Selling a House in Connecticut
What actually happens, in order, from before you list through closing day — including the parts of the process that work differently in Connecticut than in most of the country, and what changes if your home is on well and septic or near one of the lakes.
Reviewed September 2026.
Three things Connecticut does differently
Most guides to selling a home are written for the country as a whole. These three points are where that goes wrong for a Connecticut seller.
An attorney must run the closing
Connecticut requires a licensed Connecticut attorney to conduct the closing — C.G.S. §51-88a. There is no title-company-only option here, so line one up before you list.
The seller pays a conveyance tax
A state portion, generally 0.75% on a residential dwelling under $800,000, plus a municipal portion from 0.25%. It comes out of your proceeds at closing.
Skipping the disclosure costs $500
Not furnishing the property condition report means a $500 credit to the buyer at closing under C.G.S. §20-327c. Most sellers have never heard of it.
The process, step by step
Work out what the home is actually worth
Before anything elseStart with a real comparative market analysis rather than an online estimate. The number matters more than most sellers expect: homes priced accurately in the first two weeks tend to sell near asking, while homes that start high often sit and then close for less than they would have. Ask to see the specific comparable sales behind the number, and push back if they come from a different pocket of town.
Hire your closing attorney early
Before you list, ideallyDo not wait until you have a signed contract to start looking. Attorneys book up, and having one already engaged makes the contract review stage far calmer.
In Connecticut: Connecticut law requires a licensed Connecticut attorney to conduct the closing — C.G.S. §51-88a, in force since October 2019. Conducting one without an attorney is unauthorized practice of law. This is the single biggest thing national selling guides get wrong about Connecticut: there is no "just use the title company" option here.
Decide what to fix and what to leave
2–6 weeks before listingNot every repair returns its cost. Paint, decluttering, landscaping and anything that photographs badly usually pay for themselves. Large projects often do not — buyers rarely reimburse a new kitchen at full price. The useful question is not "what could we improve" but "what will this town's buyers actually pay more for," and a good agent should tell you when the answer is nothing.
Fill out the property condition report
At listingConnecticut sellers of one-to-four-unit residential property complete a written condition report disclosing what they know about the house. Answer it carefully and honestly — this document follows the transaction.
In Connecticut: If you do not furnish the report, you owe the buyer a $500 credit at closing (C.G.S. §20-327c). Sellers are frequently surprised by this. There is also a separate foundation condition report requirement (§20-327b(g)–(h)), which matters in this region — see the note on crumbling foundations below. Estates selling through an executor or administrator are exempt from the report (§20-327b(b)(4)), but an exempt seller still cannot conceal a known defect.
List, market and show
Week 1 onwardPhotography, the MLS listing and the first weekend do most of the work. Expect the heaviest activity in the first ten to fourteen days — that window is when a correctly priced home draws its best offers, which is exactly why the pricing step matters so much.
Review offers — not just the top number
VariesThe strongest offer is not always the highest. Financing type, the size of the deposit, inspection and appraisal contingencies, and the buyer's closing timeline all affect whether a deal actually closes. An offer that falls apart in week six costs you far more than a slightly lower one that closes cleanly.
Contract and deposit
Days after acceptingIn Connecticut the attorneys handle this stage. Your attorney reviews or prepares the contract, and the buyer's deposit is typically held in escrow. This is where having engaged an attorney early pays off.
Inspections
Usually 10–14 days after contractThe buyer inspects and may ask for repairs or a credit. Some negotiation here is normal; treat the response as a business decision rather than a personal one. Being ready with facts about the systems in your house — age of the roof, heating, water heater — makes this stage much shorter.
In Connecticut: Around Central Connecticut this stage carries extra items that surprise sellers moving from elsewhere: private well and septic inspections in the rural towns, and lake-property questions about how thoroughly a seasonal cottage was converted.
Appraisal and the buyer's financing
2–5 weeks after contractIf the buyer is financing, the lender orders an appraisal. A low appraisal means renegotiating, the buyer covering the gap, or the deal falling through — another reason accurate pricing early protects you later.
Title work and clearing the file
Weeks before closingThe buyer's attorney runs the title search and raises anything that has to be resolved — old liens, an unreleased mortgage, a boundary question. Most issues are routine but some take weeks, which is why they get started well ahead of the closing date.
Closing day
Typically 45–60 days after contractYou sign the deed and transfer documents, funds are confirmed, and ownership changes hands. Your attorney pays off your existing mortgage and any liens from the proceeds, handles the conveyance tax filing, and disburses what is left to you.
In Connecticut: The conveyance tax return (Form OP-236) must be filed and the tax paid before the deed can be recorded (C.G.S. §12-497). Your attorney handles this, but it is your money — see the cost breakdown below.
