What costs can arise when selling a flat in Gdansk?

Sale of the flat Many owners associate it mainly with signing the notarial deed and handing over the keys to the new owner. However, believe me, it is only during the whole process that costs arise that are often not thought of beforehand. These include the documents required by the notary, administrative fees, tax issues or mortgage expenses.

My name is Rafał Radomski and I run real estate office in Gdansk for years, regularly encountering situations where landlords focus solely on the sale price of the flat, ignoring the real costs of the entire transaction. In reality, every property looks different. Different expenses arise when selling a flat bought a few months ago and others when selling an inherited or mortgaged property. Therefore, it is advisable to analyse all the formalities and possible fees associated with the sale of a property in advance before publishing an advertisement.

Tax on the sale of a flat - when can it arise?

Tax on the sale of a dwelling is one of the issues that most often raises concerns for owners planning to sale of real estate in Gdansk or generally in Tricity. The amount of potential liabilities depends primarily on when the property was acquired, the form of ownership and how the proceeds from the sale were used. Our agents regularly encounter situations in which only a thorough analysis of the documents makes it possible to determine whether the seller will have to settle income tax on the sale of the property.

Sale of a dwelling before the expiry of 5 years

One of the most frequently occurring costs when selling a property is income tax. Of greatest importance here is the so-called five-year period calculated from the end of the calendar year in which the flat or house was purchased. I have noticed that many owners misinterpret this time limit, so that they only become aware of a possible tax obligation at the stage of finalising the transaction.

Sale of a dwelling from an inheritance, gift or after a divorce

In fact, the sale of real estate very often involves more complex situations than the standard purchase of a flat. We regularly come across the sale of premises received as an inheritance, after a donation or after the division of property following a divorce, where the way tax deadlines are calculated may look different. In some cases, owners can also benefit from housing tax relief if the proceeds from the sale of the property are used for their own housing purposes, such as the purchase of another property or the repayment of a mortgage.

Documents and formalities for the sale of property

The offer to sell the flat itself is only the beginning. Then comes the stage of completing the documentation needed to safely complete the transaction.

Depending on the type of property and its legal status, the following may be necessary:

• Certificate of no arrears from the housing association or cooperative,
• Copy of the land register,
• Basis of property acquisition,
• Bank certificate relating to the mortgage,
• Energy performance certificate,
• Registration documents,
• Notarial powers of attorney.

Some documents are issued for a fee. Owners also often do not take into account the costs associated with the time needed to complete the formalities. Sometimes the lack of a single certificate delays the finalisation of the sale by up to several weeks.

At Radomski Nieruchomości, we help our customers to sort out the whole process even before the publication of the advertisement. In this way, nervous situations can be avoided just before the signing of the notarial deed.

Costs of preparing a flat for sale

Property owners are increasingly noticing that simply publishing a few photos on the internet is usually not enough. The real estate market in the Tricity is competitive, so proper preparation of the offer has a huge impact on the interest of buyers.

Among the most common expenses are:

1. Professional photo shoot of the flat
2. Home staging and getting your interiors in order
3. Minor technical repairs
4. Preparation of an attractive property description
5. Promotion of your ad in real estate portals
6. Marketing materials and presentations of the premises

Intermediary's commission and mortgage-related costs

The sale of a flat very often also involves the costs of a real estate agent and additional banking formalities. The amount of commission charged by our office depends primarily on the scope of activities, the type of property and the complexity of the entire sales process. Owners most often appreciate support only at the stage of negotiations, completion of documents and coordination of notarial formalities, which can be very time-consuming.

Selling a flat with a mortgage and the scope of cooperation with an intermediary

Handling the sale of a property often involves much more than simply adding an ad to the internet. The scope of cooperation may include analysis of transaction prices, preparation of sales strategies, organisation of flat presentations, contact with buyers or negotiation of transaction terms. Additional costs also arise when selling a flat with a mortgage, as the bank usually requires the preparation of documents concerning the current debt, early repayment of the obligation and the removal of the mortgage from the land and mortgage register.

Examples of costs when selling a flat

Type of cost	What does it depend on?	When is it likely to occur?
Income tax on the sale of real estate	The date of acquisition of the flat, the method of settlement and the use of the proceeds of sale	Most often on sale before 5 years
Certificates and administrative documents	Type of property, community, cooperative or bank	For most transactions
Energy performance certificate	Type of property and applicable statutory exceptions	In most sales of flats and houses
Estate agency commission	Scope of service, value of the property and arrangements with the intermediary	In cooperation with an estate agency
Costs of preparing a flat for sale	The standard of the premises and the planned marketing activities	Optional
Professional photo shoot and marketing of the offer	Real estate promotion strategy	Increasingly when selling on the secondary market
Mortgage-related fees	The terms and conditions of the loan agreement and the bank's requirements	When selling a flat with a mortgage
Removal of a mortgage from the land register	Loan repayment status and court procedure	After the mortgage obligation is paid
Notarial power of attorney	The individual situation of the property owner	Where one of the parties is unable to attend in person

Summary of costs associated with the sale of a flat

I have been in the industry for many years and I know that most property owners focus first and foremost on the selling price of their home at the beginning, and only later notice how many additional costs and formalities arise during the whole process. Sale of real estate in Gdansk or more widely in the Tricity is very often associated not only with income tax, but also with administrative documentation, costs of preparing the premises, handling the mortgage or expenses associated with professional marketing of the offer.

I, or my agents, regularly see that proper preparation of the sale avoids many problems, delays and unnecessary costs at the final stage of the transaction. A thorough analysis of the legal situation of the property, prior completion of documents and a well-prepared sales strategy often have a real impact not only on the security of the entire transaction, but also on the final price of the flat and the comfort of the seller himself.

If you too need expert advice in this area, contact us to make an appointment.

+48 783 187 968 (Gdansk)

+48 884 843 118 (Gdynia)

biuro@radomskinieruchomosci.pl

FAQ - the most common questions about the costs of selling a flat

1. do you always have to pay tax when selling a flat?

Tax liability does not arise in every situation. The timing of the acquisition of the property and whether the funds from the sale will be used for one's own residential purposes are of great importance.

2. who pays for the preparation of documents for the sale of the flat?

Most often, the costs associated with obtaining documents are covered by the seller. This includes administrative certificates, documents from the bank or the energy performance certificate.

3. can a flat be sold with an active mortgage?

Yes, the sale of a mortgaged flat is a very common situation on the property market. However, it requires additional formalities and cooperation with the bank financing the loan.

4. how much does it cost to work with an estate agent?

There is no one-size-fits-all commission rate. The cost depends primarily on the scope of the service, the type of property and the marketing activities carried out during the sale.

5. is it worth preparing the flat before publishing the ad?

Definitely yes, because a properly prepared property usually attracts the interest of buyers faster. Good photos, a tidy interior and a professional presentation often also influence the final selling price.