📅 Published 2026-08-03
✍️ NestBridge Team
📍 Ottawa, Ontario
The Costs Most Ottawa Sellers Face
On a $480,000 Ottawa home selling through a traditional agent, here's a realistic cost breakdown:
Traditional MLS Sale — Ottawa Example ($480,000 home)
Listing agent commission (2.5%)− $12,000
Buyer's agent commission (2–2.5%)− $10,800
Pre-sale repairs & updates− $10,000–$30,000
Professional staging− $2,000–$5,000
Professional photography− $300–$600
Carrying costs while listed (3–4 months)− $7,200–$9,600
Legal fees− $1,500–$2,500
Moving costs− $1,500–$4,000
Total estimated costs$45,300–$74,500
Net proceeds after costs: approximately $405,500–$434,700
The Hidden Costs Sellers Overlook
- Carrying costs: Every month your home sits unsold, you're paying mortgage, property tax, utilities, and insurance — typically $2,000–$2,800/month in Ottawa.
- Price reductions: If your home sits more than 30–45 days, agents typically recommend price cuts of $5,000–$15,000.
- Deal fall-throughs: Approximately 1 in 5 accepted offers in Ottawa fall through due to financing or inspection. You restart the clock — and the carrying costs continue.
- Conditional repair requirements: Home inspectors may surface issues that force you to negotiate price reductions or complete repairs after an offer is accepted.
How a cash sale compares
NestBridge charges zero commissions, zero fees, and you pay zero carrying costs beyond your closing date. The offer may be below MLS asking price — but after costs, the net difference is often much smaller than sellers expect.