When considering the potential cost of using a real estate agent, two important factors to consider are the fees and commissions.

Some expenses are inevitable when selling a house, while others are voluntary. The fees are covering the agent's costs of advertising and marketing your property, while the commission is a percentage of the sale price they will receive for your property.

How much are real estate agent fees and commissions in NSW?

Individual agents set real estate commission rates in New South Wales. They are not regulated and can vary - a seemingly slight percentage difference can be thousands of dollars or more.

The main types of commissions are fixed and tiered.

Fixed

Fixed are calculated by multiplying the selling price by the commission. These commissions are the most common. If your home sells for $500,000, you can pay: $10,000 at a rate of 2% and $15,000 per 3 percent commission, etc.

Tiered

Tiered commission rate gets the most out of your real estate agent to work for a higher selling price. Here's how: You determine the amount to which the commission is one, but for any price above that amount, the commission rate is higher. If you think you can get $850,000 for the sale of your home, your rate could be 2.0% for any price below $850,000 and a higher rate of 6% for any amount over the $850,000.

Marketing fees in New South Wales

Many agents consider marketing costs as part of their commission. But some charge for marketing separately, besides the agreed commission. Property marketing includes:

  • Listing the property on real estate websites, in print media, and social media.

  • Signage in front of the property.

  • Creating and printing flyers, brochures, etc.

The average marketing fees associated with selling a property in New South Wales can range from $290 to $2,000. The price depends on the type of marketing plan chosen, as well as the duration of the sale of your property.

Are real estate agent fees negotiable?

Yes, the commission can be negotiable, like many things. So, you can usually negotiate the fee price and you may be able to go lower than 1% if the agent really wants your business.

You can save thousands of dollars by negotiating the commission rate sometimes, but this is not always the case. Keep in mind that real estate agents are motivated to work hard for you if they know they can earn a decent amount of commission.

You may want to save on marketing costs. But keep in mind that advertising your property through various marketing channels is extremely important for your home to get maximum visibility and that is a brilliant start to a successful sale.

Are cheap real estate agents worth it?

There are reasons why an agent may charge you such a small commission. For example: The cheaper real estate agent is usually an agent without many years of sales experience; Or is an agent who is desperate for listings The low cost of the agent also means that he is willing to spend less time with you and your customers. As well as that, due to lack of experience, may not be able to provide the highest price for your property. For example: Situation 1: - your property is estimated at $600,000, you find that the average commission rate is 2 percent, i.e. you will pay the real estate agent $12,000 (after the sale of the house). Thus, if you pay the 2% rate, it will leave you with a net return of $588,000 after the sale of the property. Situation 2: You find an agent who is willing to sell the property at a low rate of 1.5 percent. Suppose this agent leads to only a slightly lower selling price, due to inexperience and lack of time spent with customers and with you. For example, he made the sale for 595, which is a really small difference. You say to yourself it's okay, you still pay a lower commission, right? But let's see if it's better for you or worse: So, you will pay less commission: 1.5% x $595 000, that is $8,925 (instead of $12 000 in the 1st situation). Your net return is only $586,075. Not only do you have no savings, but this is $1,925 less than you would have using a more experienced, high-end agent. Research carefully before hiring an agent to find one with local knowledge, a good set of skills and experience. Sometimes a seemingly lower price can cost you more.

Average NSW real estate agent fees and commissions

The average fee for a real estate agent varies from country to country and between metros and regional areas.

The lowest collection is around 1.6%, and the highest around 4%.

The average percentage of agent’s commission across New South Wales is around 1.8% to 2.5% of the sale price of your home.

The home staging fees are around $2000 - $8000.

Marketing fees are around $290 to $2000 as price depends on how diverse you need the advertising to be.

Average real estate commissions and fees in the Australian Capital Territory are below.

The average percentage of agent’s commission across the Australian Capital Territory is around 2.5% to 4% of the sale price of your home.

Home staging fees are around $2000 to $8000.

Marketing fees are $100 to $800.