What Is the Cost of Selling a House in Delaware?

Published on May 30th, 2025
10 min read

Cheyenne Wiseman Associate Editor
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Cheyenne Wiseman Associate Editor

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Cheyenne Wiseman is an Associate Editor at HomeLight.com. Previously, she worked as a writer for Static Media (Mashed.com and Chowhound.com) and as an editor for CBR.com. Cheyenne holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Davis, where she also founded and led a literary magazine called Open Ceilings. She has four years of experience writing and editing on topics including real estate, financial advising, and pharmaceuticals.

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For many Delaware homeowners, your house is likely your largest asset, so deciding to sell is a big step. Whether you’re moving out of state, heading to the suburbs, or downsizing, you want a smooth sale that maximizes your proceeds.

As you get ready to sell, it’s important to know the cost of selling a house in Delaware. This article breaks down the expenses you can expect and shares expert advice to help you through the selling process.

Housing trends in Delaware

Similar to the national landscape, Delaware’s housing market is facing high interest rates and rising home prices.

“We’re a small state, so we only have three counties. April 2024 to April 2025, we’re seeing a 5.3% increase in the median sales price, and year to date, it’s 5.4%,” says Peggy Centrella, a leading Delaware real estate agent who completes more sales than average professionals in her market.

Here’s a breakdown of the current real estate conditions in Delaware:

	As of April 2025
Days on market	43.7 days
Median home sale price	$380,333
Percentage of homes sold for cash	2%
Supply of inventory	3.8 months
Population growth year over year	+1.47%

Sources: Delaware Association of Realtors, World Population Review

As a seller in Delaware, one metric to watch is the days on market (DOM), which indicates the average time from listing to securing a signed purchase agreement. In Delaware, the average DOM is 43.7 days.

Start with a home value estimate

Getting a home value estimate is a great starting point for estimating the cost of selling your Delaware home. Given the fluctuations in market values, checking your home’s worth is a wise idea.

You can quickly get an online value estimate using HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. This free automated valuation model (AVM) tool looks at recent sales data, local market trends, and your home’s latest selling price to provide a preliminary value range in under two minutes. Just enter your address to get started.

How much does it cost to sell a house in Delaware?

Based on our findings, the cost of selling a house in Delaware typically ranges from 6% to 11% of your selling price.

For instance, if you sell your home for $380,333 — the median home price in Delaware — your selling costs could be approximately $22,820 to $41,837.

The exact amount you’ll pay depends on your choices regarding home preparations, agent commissions, and any concessions you may offer. Let’s take a closer look at the factors that influence the cost of selling a house in Delaware.

What are common expenses for sellers in Delaware?

The cost of selling a house in Delaware can differ based on your circumstances within the state’s evolving market.

Several factors can affect the cost of preparing your home for sale, including its size, age, and condition. Below, we’ve put together some estimates to guide your planning.

Prepping your house for sale

Preparing your Delaware home for sale generally costs between 1.5% and 2.7% of its final sale price. Based on the $380,333 median home price, this could amount to approximately $5,705 to $10,269.

Here are the potential expenses you can expect:

Pre-sale repairs: $4,500-$5,400, depending on the year your home was built and its maintenance.
Staging: $1,500-$4,000 (recommended by Delaware agents for higher proceeds).
Professional cleaning: $118-$237, based on size.
Interior painting: $966-$3,086.
Landscaping: $1,248-$6,281.
Pre-listing inspection: $250-$500, if desired.

Before undertaking major projects like a kitchen remodel or roof replacement, consult your agent. An experienced Delaware real estate agent can advise on which repairs are necessary and what not to fix when selling your home.

Realtor fees in Delaware

Realtor commissions are some of the biggest expenses in a real estate transaction. In Delaware, these fees can range from 2.5% to 6%, depending on whether you choose to pay the buyer’s agent commissions, which is no longer a given due to a recent court ruling that altered commission norms nationwide.

Based on Delaware’s median home price of $380,333, you can expect to pay between $9,508 (2.5%) and $22,820 (6%) in agent commissions.

While agent commissions may seem high, a knowledgeable professional can make a huge difference in the outcome of your sale. HomeLight data indicates that the top 5% of agents nationwide sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents.

Later on, we’ll show how commissions can affect your total selling costs in our at-a-glance analysis table.

Try HomeLight’s Agent Commissions Calculator to estimate your Realtor fees in your area. Also, explore HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform to meet a top real estate agent in Delaware.

Seller concessions

Seller concessions can increase the overall cost of selling a house in Delaware. Beyond the direct costs of preparing your home and Realtor fees, you may also need to pay indirect costs during the transaction. These can include seller concessions and buyer incentives.

A concession happens when a seller agrees to use part of their sale proceeds to cover some or all of the buyer’s closing costs. The exact amount of these costs will depend on your market and selling circumstances.

In Delaware, it’s common for sellers to offer concessions to cover buyer broker compensation, says Centrella.

