Retail is the one commercial class where location detail does most of the selling. A shop with the right frontage in the right strip will attract enquiry quickly; the job of the listing is to make the trading position obvious and to answer the fit-out and permitted-use questions before a prospective tenant or buyer has to ask.

How a private sale listing works

realcommercial.com.au and commercialrealestate.com.au only accept listings lodged by a licensed real estate agency. For Sale For Lease is a licensed agency, so we lodge the listing for you for a once-off $795 and it stays live until sold. Buyer enquiries come directly to you, and there is no commission when the property sells.

What buyers of retail or shop premises actually check

  • Floor area and frontage width — frontage is often worth more than depth in retail.
  • Trading position: the strip or centre, neighbouring traders, and pedestrian and vehicle exposure.
  • Permitted use and any existing planning permits, especially for food, liquor or late trading.
  • Fit-out: what stays, including any grease trap, exhaust canopy, cool room or shopfront.
  • Rear or laneway access and loading arrangements.
  • Car parking — on-site, on-street or centre parking.
  • Tenancy status, and if leased, the term, rent, reviews and whether turnover rent applies.
  • Outgoings, including any centre or promotion levy.

Pricing it

Retail is priced on the strength of the trading position first and the building second. Compare against recent sales in the same strip or centre, and if the shop is leased, present the passing rent, the review structure and the remaining term clearly, because a well-leased shop is bought on its income.

Before you advertise

Have the contract of sale and required disclosure prepared before advertising, and gather the title, planning permits, the current lease and rent schedule if tenanted, and outgoings statements. This is general information, not legal advice – requirements differ between states and change over time, so confirm the current position with your solicitor or conveyancer.

Photograph it like an asset, not a home

Photograph the shopfront straight on and from each direction along the strip so the trading position is obvious. Then the interior with the lights on, the rear or storage area, the services, and the parking or laneway access. A daytime shot showing pedestrian activity does real work here.

Get started

See what is included on the commercial sale page, or read the step-by-step guide to how to sell commercial property privately. There is more detail on listing on realcommercial.com.au without an agent.

Leasing instead? See lease retail or shop premises privately. State-by-state detail is available for VIC, NSW and QLD among others.

Call 1300 622 300 to talk it through.