listing. High demand houses in great shape might just need a deep clean and decluttering. Other homes might need a new coat of paint, some minor landscaping, or upgrades for dated aspects of the house.

» MORE: Specific costs of prepping your home

Your agent is going to be your best asset when it comes to deciding what preparation strategies are best for your home.

Realtor fees in Colorado

Realtor fees are the largest portion of your cost to sell your home.

In a standard real estate transaction that involves two traditional, full-price agents, the seller is usually on the hook for covering the commission fee for both agents. Luckily, this fee usually comes out of your sale proceeds, so you shouldn't pay it out of pocket.

» LEARN: How realtor commission is split in a home sale

The average amount Colorado homesellers spend on realtor commissions is $29,676 — that could be more than half of your total home selling expenses!

But you don't have to spend that much. Clever negotiates discounts with top listing agents that can save you thousands of dollars when you sell your home.

Closing costs

Closing costs are a blanket term for the various fees and expenses both buyers and sellers pay at the close of a real estate transaction. Closing costs don't include realtor commissions.

Depending on the market and demand for your home, you may be able to negotiate for the buyer to cover most of the closing costs. However, in a buyer's market, they may negotiate for you to cover most of the closing costs.

» MORE: How much are seller closing costs in Colorado?

In fact, sometimes sellers will offer additional incentives or concessions to sweeten the deal and attract more buyers.

Moving expenses

Depending on the distance you are moving and if you're hiring professionals, moving can be expensive.

In Colorado, the average moving costs are $602 locally and $4,872 for 1,000 miles or more — which accounts for packing supplies, movers, and carrying costs.

» MORE: See how much the average seller spends on moving expenses

Additionally, sellers should remember they need to pay for utilities until the new owner takes over. If you move out before closing, make sure you budget for this expense.

How to avoid losing money on your Colorado home sale

Regardless of whether you're selling a single-family home in Boulder, a condo in Denver, or a duplex in Colorado Springs, there are steps you can take to minimize unnecessary expenditures and keep more money at the end of the sale.

1. List with a low commission real estate agent

The easiest way to save money is to cut down on realtor fees, which are your largest negotiable expenses.

Clever can match you with local full-service agents from well-known brokerages like RE/MAX, Keller Williams, and Century 21. But, instead of paying the typical 2.73% listing fee, you'll only pay 1.5%! On average, sellers save over $9,300 on realtor fees.

With Clever, you can compare multiple Colorado agents to find the one that best fits your needs. Even better, finding an agent through Clever won't cost you a dime, and there's no obligation to move forward until you find the perfect agent.

2. Time your sale to get top dollar for your Colorado home

The best month to sell a home in Colorado is in May. In this month, homes typically sell for about 10% more than the average listing price in other months. Besides that, it’s also historically when homes sell fastest — listings are often snatched in about half the time it takes in other months.

This may be because of the pleasant weather, especially with summer settling in. With the winter chill dissipating, families are more inclined to be out and about, ready to house hunt and attend open houses.

Take note, however, that most other sellers will sell during this month too, so make sure to do renovations or maintenance in advance. That way you'll be ready to list at the start of May to get ahead of your competitors.

For the easiest time selling, work with a realtor — they know the best marketing and pricing strategy to sell your home fast without diminishing your profit. They can give the best advice for your area, as local trends tend to vary wildly from the state’s market.

» MORE: When is the best time to sell a house in Colorado?

3. Negotiate like a pro

Home sales are among the largest financial transactions of most people's lives. Unfortunately, most of us don't sell houses very often, so we're not well-practiced at negotiating these deals.

That's why working with a great agent is so important. They do this for a living and will negotiate the best deal possible without losing the buyer's interest.

» MORE: Negotiate so both the seller and buyer get something they want

If your negotiations include making repairs for the buyer, we recommend using HomeAdvisor to connect you with top local professionals. You can compare quotes and get high quality work for the best price while saving the hassle of doing it yourself.

4. Save on repairs and upgrades

Another trick for saving money is hunting for discounts and being efficient when upgrading major appliances. For example, companies like Whirlpool may give you 10% off when you buy two or more full-priced appliances.

You can also cut down on labor costs by using services like TaskRabbit. Whether it be cleaning, landscaping, installing appliances, or moving, TaskRabbit can connect you with people in your area who will help for less than a full-time professional would charge.

FAQs about costs to sell in Colorado

Additional resources for Colorado home sellers

8 Steps to Selling a House in Colorado

Selling your house in Colorado? Our in-depth guide breaks down the process into 8 easy-to-understand steps, from listing through closing.

How to Sell a House By Owner in Colorado (2023 Update)

Learn how to sell a house by owner in Colorado in 2023 and decide if it’s right for you. Selling FSBO isn’t easy, but it can save you money in listing fees.

Average Time to Sell a House in Colorado

We’ve compiled the latest data on how long it takes to sell a house in Colorado — along with top tips on how to sell your house faster AND for top dollar.