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Selling your home can be an enticing idea when you think about that big check you get to cash after closing, but don't forget — selling a house costs money.
In some cases, it's actually quite expensive to sell your house. In Maryland, the average home seller spends about 11.32% of their home's sale price in the process of getting it prepped, listing it, and closing.
Spending some money selling your home is unavoidable, but fortunately, Semya-Moya can help you minimize the cost to sell. With Clever, you'll work with a full-service agent from a top broker, but pay only 1.5% to list your home.
Want to find a top local agent without overpaying on realtor fees? Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated realtors from trusted brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway.
Get guaranteed full service for a fraction of the 3% rate agents typically charge. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a top local agent today!
Average cost to sell a house in Maryland
How much does it cost to sell a house in Maryland? Well, it depends! Your total out-of-pocket costs will vary based on your situation, but you should expect to spend approximately 11.32% or more of your home’s final sale price. If you sell your home for $407,656, you'll likely spend about $46,160.
To know for sure what your specific home might cost to sell, check out our home sale calculator below.
Common expenses for home sellers in Maryland
See our chart below for some of the more common expenses home sellers in Maryland can expect to pay.
Many of these expenses are highly variable, so talk to your realtor to get a better idea of which expenses are necessary and how much you should anticipate spending.
Many costs — moving expenses, closing costs, repairs — are largely out of your control, but the biggest expense will usually be the realtor fees. You can cut down on those either by selling for sale by owner (FSBO) or hiring a discount real estate broker.
But your best option is to work with a company like Clever that negotiates lower commissions with full service, local agents on your behalf. That way you can save money while getting the same level of service as someone who pays full price!
How much will I make selling my Maryland house?
How much money you make selling your home depends on many factors — closing costs, taxes, mortgage balance, and more.
If you don't have a mortgage, you'll get the entire sale price minus the cost of selling your home. On average, selling costs are 11.32% of the total cost. So, you could take home $361,495 if you sell your home for the state median home value of $407,656.
But if you're like most homeowners, you probably owe some money on your home. In fact, the average Maryland homeowner still owes $253,598! If you do, your remaining mortgage balance will come out of your proceeds, cutting into the amount that will finally land in your bank account.
» 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 Maryland: An in-depth breakdown
Preparing your home for sale
Prepping your home for sale is a necessary evil — that is, unless you're selling it "as is" or to an iBuyer.
iBuyers buy your home in its current condition, meaning you don't have to spend anything to improve it. But the tradeoff is, they'll likely offer you below market value.
Curious to see what an iBuyer would offer you for your home? Fill out the form below to compare offers from top cash buyers.
Compare cash offers from Opendoor, Offerpad, and others to the sale price you'd get with an agent.
The amount of prep necessary for a traditional home depends a lot on your local market and the condition of your home. In seller's markets, you may be able to list after a deep clean and decluttering.
For markets that favor the buyer, you may need to do more substantial preparation like painting or replacing broken or outdated parts of the house.
Your agent is a great resource for determining how much prep is necessary and where you should focus your efforts to get the most bang for your buck.
» MORE: Specific costs of prepping your home
🌟Ask an expert
The best tip I have is to make sure that all major systems and home areas (HVAC, plumbing, roof, etc) are in good repair and recently serviced before putting your home on the market. The bonus here if you do the work before putting your home on the market is that you'll be in full control of what professionals complete the work, and that will often save a lot of money.
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Jill Judge, Jill Judge Real Estate Team
Realtor fees in Maryland
Typically, the largest single expense you'll pay when selling your home — besides paying off the mortgage — is the realtor commission.
In a standard real estate transaction — one involving two traditional, full-price agents — you will likely be on the hook for covering the full commission fee for both agents.
» LEARN: How realtor commission is split in a home sale
On average, paying full commission to sell your house in Maryland costs about $20,831 — that could be more than half of your total home selling expenses!
But you don't have to pay that much. Clever negotiates discounts with top listing agents that can save you thousands of dollars when you sell your home!
Get matched with the best local agents from top brokerages and get pre-negotiated listing fees of just 1.5%.
