Average cost to sell a house in Montana | Cost to sell calculator | Home selling expenses | Prep costs | Realtor fees | Closing costs | Moving expenses | Tips for saving $$$
Selling a house in Montana can be expensive. Between repairs, realtor commissions, closing costs, moving fees, and more, your total expenses can easily eat up 10.1% or more of your home’s final sale price.
While you may not be able to avoid many home selling costs, there is one way to save big when you sell in Montana.
A low commission company like Clever can help you save big on realtor fees. With Clever, you'll work with a full-service agent from a top broker, but pay only 1% or $3,000 to list your home. That could save you $6,882ⓘ when you sell your Montana home!
» SAVE: List your home for 1% or $3,000 today!
Average cost to sell a house in Montana
How much does it cost to sell a house in Montana? Well, it depends! While your total out-of-pocket costs will vary based on your situation, you should expect for 10.1% or more of your home’s final sale price to go towards selling costs. If you sell your home for $367,030 — the median home value in Montana — you'll likely spend $37,052.
Here's how much you can expect to pay at different price points based on the average cost to sell a house in Montana.
Sale price | Cost to sell |
|---|---|
$150,000 | $15,100 |
$300,000 | $30,300 |
$500,000 | $50,500 |
Common expenses for home sellers in Montana
The chart below breaks down some of the most common expenses for home sellers in Montana to help you prepare for the most (and least) costly aspects of selling your home.
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 versus final sale price.
Common expenses | Estimated cost* |
|---|---|
$3,800 to $11,200 | |
$16,500 to $22,000 | |
$4,000 to $11,600 | |
$1,200 to $2,000 | |
$5,400 to $9,100 | |
Total | $27,100 to $44,700 |
*Based on a $367,030 home — a typical home value in Montana, (Zillow Research data, August 2021) | |
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.
But your best option is to work with a company 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 Montana house?
How much money you keep in your 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 $269,000 if you sell your home for $367,030 and pay 10.1% to sell it.
But you may owe money on the property — the average Montana homeowner still owes $189,021! 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. In some cases, you may even lose money when you sell your home. If you’re in this situation, look for ways to reduce closing costs as much as possible.
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 Montana: an in-depth breakdown
🚨 Disclaimer: We’ve compiled an overview of some of the most common home selling costs in Montana. 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: 2.0%
Unless you’re planning to sell your Montana 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.
These costs will vary considerably depending on:
- The age and condition of your home
- Your home’s size and layout
- The level of demand or competition for homes in your neighborhood
- Your yard’s size and layout
- Which repairs or improvements have the highest return with local buyers
At minimum, you’ll want to invest in some basic pre-listing improvements. The table below breaks down some of the most common pre-listing expenses.
Type of expense | Average project cost* |
|---|---|
Home staging | $1,461 |
Cleaning service | $168 |
Carpet cleaning | $177 |
Handyman | $418 |
Interior repaint | $1,899 |
Landscaping (installing) | $3,372 |
*National averages from HomeAdvisor’s TrueCost Guide 2020 | |
If you’re considering any bigger projects, it’s best to discuss them with your realtor before pulling the trigger. Unless you fully understand the cost versus resale value of each project you take on, you could easily end up losing money on the project.
For example, a minor kitchen remodel costs $25,400 on average in Montana. With a resale value of $18,470 , you'd recoup about 72.7% of your initial investment.
Depending on your situation, it may make more sense to leave your kitchen as it is and let the buyer handle the renovations.
Realtor fees in Montana: 5.50%
Realtor fees in Montana | % of sale price | Cost* |
|---|---|---|
Listing fee | 2.88% | $10,552 |
Buyer’s agent fee | 2.63% | $9,635 |
Total | 5.50% | $20,187 |
*Based on a $367,030 home — a typical home value in Montana, (Zillow Research data, August 2021) | ||
One of the biggest fees for selling a house in Montana will be 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.
The average real estate commission in Montana is between 4.50% and 6.00% 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 Montana, that comes to roughly $20,187 — potentially 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!
Work with a full service agent for only 1% or $3,000!
Clever negotiates discounted listing fees with top agents to help you save money when selling your home!
