How much does it cost to sell a home: taxes, expenses and variable costs

Are you thinking of selling your home and want to know how much it will really cost you? Discover all the expense items: documents, taxes, agency fees, property preparation and special cases.

What are the costs of selling a home?

Selling a home may involve some costs to be paid before or during the sale. The costs of selling a home vary depending on the situation: there may be expenses you need to face in order to regularize the property, promote it correctly or comply with tax regulations.

Here are all the expense items to consider.

1. Costs for mandatory documentation

To sell a home, it is necessary to provide a series of technical and legal documents. Some may be missing or not up to date, and in that case you will need to request them, for a fee.

Documents to request:

• Energy Performance Certificate, EPC: mandatory by law
• Cadastral report and floor plan, updated: free if already available; otherwise, they can be requested from the Italian Revenue Agency by a technician
• Building permits and amnesties: any technical procedures, such as amnesties or compliance certificates

2. Taxes and duties on the sale of a home

In some cases, the sale involves taxes or adjustments to be paid.

The most common are:

• Real estate capital gain: if you sell within 5 years of purchase, and it is not your primary residence, you may have to pay tax on the capital gain, meaning the profit made between purchase and sale. The tax can be up to 26% on the capital gain, unless exemptions apply
• Loss of first-home tax benefits: if you sell before 5 years without buying another primary residence within 12 months, you lose the benefit and will have to repay the difference between the taxes for a first home and a second home, plus any interest and penalties.
• Succession: if you inherited the property, you may need to complete the acceptance of the inheritance or regularize the cadastral transcription before the sale. This involves fixed taxes plus any inheritance tax, which applies only above certain value thresholds

3. Costs related to building restrictions

In some cases, the home may be subject to subsidized housing restrictions, for example former public housing. In these cases, a release authorization or the payment of a fee to remove the restriction is often required, with costs varying depending on the Municipality.

4. Real estate agency commission

If you decide to sell with an agency, you will have to pay a commission on the sale amount.

The commission is paid only upon completion of the sale, at the notarial deed stage, and includes: valuation, promotion, management of viewings, negotiations, documentation and support through to the notary.

Relying on a professional increases the chances of selling and speeds up the process, reducing the risk of errors.

5. Costs for preparing the property

To sell well, and quickly, it is often worth preparing the home before viewings. Costs vary depending on the work required.

Some common expenses may include:

• Professional cleaning
• Painting the walls
• Minor repairs, such as taps, fixtures and tiles
• Professional photo shoots

These are optional but strategic expenses to enhance the property: a well-presented home sells better and at a higher price.