What it costs to sell a house in Calgary

Commission is the largest variable

In a traditional listing, the seller agrees to pay a total commission that is split between the listing brokerage and the brokerage that brings the buyer. Calgary commission is negotiable and is set in the listing agreement — there is no fixed rate.

Future of Calgary charges a $3,999 listing fee plus GST for the listing side. The amount offered to a cooperating buyer's brokerage is a separate decision you make, and it is written into the listing agreement before your home goes live.

The costs almost every seller pays

Beyond commission, budget for the following:

• GST on real estate fees
• Real estate lawyer fees and disbursements for closing
• Mortgage discharge or, if applicable, a prepayment penalty from your lender
• A current Real Property Report with municipal compliance, or title insurance if your buyer accepts it
• Property tax and utility adjustments to the closing date
• Moving, cleaning and any pre-list repairs

Costs that are optional but usually pay for themselves

Professional photography, decluttering and small cosmetic repairs are the highest-return spend before listing. They change how many buyers book a showing, which is the step everything else depends on.

How to estimate your own number

Start with your expected sale price, subtract your mortgage payout, subtract commission and GST, then subtract roughly the legal, RPR and adjustment costs above. The savings calculator on this site does the commission portion for you and shows the traditional comparison side by side.