The biggest line is brokerage compensation. Our Fairfax County cost guide puts the full picture together: commissions averaging about 5.46% nationally in 2026, plus 1% to 3% in seller closing costs, plus transfer taxes and preparation. That is how the total lands at 7.5% to 9.5% of the price before payoff. In Fairfax and across Northern Virginia, none of these percentages is fixed by law, and the listing agreement you sign sets the compensation terms.
The tax line is the one sellers most often miss. Virginia charges the seller a grantor tax on the transfer of the deed, and Northern Virginia adds regional transfer fees on top. On a $750,000 sale those taxes and fees total $2,250 (Virginia Code sections 58.1-802, 58.1-802.3, and 58.1-802.4). Sellers in Arlington pay the same state structure, while the buyer customarily pays the recordation tax on their side. Our answer on who pays closing costs in Virginia walks through the full split.
Preparation is the line you control most. Most Fairfax County sellers spend $2,000 to $10,000 on paint, landscaping, minor repairs, deep cleaning, and staging before listing, per our cost guide. Sellers in Alexandria working with older housing stock sometimes land higher when a roof or HVAC item cannot wait. The walk through with your agent sets the real number, because spending past what the price band supports comes straight out of your proceeds.
The honest way to see your number is a written estimate before you list. A seller net sheet subtracts every cost line and your mortgage payoff from the expected price, and our net proceeds guide shows how pricing, preparation, and offer terms move the result. Cornerstone builds that sheet by hand as the True Net Sheet, so you start from your number, not a guess.
FAQ
What is the biggest cost when selling a house in Virginia?
Brokerage compensation. Commissions averaged about 5.46% nationally in 2026 and are negotiable in the listing agreement. On a $750,000 sale, compensation alone is about $40,950 at that average, before closing costs, transfer taxes, and preparation.
Are real estate commissions negotiable in Virginia?
Yes. There is no standard commission rate in Virginia. Compensation is set in the listing agreement you sign, and how buyer agent compensation is handled is negotiated in the contract as well. Compare what each agent includes for the fee, not just the percentage.
Do sellers pay transfer taxes in Virginia?
Yes. The seller customarily pays the state grantor tax on the deed transfer, plus regional transfer fees in Northern Virginia. Together they total $2,250 on a $750,000 sale (Virginia Code sections 58.1-802, 58.1-802.3, and 58.1-802.4). The buyer customarily pays the recordation tax.
How can I estimate what I will actually net?
Ask your agent for a written seller net sheet before you list. It starts with the expected sale price, subtracts total selling costs of 7.5% to 9.5% as a planning range, then subtracts your mortgage payoff and any liens. On a $750,000 sale that leaves about $679,000 to $694,000 before payoff.