Selling your house isn’t as easy as putting it on the market and waiting for a buyer. There are some costs that you’ll have to bear, especially if your home doesn’t sell immediately. Below are a handful of costs that you should count on if you put your home up for sale.

Cleaning Costs

It’s always a good idea to have your home professionally cleaned before you put it on the market. This will make for better pictures as well as a better experience for potential buyers who come to the house.

Consider getting a quote for a good cleaning service and try to figure out whether it will be more efficient to have the company do the work or if you can do it on your own. Remember to factor in all of the costs of having your carpets cleaned and your lawn maintained here, as you’ll always want to make a good impression on potential buyers.

Moving and Storage

Start thinking about the cost of moving your possessions. Even if your plan is to move your boxes yourself from one house to another, you should still contact a moving & storage service company to get a quote. You may also want to think about storing some of your possessions even if you do have a new home lined up, as doing so will help you to declutter your home before you stage it for the market.

Holding Costs

Some of the biggest costs related to selling your home are those that you simply cannot predict. If your home stays on the market for longer than expected, you’ll have to pay holding costs. This can range from additional mortgage payments to additional utility and tax payments, and you’ll notice that the costs grow higher almost every day your home stays on the market. It’s always good to be a bit pessimistic and to plan on your home selling slowly so that you can set aside money for these costs.

Utility Transfer Fees

Finally, you’ll want to remember that some of your services and utilities will actually charge you to transfer your service from one area to another. You might pay a premium to change over a landline number, to get your internet service set up in a new house, or to change your address on your utility bill. While most of these costs are minor, one-time expenditures, they can add up as you try to move from one how to another.

None of these costs will be too burdensome if you plan ahead of time, or even negotiate some of the other costs you’re facing. If you find that you have some equity in your home these costs won’t be too burdensome for you. However, you should always make a budget for selling your home and do what you can to stick to it. If you’re willing to accept that selling your home will cost you money, you’ll be able to go into the process with the right mindset and will avoid getting discouraged or pessimistic.