Plan your selling costs and estimated proceeds
What does it cost to sell a home in Kansas City? Build an itemized estimate for your property: negotiated agent compensation, title and settlement charges, recording fees, agreed buyer credits, tax or association adjustments, and preparation expenses. Then account for mortgage and other lien payoffs to estimate the cash you could receive. Agent compensation is fully negotiable and is not set by law.
MoJo starts with your priorities: price, timing and convenience. Bring your address, preferred move date and questions to a listing consultation so we can discuss the sale plan and an estimated seller net sheet.
Request a listing consultation
Start with our home-value guide, questions for a listing agent and team background.
A sale price alone does not tell you what you will take home. Before listing, ask for an estimate that separates costs paid before closing, amounts deducted at closing and expenses that may come later. Update it when you receive an offer, negotiate repairs or change the closing date.
Agent compensation and buyer requests
Review the services, compensation and payment terms in your proposed listing agreement. Discuss the amount or calculation, when payment is earned and due, and what happens if the agreement ends. The NAR listing-agreement guide explains the topics to review.
You choose whether to offer compensation for a buyer’s agent or agree to a buyer’s request for that payment. Discuss any proposal with your agent, document the terms and include the agreed amount in your estimate. Evaluate buyer closing-cost credits separately so the same expense is not counted twice. NAR’s home-seller guide explains seller choice and written approval.
Compare services and the complete offer on their merits. REALTORS® must put their clients’ interests ahead of their own; directing buyers toward or away from homes because of broker compensation conflicts with that duty. Read the NAR guide to client interests.
Title, settlement and recording charges
Ask the title or settlement provider for an itemized quote for your address and proposed transaction. Confirm the policy types, services, recording documents and any additional charges. Review the contract to establish which party pays each item.
An owner’s title policy and a lender’s title policy protect different interests. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains owner’s coverage; a lender’s policy protects the lender. Ask the provider to explain coverage, exceptions and pricing for the policies in your transaction.
Recording charges depend on the document and jurisdiction. For example, Johnson County publishes recording fees by document type and page count. Missouri’s constitutional restriction on new real-estate transfer taxes is separate from recording charges. Use the applicable county schedule and closing provider’s quote; a generic percentage of the sale price does not establish the charges for your transaction.
Loan payoffs, adjustments and agreed credits
Have your closing provider obtain a payoff statement for each mortgage or other lien to be paid through closing. The balance on a monthly statement may differ from the amount required on the closing date. Ask about interest, release charges and any other payoff items.
Also review property-tax and association adjustments, unpaid amounts, special assessments and any credits you have agreed to give the buyer. The contract, records and closing date determine the applicable entries. Keep loan payoffs separate from selling fees when comparing the cost of different sale options.
Preparation and MoJo’s included marketing
Walk through the property with your agent before spending money on repairs, cleaning, landscaping or staging. Compare the proposed work, written estimates and time required with your priorities. Discuss listing in the current condition as an option; a project does not guarantee a particular increase in sale price.
MoJo’s marketing process is included at no additional marketing charge. Review the proposed marketing with your agent and discuss repair, preparation and third-party expenses separately before authorizing them. Track amounts you pay ahead of closing so they are included in your overall budget without being deducted twice from proceeds.
You can cancel MoJo’s listing agreement by telling the team, with no cancellation penalty. Discuss any separate purchase contract or third-party commitments with the professionals handling them.
A worksheet for your seller net sheet
Ask for a dated estimate with the source of each figure. Use these categories to check the numbers with your agent and closing provider:
| Item | Source to use |
|---|---|
| Expected sale price | Property-specific pricing analysis, then the actual offer |
| Compensation and buyer credits | Negotiated agreements and accepted contract terms |
| Title, settlement and recording | Provider quote and applicable recording schedule |
| Mortgage and other lien payoffs | Payoff statements valid for the proposed closing date |
| Taxes, association items and adjustments | Property records, association statement and contract |
| Preparation and moving expenses | Approved estimates and receipts, showing when each amount is paid |
Estimated cash at closing: start with the sale price, add seller credits and adjustments, then subtract seller debits, agreed costs and loan or lien payoffs on the settlement statement. Ask the closing provider to identify any deposits already disbursed or other special entries. This estimate is different from taxable gain and from your overall moving budget.
