[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":334},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-cost-of-selling-a-house-australia":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"category":299,"date":300,"description":13,"extension":301,"faq":302,"featured":315,"keywords":316,"meta":325,"navigation":326,"path":327,"rawbody":328,"seo":329,"source":330,"sourceUrl":330,"stem":331,"summary":332,"__hash__":333},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fcost-of-selling-a-house-australia.md","How much does it really cost to sell a house in Australia?","helm",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":285},"minimark",[10,14,17,22,25,48,51,55,62,73,80,84,91,95,102,106,113,117,124,128,131,202,205,209,212,238,241,245,252,261,265,273],[11,12,13],"p",{},"When people first think about selling, the usual mental shortcut is \"the agent takes 2%\". The real number is almost always higher once every line item lands, and the range between suburbs and states is wider than most sellers expect.",[11,15,16],{},"This guide walks through what actually comes out of your sale proceeds in Australia, what's negotiable, and where a flat-fee alternative changes the maths.",[18,19,21],"h2",{"id":20},"the-big-one-agent-commission","The big one: agent commission",[11,23,24],{},"Commission is the single biggest cost of selling for most sellers. Rates vary by state and suburb, but broadly:",[26,27,28,36,42],"ul",{},[29,30,31,35],"li",{},[32,33,34],"strong",{},"Metro Sydney \u002F Melbourne:"," typically 1.8% – 2.5% of the sale price",[29,37,38,41],{},[32,39,40],{},"Metro Brisbane \u002F Perth \u002F Adelaide:"," typically 2.0% – 3.0%",[29,43,44,47],{},[32,45,46],{},"Regional areas:"," often 2.75% – 3.5%",[11,49,50],{},"On a $1.2m sale at 2.2%, that's $26,400. At 2.75%, it's $33,000. Commission is negotiable in every state. It just rarely gets negotiated, because most sellers only sell once every 7–10 years.",[18,52,54],{"id":53},"marketing-aka-vendor-paid-advertising","Marketing (aka vendor paid advertising)",[11,56,57,58,61],{},"Agents almost always ask for a separate marketing budget on top of commission. A standard metro campaign sits between ",[32,59,60],{},"$3,500 and $8,000"," and includes:",[26,63,64,67,70],{},[29,65,66],{},"realestate.com.au and Domain listings (and premium placements)",[29,68,69],{},"Professional photography and floorplans",[29,71,72],{},"Signboard, brochures, and social media",[11,74,75,76,79],{},"Premium or auction-heavy campaigns (with video, drone, and upgraded portal placements) can stretch to ",[32,77,78],{},"$10,000–$15,000+",". Marketing is paid up-front or deducted from settlement, not contingent on the sale.",[18,81,83],{"id":82},"conveyancing-and-legal","Conveyancing and legal",[11,85,86,87,90],{},"A conveyancer or solicitor prepares the contract of sale and handles settlement. Budget ",[32,88,89],{},"$800 – $2,200"," depending on state and complexity, slightly higher in NSW, slightly lower in Victoria.",[18,92,94],{"id":93},"lender-fees","Lender fees",[11,96,97,98,101],{},"If you've got a mortgage on the property, your lender will charge a discharge fee to release it at settlement. This typically lands between ",[32,99,100],{},"$150 and $1,500"," depending on the lender, and the discharge process itself takes 14–21 days, so it's worth starting early.",[18,103,105],{"id":104},"styling-staging-and-prep","Styling, staging, and prep",[11,107,108,109,112],{},"Optional, but common in the metro markets. Hire staging can run ",[32,110,111],{},"$3,000 – $8,000+"," for a 4–6 week campaign. Minor repairs, gardening, and cleaning easily add another $1,000 – $3,000.",[18,114,116],{"id":115},"auction-fees-if-you-go-that-route","Auction fees (if you go that route)",[11,118,119,120,123],{},"An auctioneer is typically a flat fee of ",[32,121,122],{},"$400 – $1,000",", sometimes bundled into the marketing package.",[18,125,127],{"id":126},"what-it-looks-like-all-together","What it looks like all together",[11,129,130],{},"For a $1.2m metro sale, a traditional agent campaign often totals:",[132,133,134,147],"table",{},[135,136,137],"thead",{},[138,139,140,144],"tr",{},[141,142,143],"th",{},"Item",[141,145,146],{},"Typical range",[148,149,150,159,167,174,182,190],"tbody",{},[138,151,152,156],{},[153,154,155],"td",{},"Commission @ 