15 Hidden Homebuying Costs That Could Blow Your Budget

[{"selector":"#anim-d7abb3a9-5e88-4f25-85b2-4c1d9421937f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e3865d4-25b3-436d-8345-c11d5f31e1c0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-886ba255-1080-4074-af48-85359a5c61c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00cef9a6-b21d-4e43-8987-09301c0b5bcd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Selling a home is one of the most lucrative financial transactions in the average person’s life. What many home sellers don’t realize, especially first-time home sellers. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-2a06ab7a-88b2-45dc-84b8-384b7a58552b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0c676aa-301d-4923-9fa4-8295214508e0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The truth is the money you put into your house before selling it is a great investment that will most likely pay for itself and then some. Medium Brush Stroke Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-6e57a8d9-548c-4af0-a944-1baaadc71efe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66e5b82c-d1ef-4010-9881-c1297fc1b169","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] So where is all this pre-listing money going, and how does it boost your sale price? Read on and we’ll break it down for you. Learn more

1. Getting an Independent Appraisal

[{"selector":"#anim-a7b2d31d-d487-406b-a5cd-ee4305895efe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8ea1c39-e1c0-429c-b662-6e14386b2e21","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Pricing is one of the most important pre-listing tasks for sellers. Price your home too high, and you’ll scare off a lot of buyers. Learn more

Getting an independent appraisal can give you a professional opinion of how much your home is worth, taking its unique features and condition into account.

2. Professional Home Staging

[{"selector":"#anim-c71c7eb9-cda3-42e9-9bda-6088474b91df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3bbefd9-06b3-4aff-a4bc-933d608656eb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Professional home stagers know from experience exactly what prospective buyers want to see in a home, and how to show off your property in its best light. Learn more

Often, that means bringing in new furniture, furnishings, and even artwork, as well as changing the layout of key rooms in the house.

3. A Pre-Listing Inspection

[{"selector":"#anim-d0c467a0-48ed-407c-a23b-e5befe5ab217","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97e1db09-ef9e-42da-aa8d-98bd3a837d23","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Having your home inspected before it hits the market will make sure there are no unpleasant surprises that could derail your home sale at the last minute. Learn more

According to Zillow, 15% of home sales are called off because the inspection finds something unpleasant at the 11th hour, and the buyer backs out.

4. Presale Repairs

[{"selector":"#anim-68f4cdb0-547c-4acf-b1ad-309a8f390f6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1db7cf9-6f3c-4ed7-a95e-4855489c7722","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] If you’ve lived in your home for a while, it’s very likely you’re going to need to fix a few things to get your home ready for the market. Learn more

This could include big repairs like the roof or foundation, cosmetic repairs like painting, having your yard landscaped, or small repairs like fixing dead outlets or loose doorknobs.

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[{"selector":"#anim-a6ab32de-0da0-4976-9728-9dc75ac8d911","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9819eb8-6d7b-4841-bb02-b8f5806e618e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-75057391-ea58-4b65-ae9e-4556effd6c53","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3100618b-fe83-4ede-a07b-2e4bfe5d463e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free quiz matches you with fiduciary financial advisors in your area or who serve your area. If you are ready to be matched with financial advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, take the quiz now . Take Quiz Now!