Selling Your Home Privately: How Much Could You Save in Real Estate Commission?

When you are selling a home, every dollar matters.

You may be thinking about your sale price, your next property, moving expenses and legal costs. But there is another significant cost that homeowners often simply accept as part of selling: real estate agent commission.

Depending on the value of your property and the commission arrangement, that fee can represent a substantial amount of money.

It is one of the reasons some NSW homeowners are asking a different question:

What if I sell my home privately instead?

What Does a Real Estate Agent’s Commission Pay For?

Traditionally, homeowners engage an agent to manage much of the selling process on their behalf.

The agent may advise on the campaign, coordinate marketing, communicate with prospective buyers, conduct inspections and negotiate offers.

In return, the homeowner pays an agreed commission and may also incur separate marketing and advertising costs.

For homeowners who want someone else to take responsibility for much of the process, that arrangement may suit them perfectly.

But what if you are willing and able to be more involved?

Selling Your Home Yourself Can Change the Cost Equation

When you sell your own home without an agent, you aren’t paying someone a percentage of your sale price simply because that is how homes have traditionally been sold.

Instead, you can choose and pay for the individual professional services you actually need.

You will still have legitimate selling expenses. Selling privately does not mean selling for free.

Depending on your circumstances, these may include legal or conveyancing fees, photography, floor plans, property advertising, signage, styling or preparation costs and other services you choose to use.

The significant difference is that you may avoid paying a traditional sales commission.

A Small Percentage Can Represent a Large Amount of Money

Percentage-based fees can sound relatively modest until you convert them into dollars.

For example, on a hypothetical $1,000,000 sale, a 2% commission would equal $20,000 before considering any other applicable costs.

On a $1,500,000 sale, the same hypothetical percentage would equal $30,000.

These examples aren’t intended to suggest what an agent will charge you — fees and arrangements vary and should always be confirmed directly with the service provider.

They simply demonstrate why homeowners may want to understand the financial implications of their options before deciding how to sell.

When you are dealing with your largest financial asset, it makes sense to know where your money is going.

But Isn’t Selling a Home Complicated?

There are certainly important steps involved in selling a property.

That is why selling your home privately shouldn’t mean trying to work everything out by yourself.

A homeowner can engage the appropriate professionals where required while personally managing the parts of the process they feel comfortable handling.

The challenge for many people isn’t necessarily their ability to speak to buyers or show someone through their home.

It’s knowing what to do, when to do it and what they may have overlooked.

Support Without Handing Over Your Sale

This is the gap that Madeline D’Anastasi helps to bridge.

Drawing on her real estate sales experience, Madeline provides practical support and guidance to NSW homeowners who want to manage their own property sale.

Rather than acting as their real estate agent and taking control of the campaign, she helps homeowners understand and navigate the process themselves.

That distinction matters.

The objective isn’t to replace one agent with another.

It is to empower the homeowner.

The Value of Remaining in Control

For many homeowners, the appeal of a private sale goes beyond commission savings.

When you manage your own sale, you know which buyers have made contact. You hear their questions directly. You know who attended an inspection and what feedback they gave you.

You don’t have to wait for someone else to tell you what is happening with your property.

You are already there.

And when an important decision needs to be made, it remains your decision.

Look at the Whole Picture

If you are considering selling your home yourself, don’t base the decision on commission alone.

Consider the time you have available, your confidence dealing with potential buyers, the professional services you will require and the support you may need throughout the process.

Then compare the different approaches.

For some homeowners, using a traditional real estate agent will remain their preferred option.

For others, selling their home privately with experienced guidance may offer an opportunity to remain in control while potentially saving a significant amount in commission.

Before handing over the keys to your biggest asset, it is worth knowing that you have a choice.