2.2%",[153,157,158],{},"$26,400",[138,160,161,164],{},[153,162,163],{},"Marketing",[153,165,166],{},"$3,500 – $8,000",[138,168,169,172],{},[153,170,171],{},"Conveyancing",[153,173,89],{},[138,175,176,179],{},[153,177,178],{},"Lender discharge",[153,180,181],{},"$150 – $1,500",[138,183,184,187],{},[153,185,186],{},"Styling \u002F prep",[153,188,189],{},"$2,000 – $8,000",[138,191,192,197],{},[153,193,194],{},[32,195,196],{},"Total",[153,198,199],{},[32,200,201],{},"~$32,850 – $46,100",[11,203,204],{},"That's roughly 2.7% – 3.8% of the sale price, not the headline 2%.",[18,206,208],{"id":207},"how-the-cost-changes-by-state-and-city","How the cost changes by state and city",[11,210,211],{},"The single biggest variable is commission, and that moves with location:",[26,213,214,220,226,232],{},[29,215,216,219],{},[32,217,218],{},"Sydney and Melbourne:"," the most competitive agent markets, so commission is often lower (1.8% – 2.5%), but marketing budgets and styling spend tend to be the highest in the country.",[29,221,222,225],{},[32,223,224],{},"Brisbane:"," commission usually sits around 2.0% – 3.0%. Queensland has a statutory cooling-off period for residential sales, which shapes your timeline more than your budget, and a conveyancer or solicitor is essential for the contract.",[29,227,228,231],{},[32,229,230],{},"Perth and Adelaide:"," broadly similar to Brisbane on commission, with marketing campaigns often a little cheaper than the east-coast capitals.",[29,233,234,237],{},[32,235,236],{},"Regional Australia:"," commission is typically the highest (2.75% – 3.5%) because there are fewer agents and lower sale volumes, though the dollar amounts can still be smaller on lower-priced homes.",[11,239,240],{},"Wherever you are, the percentage is negotiable and the marketing line is the one most sellers overpay on.",[18,242,244],{"id":243},"where-flat-fee-changes-the-picture","Where flat-fee changes the picture",[11,246,247,248,251],{},"Flat-fee platforms like helm decouple the sale price from the amount you pay. You get the tools an agent campaign uses (professional listing, AI-enhanced photos, offer management) for a fixed fee. On a $1.2m sale, the difference between a flat fee and a percentage commission can be ",[32,249,250],{},"$25,000 – $35,000+"," that stays in your pocket, depending on campaign and prep spend.",[11,253,254,255,260],{},"The trade-off: you stay more involved in the process. Whether that's worth it depends on your time, comfort with negotiation, and how unusual the property is. ",[256,257,259],"a",{"href":258},"\u002Fguides\u002Fselling-with-agent-vs-privately","We break down the three selling routes side by side here",".",[18,262,264],{"id":263},"the-honest-summary","The honest summary",[11,266,267,268,272],{},"Don't compare options on commission alone. Compare the ",[269,270,271],"em",{},"total out-of-pocket"," against what you're getting back in time, expertise, and certainty. An agent earning $30,000 is worth it if they add $60,000 to the final price. A flat-fee platform is worth it if the market is moving and the property broadly sells itself.",[11,274,275,276,280,281,284],{},"If you're weighing it up, the ",[256,277,279],{"href":278},"\u002Fguides\u002Fsteps-to-selling-your-home-australia","7-step guide to selling in Australia"," walks through where each cost fits in the process. And helm exists so you can run the numbers honestly, and pick the option that fits ",[269,282,283],{},"this"," sale.",{"title":286,"searchDepth":287,"depth":287,"links":288},"",2,[289,290,291,292,293,294,295,296,297,298],{"id":20,"depth":287,"text":21},{"id":53,"depth":287,"text":54},{"id":82,"depth":287,"text":83},{"id":93,"depth":287,"text":94},{"id":104,"depth":287,"text":105},{"id":115,"depth":287,"text":116},{"id":126,"depth":287,"text":127},{"id":207,"depth":287,"text":208},{"id":243,"depth":287,"text":244},{"id":263,"depth":287,"text":264},"Cost guide","2026-05-05","md",[303,306,309,312],{"question":304,"answer":305},"How much does it cost to sell a house in Australia?","Most sellers pay between 2.7% and 3.8% of the sale price once commission, marketing, conveyancing, lender discharge and styling are added together. On a $1.2m metro sale that is roughly $32,850 to $46,100. Agent commission is the single biggest line item.",{"question":307,"answer":308},"How much is real estate agent commission in Australia?","Commission typically runs 1.8% to 2.5% in metro