"So what's this actually going to cost me?" It's one of the first questions every seller asks — and one a lot of people are afraid to ask out loud. Good. Let's put real numbers to it, because a clear picture beats a scary guess every time.

Here's the honest headline: between all the pieces, selling a home usually runs somewhere around 7% to 9% of your sale price. That sounds like a lot until you see where it goes — and how much of it is negotiable or optional. Let's break it down.

The agent commission

This is the biggest single piece, and since the rules changed in 2024, it's more negotiable and more transparent than ever. Around here, total commission on a sale has historically landed in the 5% to 6% range, typically split between the agent representing you and the agent who brings the buyer. What you pay, and how the buyer's side is handled, is a conversation we have upfront — in writing — before your home ever hits the market. No surprises.

What you're paying for: professional photography and marketing, pricing strategy, negotiation, managing the mountain of paperwork and deadlines, and someone whose only job is protecting your interests through closing. Done right, good representation typically nets you more, not less — homes marketed well tend to sell faster and closer to full price.

Seller closing costs

These are the smaller line items that add up to roughly 1% to 3% of your sale price. In North Carolina and South Carolina they usually include:

The excise/transfer tax (North Carolina charges $1 for every $500 of sale price — about 0.2%; South Carolina's deed recording fee runs closer to 0.37%). Your share of property taxes prorated up to the closing date. Attorney and deed-preparation fees — both Carolinas are attorney-closing states, so a real estate attorney handles the closing. Any HOA transfer or document fees. And often a portion of title work depending on your contract.

The one most people forget: buyer concessions

In today's market, buyers frequently ask sellers to chip in toward their closing costs or a rate buydown — often around 2% of the price. It's not always part of the deal, but it's common enough that you should plan for the possibility. It's also very negotiable, and it's one of the levers we use strategically to get you to the closing table.

Prep, repairs, and staging

This one's entirely up to you and your home. Sometimes it's a weekend of cleaning and decluttering (nearly free). Sometimes it's paint, a few repairs from the inspection, or light staging. We'll walk your specific house and tell you honestly what's worth doing and what isn't — because dollars spent here should come back to you at the sale, not just disappear.

And then there's your mortgage payoff

Not technically a "cost," but it's the big number that comes out of your proceeds: whatever you still owe on your loan gets paid off at closing. Everything left after that and the costs above is your net — the number that actually matters.

So what do you actually walk away with?

Here's the simple math:

Your sale price − your mortgage payoff − commission − closing costs − any concessions = what lands in your pocket.

That "net proceeds" number is the one worth knowing before you make any decision — and it's almost always healthier than sellers fear, especially with how much home values in the Charlotte and Grand Strand areas have grown.

Want your real number?

We'll put together a free, no-obligation net sheet for your specific home — your estimated sale price, every cost line, and the bottom-line number you'd walk away with. No pressure, no commitment, just clarity so you can decide with real information instead of a guess.

Reach out anytime. We'd love to show you where you stand.

NextHome Paramount serves buyers and sellers across Charlotte, Matthews, and North Myrtle Beach. Each office is independently owned and operated. This post is general information, not financial or legal advice; costs vary by home, contract, and closing, and rates and fees change over time.