What it costs to sell
Everything below comes out of your proceeds at closing rather than your pocket up front.
| Cost | Typical | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut conveyance tax — state portion | 0.75% of the sale price | For a residential dwelling under $800,000, which covers most homes in this area. Above that: 0.75% on the first $800,000, 1.25% on the portion from $800,000 to $2.5M, and 2.25% above $2.5M. Paid by the seller (C.G.S. §§12-494, 12-495). Applies once consideration reaches $2,000. |
| Conveyance tax — municipal portion | 0.25% in most towns | A base of 0.25% goes to the town. Certain municipalities are authorized to add up to another 0.25%. Confirm the rate with the town clerk for your specific town rather than assuming — published lists go stale. |
| Closing attorney | Commonly a flat fee | Required in Connecticut. Ask for the fee in writing up front; straightforward residential closings are often quoted flat rather than hourly. |
| Real estate commission | Negotiable, agreed in your listing agreement | Commission is not set by law or by any board, and is negotiable between you and your brokerage. What each side pays has changed in recent years — ask your agent to walk you through exactly how it works in your agreement. |
| Mortgage payoff and any liens | Your remaining balance | Paid from the proceeds at closing, including accrued interest to the payoff date. |
| Repairs or buyer credits | Varies | Whatever you negotiate after inspection, usually taken as a credit at closing rather than work done beforehand. |
Conveyance tax rates and brackets are set by statute and change from time to time; the municipal portion varies by town. Confirm current figures with your attorney and the town clerk before relying on them.
What's different around here
Central Connecticut adds a few things to the standard process that sellers moving from elsewhere are rarely warned about.
Private well and septic
Much of Tolland, Coventry, Bolton, Hebron and Somers is on private well and septic rather than public utilities. Buyers and their lenders will want both inspected, and problems found late are a common cause of renegotiation. If your home is on well and septic, getting ahead of it before listing is usually cheaper than discovering it in week three.
Lake properties
Around Coventry Lake, the Bolton Lakes and Crystal Lake, many homes began as seasonal cottages and were later converted to year-round use. Buyers there ask specifically about heating, insulation, the foundation and whether the property is on the lake sewer district — and comparable sales should come from the lake market rather than the town as a whole.
Crumbling foundations
Parts of this region fall inside the area affected by pyrrhotite in concrete foundations, and Connecticut requires a separate written foundation condition report (C.G.S. §20-327b(g)–(h)). Buyers here are informed and will ask. If it applies to your home, talk to your attorney early about how to handle disclosure and pricing.
Which town you are in changes the math
Mill rates across the towns we serve range from roughly 23 to 47, and assessments reflect each town's last revaluation rather than today's market. That affects what buyers can afford on the same monthly payment, which in turn affects your pricing.
Questions Connecticut sellers ask
Do I need a lawyer to sell a house in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut requires a licensed Connecticut attorney to conduct a real estate closing (C.G.S. §51-88a, in force since October 2019); doing it without one is unauthorized practice of law. This is where national selling guides mislead Connecticut sellers — in many states a title company runs the closing, and here that is not an option. Engage an attorney before you list rather than after you have a signed contract.
How long does it take to sell a house in Connecticut?
Two separate clocks. How long it takes to get an offer depends on pricing and your local market. Once you have an accepted offer, closing typically runs about 45 to 60 days, driven by the buyer's financing, the appraisal and title work. Cash purchases can be quicker; anything that turns up in title or inspection can add time.
What does it cost to sell a house in Connecticut?
The seller pays Connecticut's conveyance tax — generally 0.75% to the state on a residential dwelling under $800,000, plus a municipal portion starting at 0.25% — along with the closing attorney's fee, the real estate commission agreed in your listing agreement, your mortgage payoff, and any credits negotiated after inspection. Commission is negotiable and is not set by law or by any board.
What is the $500 disclosure credit?
Connecticut sellers of one-to-four-unit residential property must give the buyer a written property condition report. If you do not furnish it, you owe the buyer a $500 credit at closing (C.G.S. §20-327c). It catches sellers out regularly. Estates selling through an executor or administrator are exempt from the report requirement — though an exempt seller still cannot conceal a defect they know about.
Should I make repairs before selling?
Some, rarely all. Presentation work — paint, decluttering, landscaping, anything that photographs poorly — usually returns its cost. Large renovations often do not, because buyers seldom reimburse them at full price. The right question is what buyers in your particular town will actually pay more for, and sometimes the honest answer is to sell as-is and price accordingly.
Do I have to sell through an agent?
No — you can sell privately, and plenty of Connecticut content is published by companies that would like you to. What matters is going in informed: pricing from real comparable sales, meeting the disclosure requirements, and the attorney requirement above, which applies either way. If you want a straight opinion on what your home would do in this market, ask for one; there is no obligation attached.
This page is general information about how home sales work in Connecticut, not legal or tax advice, and it is not a substitute for your attorney. Statutes are cited so you can check them; rates, thresholds and forms change. Confirm anything you intend to rely on with your closing attorney, your tax adviser, or the relevant town office.
Buying as well as selling? Here is the Connecticut buying process, step by step.