Sydney and Melbourne, 2.0% to 3.0% in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and 2.75% to 3.5% in regional areas. It is negotiable in every state.",{"question":310,"answer":311},"How much does it cost to sell a house in Brisbane?","In Brisbane, agent commission usually sits between 2.0% and 3.0% of the sale price, plus a marketing budget of roughly $3,500 to $8,000 and conveyancing of $800 to $2,200. Queensland has a statutory cooling-off period that affects timing more than cost.",{"question":313,"answer":314},"Can you avoid paying commission when selling a house?","Yes. Flat-fee platforms like helm decouple the price you pay from your sale price, so you get professional listing tools and offer management for a fixed fee instead of a percentage commission. On a $1.2m sale that can keep $25,000 to $35,000 or more in your pocket.",false,[317,318,319,320,321,322,323,324],"cost of selling a house Australia","real estate agent commission Australia","how much does it cost to sell a house","real estate agent fees","flat fee real estate Australia","average real estate commission Australia","cost of selling a house in Brisbane","house selling fees",{},true,"\u002Fguides\u002Fcost-of-selling-a-house-australia","---\ntitle: 'How much does it really cost to sell a house in Australia?'\ndate: '2026-05-05'\ncategory: 'Cost guide'\nauthor: 'helm'\nsummary: \"The real cost of selling a home in Australia: commission, marketing, conveyancing, styling, and the bits most sellers don't see coming. Plus how flat-fee compares.\"\nkeywords:\n  - cost of selling a house Australia\n  - real estate agent commission Australia\n  - how much does it cost to sell a house\n  - real estate agent fees\n  - flat fee real estate Australia\n  - average real estate commission Australia\n  - cost of selling a house in Brisbane\n  - house selling fees\nfaq:\n  - question: 'How much does it cost to sell a house in Australia?'\n    answer: 'Most sellers pay between 2.7% and 3.8% of the sale price once commission, marketing, conveyancing, lender discharge and styling are added together. On a $1.2m metro sale that is roughly $32,850 to $46,100. Agent commission is the single biggest line item.'\n  - question: 'How much is real estate agent commission in Australia?'\n    answer: 'Commission typically runs 1.8% to 2.5% in metro Sydney and Melbourne, 2.0% to 3.0% in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and 2.75% to 3.5% in regional areas. It is negotiable in every state.'\n  - question: 'How much does it cost to sell a house in Brisbane?'\n    answer: 'In Brisbane, agent commission usually sits between 2.0% and 3.0% of the sale price, plus a marketing budget of roughly $3,500 to $8,000 and conveyancing of $800 to $2,200. Queensland has a statutory cooling-off period that affects timing more than cost.'\n  - question: 'Can you avoid paying commission when selling a house?'\n    answer: 'Yes. Flat-fee platforms like helm decouple the price you pay from your sale price, so you get professional listing tools and offer management for a fixed fee instead of a percentage commission. On a $1.2m sale that can keep $25,000 to $35,000 or more in your pocket.'\n---\n\nWhen people first think about selling, the usual mental shortcut is \"the agent takes 2%\". The real number is almost always higher once every line item lands, and the range between suburbs and states is wider than most sellers expect.\n\nThis guide walks through what actually comes out of your sale proceeds in Australia, what's negotiable, and where a flat-fee alternative changes the maths.\n\n## The big one: agent commission\n\nCommission is the single biggest cost of selling for most sellers. Rates vary by state and suburb, but broadly:\n\n- **Metro Sydney \u002F Melbourne:** typically 1.8% – 2.5% of the sale price\n- **Metro Brisbane \u002F Perth \u002F Adelaide:** typically 2.0% – 3.0%\n- **Regional areas:** often 2.75% – 3.5%\n\nOn a $1.2m sale at 2.2%, that's $26,400. At 2.75%, it's $33,000. Commission is negotiable in every state. It just rarely gets negotiated, because most sellers only sell once every 7–10 years.