Many factors have to be considered the cost of selling a house, and the selling price is just one of them.

The direct costs involved during the entire process include real estate agent fees and commissions, legal fees, conveyancing fees, mortgage discharge fee, capital gains tax, and stamp duty charges.

Agent commissions

The house seller pays the real estate agent an agent's commission and conveyancing fees /settlement fees after the property sale is completed and the lender fees are paid. The size of the real estate agent's commission, in New South Wales for example, depends on whether or not to sell your property and how much effort they put in to help you secure the buyer in the selling process. The commission charged varies from state to state, but it can range anywhere between 2 per cent to 10 per cent based on your specific circumstances. You can find this information by checking with your local real estate office or a relevant government body for laws concerning property commissions.

Legal fees

The law firm you work with will charge a flat fee for their home staging services. This is usually the case when you are purchasing or selling real estate property in Australia without a home loan. The size of the real estate fees varies from state to state and lawyer to lawyer who offers legal ownership. Depending on how complex your transaction is, the agent's fee usually consists of fixed and variable components.

Conveyancing costs

These conveyancer's fees costs cover all the work that needs to be carried out by the conveyancing services, which is essentially a type of solicitor who specialises in real estate transactions such as early exit fees. In most cases, they work closely with the real estate agent, and negotiations with other parties related to the investment property being purchased or sold should not influence your objectives. Costs largely depend on the location, size, and complexity of the property you want to sell. For example, marketing a large house can cost more than selling a small unit because there will typically be more involved in dealing with legal documents, obtaining various reports, and reviewing the property's condition before selling.

Stamp duty

Stamp duties are applicable for homes and new property sold in Australia. They vary state to state, meaning there isn't one single percentage but an amount based on the sale price of your home, including mortgage discharge fees. The stamp duty comprises a fixed fee and a variable portion at which the property sells. A fixed price is usually charged when you purchase a home. At the same time, the rate levied depends on location, land tax, size, and any other enhancements or add-ons you've included with your houses, such as mortgage discharge fees or solicitor fees.

Unavoidable cost of selling a house

There are a couple of costs of selling a house that you can't avoid. In most cases, these base fees will be determined by the state in which your property is located. The two unavoidable exact costs include stamp duty and legal fees. Stamp duty is unavoidable from a statutory perspective which means that it applies to everybody who purchases or sells property in Australia and its territories. Stamp duties vary state to state, and depending on how much you earn; additional taxation may also apply to this expense.

Negotiating costs when selling a house

Unfortunately, there's no way to negotiate these fees, so you must be aware of the marketing fees before accepting an offer on your new property. This is because if you're unaware and the buyer finds out after the sale has been completed, then they may be entitled to a refund or at least some compensation for these unexpected hidden costs expense. As mentioned above, the size of agent commissions or lender fees varies based upon whether or not you use an agent /marketing campaign and how much effort they put in to help you find a buyer with the best possible sale price. In most cases, real estate agents don't include such agency advertising rates charges in their listings, which means that they can typically add up quickly when buying or selling any property in Australia without incurring moving costs or exit fees.

Marketing costs when selling a house

Marketing campaigns costs include typical costs or expenses the right agent decides to use to promote your property minus other solicitor fees. These may consist of newspaper advertisements, billboards, and different creative marketing strategies to attract buyers and encourage them to make an offer on your house.

Tips for selling a house

The following tips sell your home faster and get the best sale price possible without incurring substantial selling costs.

Home staging

When trying to sell your house quickly, it's essential that buyers feel comfortable in their surroundings which means ensuring that there are no dirty dishes in the sink or laundry sitting on the floor. A professional stylist or stager will declutter and organise your home so that it looks clean and inviting before potential buyers come over. The earlier you do this home staging, the better it will make a lasting impression on everybody who sees it.

Professional photography

The quality of the photos is also essential. If you have professional photos taken of your home, it will give buyers an accurate image of what to expect so they can decide whether or not to make an offer. You'll likely need a photographer who has experience taking interior shots, which means calling in an expert is best for this task.

Working with real estate agents

If you're looking to sell your property quickly but are unsure about how much it's worth, then hiring a professional agent may be beneficial as they also offer professional advice, but the do also charge for it. A good agent will work closely with you to determine the price that your property deserves before marketing it accordingly.

Appropriate pricing

The best strategy for pricing is to ask somebody else who's knowledgeable about the local market what they think is fair. This will help you determine whether your price appears reasonable and can give you an idea of how quickly it might sell even before you list the property. if you have appliances available, then adding these may encourage somebody to make an offer now instead of waiting until the price is right in the future.

What are the stamp duty rates in New South Wales?

Property value

Stamp duty rate

$0 to $14,000

$1.25 for every $100 (the minimum is $10)

$14,000 to $32,000

$175 plus $1.50 for every $100 over $14,000

$32,000 to $85,000

$445 plus $1.75 for every $100 over $32,000

$85,000 to $319,000

$1,372 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $85,000

$319,000 to $1,064,000

$9,562 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $319,000

Over $1,064,000

$43,087 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,064,000

The Australian Government has a handy guide for those looking to buy a property.