The choice is not between “a real estate agent” and “no help at all”. It is between paying a commission for a full-service campaign and paying a once-off fee for the part of that campaign buyers actually use – the portal exposure – while running the rest yourself. Here is an honest comparison.
Side by side
| Traditional agent | For Sale For Lease | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay | Negotiable commission on the sale price, plus a marketing schedule | Once off from $200, no commission ever |
| When you pay | Marketing usually up front and payable even if the property does not sell; commission at settlement | Once, up front. Nothing at settlement |
| Portal exposure | realestate.com.au, realcommercial.com.au and others | The same portals – we are a licensed agency, so we lodge the listing for you |
| Who takes the enquiries | The agent | You, directly |
| Who runs inspections | The agent | You |
| Who negotiates | The agent, on your instructions | You, with the buyer directly |
| Who knows the property | Someone briefed by you | You |
| Contract and conveyancing | Your conveyancer or solicitor | Your conveyancer or solicitor |
| Listing stays live | For the campaign period in the agency agreement | Until sold or leased |
Where an agent genuinely earns their fee
We are not going to pretend otherwise. An experienced local agent is worth considering if you have no time to take calls or hold inspections, if the property is unusual and needs a buyer found rather than attracted, if you are selling under pressure and want the emotional distance of a third party, or if you are running a full auction campaign and want an auctioneer and the machinery around it.
Where a private listing wins
Conversely, a private campaign tends to suit owners who are comfortable talking to people, whose property is in a suburb with active demand, who have time to hold two or three inspections, and who would rather keep the commission than delegate the conversations. It also suits investors and commercial owners, who tend to be numbers-driven and used to negotiating.
The number that decides it for most people
Run your own figures on the commission savings calculator. On a typical Australian house sale the gap between a commission campaign and a once-off listing fee is measured in tens of thousands of dollars – money that stays with you at settlement.
See what is included
- Sell residential property – $799 once off until sold
- Lease residential property – $200 once off until leased
- Sell commercial property and lease commercial property – $795 once off
- Sell a business – $1,495 once off until sold
Still weighing it up? Call 1300 622 300 and ask us the hard questions.