While not mandatory, offering concessions can attract more buyers, help your home stand out, and facilitate closing a deal. Here are some examples of seller concessions that may increase your selling costs in Delaware:

Home inspection fees: $296-$424, depending on size.
Buyer’s home warranty: $350-$900 (more comprehensive plans can cost $1,200-$1,400).
Repair credits: Seller credits vary and can reduce your net proceeds.

Closing costs and additional fees

Your closing costs and additional fees (excluding agent commissions) will likely range from 2% to 4% of your home’s selling price. Delaware’s median home price is $380,333, which translates to approximately $7,607 to $15,213.

So, what closing costs do sellers need to pay in Delaware? Here are some line items you might see on your final settlement statement:

Escrow fee
Title insurance premiums
Title search fees
Tax liens or other judgments
Homeowner’s association dues
Reconveyance fee and recording fees
Prorated property taxes
Mortgage loan payoff amount (U.S. average: approximately $250,000)
Delaware’s real estate transfer tax

Delaware’s transfer tax: While not all states charge a real estate transfer tax, Delaware charges a 3.0% tax on the fair market value of the property, which is typically split equally between the buyer and seller. Local municipalities may add a tax of up to 1.5%. If the local tax is greater than 1%, the state tax rate is reduced to 2.5%.

It’s important to note that while this 50/50 split is standard practice, the actual division of the tax can be negotiated in the sales contract.

At-a-glance home selling cost example for Delaware

This at-a-glance analysis is based on the median home price of $380,333 in Delaware. To keep things simple, this table does not include a mortgage payoff amount. These values may serve as a helpful planning tool as you get ready to sell.

Selling expense	Example costs*	% of home sale price
Prepping your home for sale	$7,606.66	2%
Realtor fees (commissions)	$11,409.99	3% (listing agent only)
Concessions, closing costs, taxes, fees	$11,409.99	3%
Transfer tax	$7,606.66	2% – the seller’s share of the maximum 4% transfer tax, which includes the reduced state rate and a 1.5% local tax.
Total selling cost example	$38,033.30	10%

*General estimates based on Delaware’s median home price of $380,333

If you decide to cover the buyer’s agent fee: Add an estimated 2.5% or roughly $9,508.

How much profit will you make? To gain a clearer understanding of your potential earnings after expenses, try HomeLight’s Net Proceeds Calculator. This free tool considers all the selling costs discussed in this post, including your mortgage payoff amount.

Relocation expenses

One expense that may not be top of mind is the cost of relocating. Moving expenses vary based on your destination and whether you hire movers to haul your belongings. Here’s a general idea of what it might cost in Delaware:

Typical moving cost: $883-$2,568
Typical out-of-state moving cost: $3,000-$9,500

How can I reduce my seller costs in Delaware?

There are several strategies to lower the cost of selling a house in Delaware, some more effective than others. Here’s what you can try:

Handle repairs yourself when possible
Negotiate a lower commission with your real estate agent
Use a discount-commission agent or brokerage
Consider selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO)
Avoid offering seller concessions or buyer incentives
If you agree to cover closing costs or provide a repair credit, consider raising your Delaware home’s sale price
Resist the temptation to over-improve or make unnecessary repairs when selling
Sell your house off-market
Time your sale using HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator
Work with a top-performing Delaware agent who has a proven sale-to-list ratio

Centrella has the following advice for homeowners: “I would say prepare the home for sale the best that they can and listen to the advice of a professional real estate agent on how to get it ready for sale and have the highest outcome.”

While a discount agent or broker may offer lower fees, they might lack the experience needed to close the sale successfully, potentially costing you money in the long run.

“It could cost them more money than they think that they’re saving, because an agent that isn’t a discount broker is going to try to get them more money,” Centrella says.

Helpful tools for your next home purchase

As you look ahead to your next home purchase, consider these HomeLight tools and our innovative Buy Before You Sell program:

Partner and plan with a top Delaware agent

A good first step in determining the cost of selling a house in Delaware is to get a home value estimate.

Then, make a plan to maximize your profits. HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform can connect you with a top real estate agent in Delaware who can sell your property over its list price.

Typically, the cost to sell a house in Delaware is 6% to 11% or more of your home’s final sale price.

“The best advice I would say is to use an experienced real estate agent to help get your house sold at the best price with the lowest number of days on market,” says Centrella.

HomeLight’s Agent Match can connect you with leading local agents who have a proven track record of helping sellers get the best results.

Header Image Source: (Ethan Ball/ Unsplash)

At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.

Cheyenne Wiseman

Associate Editor

Cheyenne Wiseman is an Associate Editor at HomeLight.com. Previously, she worked as a writer for Static Media (Mashed.com and Chowhound.com) and as an editor for CBR.com. Cheyenne holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Davis, where she also founded and led a literary magazine called Open Ceilings. She has four years of experience writing and editing on topics including real estate, financial advising, and pharmaceuticals.