Clever's service is 100% free, with zero obligation. Interview as many agents as you like until you find the perfect fit — or walk away at any time.
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.
In seller's markets, you may be able to negotiate the buyer paying some closing costs, but you shouldn't assume this will be the case. Sometimes, the opposite happens, depending on how much demand there is for your house.
If you're in a seller's market, you may be able to list your home and sell it "as is." But, if the market cools down or you have a property that's harder than average to sell, you may need to consider offering incentives or making concessions. This could mean chipping in for closing costs, offering repair credits, or paying for a home warranty.
» MORE: How much are seller closing costs in Maryland?
The state of Maryland charges a transfer tax of 0.25% of the sale price, but there are often county transfer taxes as well which range from 0.5–1.5%. There is no county transfer tax in Calvert, Carroll, and Frederick Counties.
Moving expenses
If you're selling your primary residence — that is, a home you live in — you'll need to move your belongings at some point. This usually involves some cost. If you're moving locally and have a friend with a truck, it may be relatively cheap, but renting trucks, storage units, and hiring movers can get expensive fast!
In Maryland, the average moving costs are $560 locally and $4,478 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
How to avoid losing money on your Maryland home sale
Whether you’re selling a single family home in Columbia, a condo in Baltimore, or a duplex in Germantown, these tips will help you maximize your profits from your Maryland home sale!
1. List with a low commission real estate agent
The biggest portion of your selling costs go to agent commissions, so cutting down on those is the best way to save money when selling a house.
Clever matches you with local full-service agents from well-known brokerages like RE/MAX, Keller Williams, and Century 21. But, instead of paying the typical 2.60% listing fee, you'll only pay 1.5%!
With Clever, you can compare multiple Maryland 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.
Work with a full service agent for only 1.5%!
Clever negotiates discounted listing fees with top agents to help you save money when selling your home!
2. Time your sale to get top dollar for your Maryland home
In Maryland, the ideal time to sell your home is June. Homes sell around 13 days faster and for about $23,000 more than the average home sold in other months.
» MORE: When is the best time to sell a house in Maryland?
However, sellers can have a successful sale even outside the busiest months!
We recommend working with a top local agent who knows the area and trends in the market. They can help you implement a strategy that attracts the highest offers in the shortest amount of time.
3. Negotiate like a pro
The key to effective negotiation is knowing what leverage you have and using it to get what you want while still keeping the buyer interested. Alternatively, the buyer may have the leverage, in which case you need to decide what you're willing to concede to get the sale finalized.
Depending on the house and the state of the market, buyers may request that you pay for repairs, closing costs, a home warranty, or the title search, among other things. These fees can add up quickly and eat into your profits.
Using a top-rated real estate agent can be an invaluable resource when it comes to negotiating, as they'll do most of the back-and-forth for you.
» MORE: Negotiate so both the seller and buyer get something they want
🌟Ask an expert
Sellers often underestimate the cost of repairs that might come up when a buyer does a home inspection. Because sellers are so used to their own home and often really love where they live, it's easy for them to downplay or forget the costs of any items that might come up when a buyer does a home inspection.
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Jill Judge, Jill Judge Real Estate Team
If you can't get out of paying for repairs, we recommend letting HomeAdvisor connect you with top local professionals so you can compare quotes and get the best possible price.
4. Save on repairs and upgrades
You can lower the cost of new appliances for your property by using companies like Whirlpool that may give you 10% off when you buy two or more full-priced items.
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 Maryland
How much are closing costs for sellers in Maryland?
Closing costs in Maryland are usually about 3.56% of the sale price, or $14,530, on average. That said, this doesn't include realtor commissions, which make up the largest portion of your expenses and run about 5.11% of your sale price.
How much does it cost to sell a house in Maryland?
The average home seller in Maryland spends about $46,160, or 11.32% of the sale price. This can vary widely depending on the state of the market and condition of your home, but working with an agent who offers a discounted rate will be a great help in keeping this cost down.
How much money will I make when I sell my house?
In 2021, the average Maryland home seller made about $361,495 on their home sale before paying off their existing mortgage, if they had one. For a more specific idea of what you can expect to walk away with, check out our home sale proceeds calculator.
