A higher list price doesn't always mean more money in your pocket. We break down the fees, repairs, and time that quietly eat your proceeds.
The headline number on a listing is rarely the number you keep. Between commissions, repairs, concessions, and months of carrying costs, the gap between 'list price' and 'walk-away cash' is often much wider than people expect.
What a traditional sale really costs
- Agent commissions, typically 5–6% of the sale price
- Repairs and prep to make the home show-ready
- Buyer concessions negotiated at closing
- Title, escrow, and transfer costs
- Carrying costs while you wait — often 60 to 90 days
What a cash sale trades
A cash offer is priced for the speed and certainty it gives you, because the buyer takes on the condition, the risk, and the timeline. But it zeroes out commissions, repairs, concessions, and most closing costs — and it removes the months of uncertainty.
The honest answer: sometimes a perfect traditional sale nets more. Often, once you subtract everything, a cash sale is comparable or better — and it's certain. Run your own numbers with our net-sheet calculator on any state page.
