Average cost to sell a house in West Virginia | Cost to sell calculator | Home selling expenses | Prep costs | Realtor fees | Closing costs | Moving expenses | Tips for saving $$$
Selling a house in West Virginia can be expensive. Between repairs, realtor commissions, closing costs, moving fees, and more, your total expenses can easily eat up 15.84% or more of your home’s final sale price.
While you may not be able to avoid some costs completely, there is one way to save big when you sell in West Virginia.
Semya-Moya can help you save thousands on realtor fees. With Clever, you'll work with a full-service agent from a top brokerage, but pay only 1.5% to list your home.
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Average cost to sell a house in West Virginia
Your total out-of-pocket costs will vary based on your situation, but you should expect for around 15.84% of your home’s final sale price to go towards selling costs. If you sell your home for $158,668 — the median home value in West Virginia — you'll likely spend $25,134.
Here's how much you can expect to pay at different price points based on the average cost to sell a house in West Virginia.
| Sale price | Cost to sell |
|---|---|
| $150,000 | $23,761 |
| $250,000 | $39,602 |
| $500,000 | $79,203 |
Common expenses for home sellers in West Virginia
The chart below breaks down some of the most common expenses for home sellers in West Virginia.
Keep in mind these costs are highly variable — particularly the home prep and relocation expenses. Talk to your realtor for a more accurate and tailored estimate of your costs.
While repairs, closings costs, and relocation expenses may be out of your control, you can still save money on realtor fees by either selling for sale by owner (FSBO) or hiring a discount real estate broker.
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.
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How much will I make selling my West Virginia house?
How much money you pocket after selling your house will depend on several factors, including:
- How you choose to sell your home (realtor, cash buyer, for sale by owner, etc.)
- Which repairs and improvements you do to prep your home for sale
- Whether you make any concessions or offer incentives to buyers
- State and local taxes and closing costs
- Your remaining mortgage balance
If you don't have a mortgage, you'll get the entire sale price minus the costs of selling your home. That means you could take home $133,534 if you sell your home for $158,668 and pay 15.84% to sell it.
But you may owe money on the property or have other unique expenses that impact your overall cost to sell.
Cost of selling a house calculator
Use this cost of selling a house 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 West Virginia: An in-depth breakdown
🚨 Disclaimer: We’ve compiled an overview of some of the most common home selling costs in West Virginia. This guide is not 100% comprehensive, and actual costs will vary from situation to situation. Talk to your real estate agent and lender for the most accurate sense of how much it will cost to sell your home.
Preparing your home for sale: Varies
Unless you’re planning to sell your West Virginia house as is or to a cash buyer, you’ll need to spend some money to get your home market-ready to attract qualified buyers.
At minimum, you’ll want to invest in some basic pre-listing improvements to maximize your home value. The table below breaks down some of the most common professional pre-listing expenses. And even if you decide to go the DIY route, remember to budget a few hundred dollars for supplies.
» LEARN MORE: What home improvements to make before selling
Realtor fees in West Virginia: 5.44%
Realtor fees are one of the biggest costs for selling a house in West Virginia. 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.
The average real estate commission in West Virginia is between 4.71% and 6.17% of the home’s final selling price and is typically split between the two agents handling the sale.
Based on the median home value in West Virginia, that comes to roughly $8,632.
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: 3.80%
Closing costs are a blanket term for the various fees and expenses (not including realtor commission) paid at the close of a real estate transaction.
Expect to pay roughly 3.80% of your home’s final sale price at closing. Based on the average home value in West Virginia of $158,668, that translates to $6,022.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to negotiate for the buyer to pay some of them. However, it's just as common for buyers to ask sellers to pay their closing costs to seal the deal.
» READ: How much are seller closing costs in West Virginia?
Don't forget property taxes
At closing, you'll also pay prorated property taxes. The total amount will depend on when you sell your home and where you live in West Virginia. The overall average rate for property taxes in West Virginia is 0.58%, however it varies greatly across the state. For example, in Pocahontas, the property tax rate is 0.33%, but in Mason, it's 0.70%.
Moving expenses: ~1%
Depending on factors like the distance of your move, how much you want to DIY, and how much stuff you have, these expenses can really add up.
Moreover, don’t forget to account for potential overlap periods. If there’s a gap between when you move out of your current home and close on your new one, you may need to pay for a storage space and/or temporary housing. Or you may have to pay carrying costs (e.g., utilities, HOA fees, property taxes, etc.) on two properties at once.
How to avoid losing money on your West Virginia home sale
Whether you’re selling a condo in Charleston, a vacation rental in Snowshoe, or a single family home in Frostburg, get ready to make as much money as possible from your West Virginia home sale!
1. List with a low commission real estate agent
Realtor commission fees are a huge expense for West Virginia home sellers, often making up a large portion of your total selling costs. Thankfully, finding a way to save on commission is one of the best ways to make more money when you sell your home!
You can negotiate commission rates on your own, but the easiest option is to find a low commission real estate agent through an agent-matching company like Clever.
» LEARN MORE: Ways to save money when selling your house
2. Negotiate like a pro
Negotiating is a delicate balance between getting as much money as you can for your home and keeping the buyer happy and interested.
Buyers may request you pay for repairs, closing costs, or a home warranty. These fees can add up quickly and eat into your profits if you're not careful.
» READ: How to successfully sell your home
3. Time your sale to get top dollar for your West Virginia home
When preparing to list your West Virginia home, aim to sell in June. Previous data shows that listing prices are at their peak in this month, with values going over 17% higher than the average in other months. Home sales are at their fastest too, with turnaround times almost 25% shorter than average.
The weather plays a major contributor to this trend. The winter cold prevents a lot of buyers from going out and holiday obligations deter many people from making big purchases. When spring rolls around, this pent-up demand is released. Add in the families looking to transfer before the new school year, and the market becomes very active.
While the June market is ideal for sellers, there will still be a lot of competition. You’ll need to market aggressively to get ahead. Try highlighting your area’s security and nearby family-friendly amenities, like schools and parks — this can turn more attention your way.
However, local trends typically vary across the state, so consult with a local realtor first. They can give you up-to-date input on your area’s market and make the selling process much easier.
» MORE: When is the best time to sell a house in West Virginia?
Methodology
Our data on the costs to sell a home are compiled from the following sources:
- Home values (Zillow, August 31, 2023)
- Average real estate commissions (Semya-Moya, survey of 630 agents)
- Service costs like attorney fees, photography, movers, title insurance, etc. were compiled from over 8,500 professional service quotes
- Tax rates are based on publicly available information
FAQs about costs to sell in West Virginia
How can I save money when I sell my West Virginia home?
Realtor fees will be your biggest selling expense in West Virginia making up 34% of your total selling costs! Paying less in realtor commissions is the best way to save money when you sell your home. You could try to sell your home without a realtor, but you take on a lot more risk. Your best option is to work with a low commission realtor who will give you the same level of service as a traditional agent for a fraction of the cost. Find the best low commission companies here
How much are closing costs for sellers in West Virginia?
You should expect to pay about 3.80% of your home's final sale price in closing costs, plus 5.44% in realtor fees when you sell a house in West Virginia. However, your actual closing costs will vary depending on your situation and working with a local realtor can help you better estimate your costs.
