How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in Washington State?

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By Alex Long Updated March 1, 2024

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Home sale calculator | Home selling costs | Ways to save

Find out the average cost of selling a house in Washington

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Average cost to sell a house in Washington

While your out-of-pocket costs will vary based on your situation, you can expect 11.22% or more of your home’s final sale price to go toward selling costs. So if you sell your home for $563,764, you'll likely spend about $63,230.

Common expenses for home sellers in Washington

The chart below breaks down some of the most common expenses for home sellers in Washington 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.

While repairs, closing 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 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!

💰 Get a lower rate with a top local agent!

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!

How much will I make selling my Washington house?

How much money you keep in your pocket after selling your house will depend on several factors, including 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 11.22% of the total cost. So, you could take home $500,534 if you sell your home for the state median home value of $563,764.

But you may owe money on the property — the average Washington homeowner still owes $278,851! 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!

👉 Real estate agent commission is the single biggest expense for most sellers. Clever can help you save thousands by matching you with an agent who will list your home for 1.5%. On the average Washington home worth $563,764, that's a savings of $9,809!

Start comparing hand-picked agents today. It's 100% free with no obligation.

Home selling costs in Washington: An in-depth breakdown

🚨 Disclaimer: We’ve compiled an overview of some of the most common home selling costs in Washington. This guide is not 100% comprehensive, and actual costs will vary from one house to another. 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

Unless you're selling your home as is or to an iBuyer, you need to get your Washington house market-ready. This prep work can help you attract qualified buyers and get the best sale price.

Preparing your home can be as simple as deep cleaning and mowing the lawn. Or it can involve more substantial work, like painting or making repairs.

Discuss with your realtor which preparation costs will pay off the most. You don't want to spend money on improvements that you may not get back when you sell.

» MORE: Average home prep costs

🌟 Ask an expert

Staging is often overlooked as an unnecessary expense by a seller versus a great return on investment. Staged homes have been proven to sell quicker and for a higher amount than a cold, vacant, and unstaged home. The typical staging cost is between $500 and $2,500 depending on how much staging is needed, size of home, etc. 70% of the time, my staff stager can repurpose my sellers' own furniture to keep the cost down.

  • Jeff Dickinson, eXp Realty, Seattle, WA

Realtor fees in Washington

Realtor commission is one of the biggest fees for selling a house in Washington. In a standard real estate transaction, you (the seller) pay the commission for both your listing agent and the buyer's agent. Here's the breakdown:

On average, paying full commission to sell your house in Washington costs about $29,598 — which will likely be around half of your total home selling expenses.

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

🌟 Ask an expert

The biggest variable in determining the cost to sell a house is the commission rate, and Clever does a great job reducing the commission rate, saving sellers thousands. The other selling costs are usually fixed and typically indexed by selling price.

  • Jeff Dickinson, eXp Realty, Seattle, WA

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 your market and how much interest there is in your home, you could negotiate for the buyer to cover closing costs, but you shouldn't assume this will be the case.

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.

Keep in mind, Washington's excise tax is based on the sale price of the home. Most sellers fall in the 1.28% range (homes priced $500,000 to $1.5 million), but you could pay as low as 1.1% or as high as 3% depending on your home value.

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

Moving expenses

If you're selling your own home, don't forget to account for moving and transition costs. Even if you're moving locally, you may need to rent a truck or storage unit. If the timing doesn't line up perfectly, you'll also probably have to pay utilities and mortgages on your new and your old house.

In Washington, the average moving costs are $574 locally and $4,738 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 Washington home sale

Whether you’re selling a single family home in Spokane, a condo in downtown Seattle, or a duplex in Tacoma, these tips will help you maximize your profits from your Washington home sale!

1. List with a low commission real estate agent

The majority of your expenses are taken up by real estate agent commissions, so cutting those down is a great way to minimize the cost to sell your home — and Clever can help!

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 2.75% listing fee, you'll only pay 1.5%!

With Clever, you can compare multiple Washington 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.

💰 Compare hand-picked agents, list for 1.5%

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.

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

If you want top dollar for your Washington home, the ideal time to sell is June. During this month, homes sell for around $70,567 more than the annual average.

But if your priority is selling quickly, May is the best time to put your home on the market. Homes sold in May are on the market for an average of 22 days, which is 17 days less than the annual average.

However, these are general trends, and many sellers can have a successful sale outside of the busiest months.

We recommend working with a top agent who knows the local market trends. They can help you implement a strategy to attract the highest offers in the shortest amount of time.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

FAQ about costs to sell in Washington

How much are closing costs for sellers in Washington?

Closing costs in Washington are usually about 3.66% of the sale price, or $20,660, on average. That said, this doesn't include realtor commissions, which make up the largest portion of your expenses and run about 5.25% of your sale price.

How much does it cost to sell a house in Washington?

The average home seller in Washington spends about $63,230, or 11.22% 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?

The average Washington home seller makes about $500,534 on their home sale before paying off their existing mortgage, if they have one. For a more specific idea of what you can expect to walk away with, check out our home sale proceeds calculator.

Additional resources for Washington home sellers

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