A national report from Clever Offers claims the average homeowner spent over $67,000 to sell their house in 2025 — more than three times what most expected.

That number includes everything from home prep to marketing to closing costs. It’s attention-grabbing, but for Charlotte-area sellers, the real takeaway is this: the cost of selling depends on your preparation, your property, and your plan.

Where the Money Goes

Nationally, sellers said they spent on things like:

• Pre-listing repairs and light renovations

• Buyer concessions after inspection

• Legal and closing costs

• Moving expenses

• Marketing, photography, and staging

• Real-estate service fees or commissions

Each expense varies depending on the home’s condition, the listing agreement, and the complexity of the transaction.

More than half of sellers in the study said they were surprised by how expensive the process became — and nearly a quarter borrowed money to cover it.

Breaking Down Typical Selling Expenses in Charlotte

Here’s what a typical Charlotte-area seller might encounter. These are ranges, not fixed numbers — every home sale is unique.

 

 Note: Commissions are always negotiable. Some sellers pay both sides, some only one — it depends on the agreement and services provided. There’s no single “standard” or “average” rate.

Charlotte Market Reality Check (Fall 2025)

According to the latest Canopy MLS September 2025 Market Report, buyer activity remained strong even as market times lengthened slightly:

• Pending Sales: +13.4% year-over-year, with 3,700 homes going under contract.

• Closings: +9.4% year-over-year across the 16-county Charlotte region.

• Inventory: Up 23% year-over-year to about 12,000 homes for sale (3.3 months’ supply).

• Median Sales Price: $397,000 (+0.9% year-over-year).

• Average Sales Price: $505,510 (+1.3%).

• Days on Market: 53 days region-wide, up 35.9% from 39 days a year ago.

• Mecklenburg County: Average DOM 46 days, up 31.4% from 35 days in 2024.

Sellers are still capturing about 96% of their original list price, but as inventory grows, buyers have more leverage and are gravitating toward move-in-ready homes that show well and feel current.

Why FSBO Often Costs More Than It Saves

The Clever study found that sellers who went “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) were less likely to turn a profit than those who used a licensed real-estate professional.

Nationally, only about two-thirds of FSBO sellers made money — compared with over 80% of agent-assisted sellers.

In Charlotte, the gap shows up in Days on Market (DOM).
Homes listed in the MLS averaged 46 days in Mecklenburg County, while unrepresented listings often linger far longer due to limited marketing reach and inaccurate pricing.

Longer days on market lead to higher carrying costs, price reductions, and weaker negotiating power — the opposite of what most sellers intend when they “go it alone.”

The Value of a Plan

The sellers who stay on top of costs and avoid last-minute surprises all have one thing in common: a plan.

That’s where my 14-Day Listing Plan comes in — a clear, step-by-step process that covers:

• How to prepare your home for maximum appeal

• When to list for the strongest exposure

• Which improvements deliver true ROI

• How to evaluate offers and protect your bottom line

Pair that with my Smart Seller Guide, and you’ll have the complete roadmap — not just for what it costs to sell, but what it takes to sell well.

The Bottom Line

Selling a home in 2025 involves many moving parts, but none of them should catch you off guard.

When you understand your potential expenses — and partner with an experienced local professional — you can:

 Control your costs
 Shorten your timeline
 Maximize your return

If you’d like a personalized Net-to-Seller breakdown and strategy session tailored to your property:

 Get your free home-value estimate here.

Because preparation pays off — and nobody sells Charlotte like we do.