Negotiations and buyer incentives: 1-3%
Common buyer incentives | Estimated cost* |
|---|---|
Seller concessions | $3,670 to $11,010 |
Buyer’s home warranty | $600 to $300 |
Total | $3,970 to $11,610 |
*Based on a $367,030 home — a typical home value in Montana, (Zillow Research data, August 2021) | |
Depending on your Montana property and demand in your area, the buyer may ask you to offer incentives or make concessions to ensure the deal goes through.
If you agree to these concessions, you'll pay those costs for the buyer, such as covering inspection fees, certain closing costs, repair credits, etc.
Another incentive you could offer is a buyer’s home warranty.
A home warranty can take away a lot of the fears buyers have about major systems breaking right after they move in. It will usually cover repair or replacement costs if a major appliance or home system (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.) breaks within the first few years. Home warranties typically cost between $300 and $600.
No matter what incentives you offer to hook potential buyers, it’s worth noting that some buyers will have limits on how much they can request based on their loan type. On average, seller concessions range between 1% and 3%, but some loan types allow for up to 9%.
Closing costs: 0.5%
Common closing costs in Montana | Typical % of sale price | Estimated cost* |
|---|---|---|
Title insurance | 0.4% | $981 |
Transfer tax | No transfer tax in Montana | $0 |
Recording fee | Typically paid by buyer | $0 |
Title fees | 0.2% | $600 |
Total | 0.5% | $1,581 |
*Based on a $367,030 home — average home value in Montana, per Zillow Research data (August 2021) | ||
Closing costs are a blanket term for the various fees and expenses (not including realtor commission) both buyers and sellers pay at the close of a real estate transaction.
Expect to pay roughly 0.5% of your home’s final sale price at closing. Based on the average home value in Montana of $367,030, that translates to $1,581.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to negotiate for the buyer to pay them. However, it's just as common for buyers to ask sellers to pay their closing costs to seal the deal. Find a realtor in your area to get a sense of how much you should expect to pay in closing costs.
» READ: How much are seller closing costs in Montana?
Moving expenses: 1–2%
If you're looking for the cost of selling a house in Montana, don't forget to include your moving costs! The table below estimates your moving costs for a 2-3 bedroom home — both locally and long-distance (1,000 miles or more).
Common moving expenses | Local | Long-distance |
|---|---|---|
Packing supplies | $500 | $500 |
Moving | $1,250 | $4,890 |
Overlap and carrying costs | 1% of sale price | 1% of sale price |
Total | $5,420** | $9,060** |
*Based on 2-3 bedroom move of approximately 7,500 lbs, per Moving.com **Based on Montana's median home value of $367,030 | ||
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 Montana home sale
Whether you’re selling a duplex in Missoula, a single family home in Butte, or a ranch house in Kalispell, these tips will help you take home the most money from your Montana home sale!
1. List with a low commission real estate agent
Realtor commission fees are a huge expense for Montana 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.
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 2.88% listing fee, you'll only pay 1% or $3,000 (for homes under $350,000)! On average, sellers save over $6,882 on realtor fees!
With Clever, you can also compare multiple Montana 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 Montana home
In the Montana market, June is the best month for home sellers. June sale prices are significantly higher than the year-long average, coming in over 15% above average. June sales are fast, too, with properties coming off the market nearly five weeks faster than the annual average.
The Montana market bottoms out in winter, with home prices hitting a year-long low in December, and February sales taking almost four months before going under contract. The harsh Montana winters are definitely a factor here, as is the holiday season, which soaks up so much emotional and financial energy.
The Montana housing market warms up with the weather until it peaks in June. If you’re selling in the early summer, talk to your agent about an aggressive pricing strategy. The data shows that demand will never be higher!
Of course, every home sale is unique, and you can have a successful sale any month of the year.
Your best bet is to work with a great Montana real estate agent who knows your local area trends. They can create a pricing and marketing strategy to increase competition among buyers so you maximize your profits.
» MORE: How long does it take to sell a house in Montana?
3. 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, a home warranty, and the title search, among other things. These fees can add up quickly and eat into your profits.
The right negotiation techniques can help you minimize the costs you’re responsible for and make your home sale as profitable as possible. 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.
Other cost-saving options in Montana
- Find the 10 best low commission real estate companies
- How 1% commission realtors work
- Check out the best discount real estate agents in Montana
- Learn more about flat-fee real estate agents
- The best flat-fee MLS services in Montana
- How to sell for sale by owner in Montana