Checklist
Should I sell my house in Massachusetts? A checklist.
Six questions decide most sales: what is it worth, what would you keep, what does waiting cost, what do you owe the state and the town, what paperwork is needed, and where would you live. Each has a free tool or guide below. If most answers point to selling, get a real number from a cash or option offer and a broker before you decide.
1What is it worth?
Do you know the range, not just one number?
- Start with the assessor value and the last recorded sale for your address.
- Carry the last sale forward with the ZIP code price index to see a range.
- Then get real prices: a cash or option offer, a broker price opinion, or an appraisal. Public records cannot see condition.
2What are the neighbors worth?
Do homes like yours nearby sell above or below their assessments?
- Look at same-street and quarter-mile values and the last three years of recorded sales.
- Your home’s place in the distribution tells you whether to expect a price above or below the middle.
3What would you keep?
After the mortgage and all costs, how much is left?
- Subtract mortgage payoff, the $4.56 per $1,000 deed excise tax, commission, attorney, certificates, moving and prep.
- Compare listing with a direct offer. A lower direct price can still leave you with similar cash if it has no commission or prep.
4What does waiting cost?
Have you priced the carrying costs against a price that could go either way?
- Look at the best, typical and worst one to three year changes in your ZIP code.
- Subtract property tax, insurance, utilities and mortgage interest for every month you wait.
5What do you owe, and what paperwork is needed?
Have you checked taxes on the gain, liens and your town’s certificates?
- Many sellers owe no federal tax on the gain because of the home sale exclusion. Check yours.
- Most towns require a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate before closing. Septic homes need a Title 5 report. The town issues a municipal lien certificate.
Seller certificates by townCapital gains calculatorLien certificate
6Where would you go next?
Can you afford the next place on the money from this sale?
- Compare towns on price, tax rate and distance.
- Enter your down payment and a mortgage rate to see a monthly cost.
- If you need to buy and sell together, read how timing works so you are not stuck with two mortgages.
Questions
Common questions.
Is now a good time to sell in Massachusetts?
Nobody can time the market. Look at what your own ZIP code has done, what you would keep after costs, and your own timeline. The sell-now-or-wait tool shows the history and the cost of waiting.
How long does it take to sell a house in Massachusetts?
A listing usually takes a few months from prep to closing, and a direct offer can close in a few weeks. See the guide on how long a sale takes.
What does it cost to sell?
Agent commission, the state deed excise tax ($4.56 per $1,000), attorney, certificates, moving and prep. The net proceeds calculator adds them up for your price.
Selling? Add drone photos
Show the whole property.
Aerial photos show the lot, the yard, the roofline and the neighborhood in a way street photos cannot. Many sellers add them to a listing, and they are a short, inexpensive shoot (typically $250 to $900).
Want a real number?
Get a cash or option offer for your house. Free, no obligation, and you can stop at any point.
We are not a real estate broker or agent. Home Options MA is an advertising and lead-generation service: the independent buyers and agents we connect you with may pay us flat advertising fees to be featured or to receive inquiries, and any listing of a business here is advertising, not a recommendation. We never take a share of a commission and are never paid based on whether a home sells. No obligation.