\n\n## Marketing (aka vendor paid advertising)\n\nAgents almost always ask for a separate marketing budget on top of commission. A standard metro campaign sits between **$3,500 and $8,000** and includes:\n\n- realestate.com.au and Domain listings (and premium placements)\n- Professional photography and floorplans\n- Signboard, brochures, and social media\n\nPremium or auction-heavy campaigns (with video, drone, and upgraded portal placements) can stretch to **$10,000–$15,000+**. Marketing is paid up-front or deducted from settlement, not contingent on the sale.\n\n## Conveyancing and legal\n\nA conveyancer or solicitor prepares the contract of sale and handles settlement. Budget **$800 – $2,200** depending on state and complexity, slightly higher in NSW, slightly lower in Victoria.\n\n## Lender fees\n\nIf you've got a mortgage on the property, your lender will charge a discharge fee to release it at settlement. This typically lands between **$150 and $1,500** depending on the lender, and the discharge process itself takes 14–21 days, so it's worth starting early.\n\n## Styling, staging, and prep\n\nOptional, but common in the metro markets. Hire staging can run **$3,000 – $8,000+** for a 4–6 week campaign. Minor repairs, gardening, and cleaning easily add another $1,000 – $3,000.\n\n## Auction fees (if you go that route)\n\nAn auctioneer is typically a flat fee of **$400 – $1,000**, sometimes bundled into the marketing package.\n\n## What it looks like all together\n\nFor a $1.2m metro sale, a traditional agent campaign often totals:\n\n| Item              | Typical range          |\n| ----------------- | ---------------------- |\n| Commission @ 2.2% | $26,400                |\n| Marketing         | $3,500 – $8,000        |\n| Conveyancing      | $800 – $2,200          |\n| Lender discharge  | $150 – $1,500          |\n| Styling \u002F prep    | $2,000 – $8,000        |\n| **Total**         | **~$32,850 – $46,100** |\n\nThat's roughly 2.7% – 3.8% of the sale price, not the headline 2%.\n\n## How the cost changes by state and city\n\nThe single biggest variable is commission, and that moves with location:\n\n- **Sydney and Melbourne:** the most competitive agent markets, so commission is often lower (1.8% – 2.5%), but marketing budgets and styling spend tend to be the highest in the country.\n- **Brisbane:** commission usually sits around 2.0% – 3.0%. Queensland has a statutory cooling-off period for residential sales, which shapes your timeline more than your budget, and a conveyancer or solicitor is essential for the contract.\n- **Perth and Adelaide:** broadly similar to Brisbane on commission, with marketing campaigns often a little cheaper than the east-coast capitals.\n- **Regional Australia:** commission is typically the highest (2.75% – 3.5%) because there are fewer agents and lower sale volumes, though the dollar amounts can still be smaller on lower-priced homes.\n\nWherever you are, the percentage is negotiable and the marketing line is the one most sellers overpay on.\n\n## Where flat-fee changes the picture\n\nFlat-fee platforms like helm decouple the sale price from the amount you pay. You get the tools an agent campaign uses (professional listing, AI-enhanced photos, offer management) for a fixed fee. On a $1.2m sale, the difference between a flat fee and a percentage commission can be **$25,000 – $35,000+** that stays in your pocket, depending on campaign and prep spend.\n\nThe trade-off: you stay more involved in the process. Whether that's worth it depends on your time, comfort with negotiation, and how unusual the property is. [We break down the three selling routes side by side here](\u002Fguides\u002Fselling-with-agent-vs-privately).\n\n## The honest summary\n\nDon't compare options on commission alone. Compare the _total out-of-pocket_ against what you're getting back in time, expertise, and certainty. An agent earning $30,000 is worth it if they add $60,000 to the final price. A flat-fee platform is worth it if the market is moving and the property broadly sells itself.\n\nIf you're weighing it up, the [7-step guide to selling in Australia](\u002Fguides\u002Fsteps-to-selling-your-home-australia) walks through where each cost fits in the process. And helm exists so you can run the numbers honestly, and pick the option that fits _this_ sale.\n",{"title":5,"description":13},null,"guides\u002Fcost-of-selling-a-house-australia","The real cost of selling a home in Australia: commission, marketing, conveyancing, styling, and the bits most sellers don't see coming. Plus how flat-fee compares.","xsciccqi-K9EWrLN8tsGlsu40FEe7pzBR8hI_D3YoFo",1782440855497]