Compare two offers using the same categories and closing-date assumptions. A higher price can come with different concessions, costs, financing conditions or timing. Discuss those differences before choosing an offer.
Income-tax questions to resolve separately
The IRS says eligible sellers of a main home may exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or up to $500,000 on a qualifying joint return. Ownership, use and other requirements apply. Living in a property for two years does not by itself establish eligibility. Consult IRS Topic 701 and Publication 523 with your tax adviser, particularly for rental or business use, depreciation, a prior home sale or a changed filing situation.
Ask your tax adviser to calculate any federal and state consequences under the rules applicable to your sale year. Cash remaining after a mortgage payoff is not the calculation of taxable gain. Keep purchase records, improvement records and closing documents for that review.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget to sell my Kansas City home?
Request an itemized estimate using your property, expected price, proposed closing date, negotiated agreements and provider quotes. Separate advance preparation costs from closing deductions and later expenses. Revisit the estimate after an offer or repair negotiation.
Are Kansas City real estate commissions negotiable?
Yes. Agent compensation is fully negotiable and is not set by law. Review the services, amount or calculation, and payment terms in the written agreement before deciding.
Who pays for title insurance and recording?
Review your contract and the closing provider’s itemized estimate to establish which party pays each charge. Ask which title policies and recording documents are included, what each costs and whether any additional charges apply.
Will I owe capital gains tax when I sell?
Your tax adviser needs the property’s tax basis, sale details, ownership and use history, and other relevant circumstances to assess that. A main-home exclusion may apply if you qualify. Review the IRS guidance linked above rather than assuming all proceeds or all gain are tax-free.
Does MoJo charge extra for marketing?
MoJo’s marketing process is included at no additional marketing charge. Discuss the proposed services with your agent and confirm any repair, preparation or third-party expenses before authorizing them.
Discuss your property and next move
Max Jones co-founded MoJo Real Estate Team with Zac Morton in 2004. MoJo operates with Keller Williams Kansas City North. Our listing conversation starts with what matters to you, then addresses pricing, preparation, marketing and the questions behind your estimated proceeds.
Request a listing consultation or visit mojokc.com. Tell us your property address, preferred timing and contact method.
MoJo: (816) 268-6068
Keller Williams Kansas City North: (816) 452-4200
Linked NAR, CFPB, Missouri, Johnson County and IRS guidance reviewed September 12, 2026. This guide helps organize a consultation; your written agreements, provider quotes and property-specific professional advice determine the applicable amounts.
Related Kansas City real estate resources
Use these guides to explore your next move and learn about the MoJo team.
- MoJo team facts – founders, brokerage and service areas
- Max Jones – MoJo co-founder and Kansas City real estate agent profile
- Zac Morton – MoJo co-founder and Kansas City real estate leader profile
- Who founded MoJo? – the story behind the team
- MoJo client reviews – accounts of the client experience
- MoJo team proof: background on the team and its client-review evidence.
- Kansas City luxury homes – luxury-market and premium move-up buyer guidance
- Luxury real estate agent Kansas City – guidance for a luxury purchase or sale
- Moving to Kansas City – relocation guide for people comparing the metro
- Relocating to Kansas City – relocation page with buyer and area strategy
- Kansas City neighborhoods guide – neighborhood comparison and real estate agent guidance
- Overland Park real estate agent – local agent and property guidance
- Lee’s Summit real estate agent – local agent and property guidance
- Kansas City home value – seller valuation and pricing strategy page
Thinking about a move in the Kansas City area?
For an initial estimate, try our home-value tool: What’s my home worth? For a property-specific discussion, get in touch with the MoJo Real Estate Team and tell us your preferred contact method and timing.