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Selling a house

What are realtor fees when selling a home?

Selling a house
Sake van der Oord
26
 
August 2023
27
 
March 2025
0 min reading time

When selling your home, you'll face real estate agent fees. But how much exactly do you pay and what do these costs consist of? In this article you can read all about the average real estate agent fees, how to save and why homeup is the best choice as a free sales agent.

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What are the brokerage fees when selling home?

Want to know what a real estate agent costs when selling your home? Realtor fees usually consist of brokerage fees, start-up fees, advertising fees and any withdrawal fees. Total costs vary by broker and sales strategy.

On average, you will pay between €3000 and €7500 in brokerage fees. This amount depends on the brokerage fee (fixed or percentage), any start-up costs and additional services.

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How are brokerage fees calculated?

Most brokers charge a brokerage fee as a percentage of the sales price or a flat fee:

  • Commission as a percentage. This is often 1% to 1.5% of the selling price. This means that for a €450,000 house, you will spend between €4500 and €6750 in brokerage fees.
  • Commission as a fixed amount. Some real estate agents use a fixed price, such as €3000 or €5000 for selling your home. This amount always remains the same regardless of the selling price of your home.
  • Free sales broker homeup. Don't want to pay thousands of dollars in realtor fees? Engage homeup as a sales agent and sell your home 100% free. No commission, no hidden costs and full guidance from A to Z.

In addition to brokerage fees, there may be additional charges such as start-up and advertising fees.

brokerage fees sales house

Average cost of sales agent

The average brokerage fees when selling a home depend on the fee model and additional costs. The table below shows the average costs you can expect:

  • Court fee (percentage): 1% - 1.5% of sales price. Depends on the broker.
  • Court fee (fixed amount): €3000 - €5000. Independent of the selling price.
  • Start-up costs: €300 - €750. Cost for photography, floor plans and ad placement.
  • Advertising costs: €150 - €500. Costs for Funda and other sales channels.
  • Withdrawal fees: €250 - €1000. Cost if you decide to stop the sale.

Tip: Always request multiple quotes from different real estate agents. This will give you a good idea of the costs and allow you to save on your sale.

Want to sell your home without spending thousands of dollars on a real estate agent? Enlist homeup as your sales broker and pay absolutely nothing in real estate agency fees as a seller. No commission, no start-up costs and no hidden costs. Thanks to a smart and transparent method, you will save hundreds to thousands of euros on the sale.

Average brokerage fee sales agent

How do you save on realtor fees when selling your home?

Realtor fees can be substantial, but fortunately you can save hundreds to thousands of dollars. By making smart choices, you'll pay less to sell your home. Here are the best ways to reduce real estate agent fees:

  1. Compare multiple brokers
  2. Choose a broker with a fixed rate
  3. Do (part of) the selling yourself
  4. Save immediately: sell your home for free through homeup

1. Compare multiple broker

Each real estate agent has different rates and terms. Some charge a brokerage fee as a percentage of the sales price, while others charge a flat fee. By requesting quotes from different real estate agents, you will gain insight into the differences in costs and services. That way you avoid paying too much for a service that is cheaper or better elsewhere.

Tip: Pay attention not only to price, but also to service. A cheaper real estate agent may provide fewer services, making it not always the best choice.

2. Choose a broker with a fixed rate

Many real estate agents work with brokerage fees. This means that you pay a percentage of the sales price or a flat rate as brokerage fees. When a sales broker charges a percentage of the final sales price, it can quickly become much more expensive than a flat rate. See the following example:

  • Brokerage commission as a percentage of the sales price. This type of brokerage usually charges between 1% and 1.5%. Suppose you have a brokerage commission of 1.2% on a €400,000 home you will pay €4800 in brokerage fees.
  • Brokerage commission as a flat rate. For example, you pay €3000 regardless of the selling price of your home. Suppose you sell a property with a high asking price, this could end up saving you thousands of euros.

A flat rate prevents unexpectedly high costs and gives you upfront clarity about what you are paying.

3. Do (part of) the selling yourself

Want to reduce costs further? Consider performing certain tasks yourself. Some brokers offer partial services, where you arrange viewings yourself, for example. This will save you hundreds of dollars on realtor fees.

What can you do yourself?

  • Supervise viewings. You yourself show potential buyers your home.
  • Take photos and place a housing ad. This saves costs for professional photography.
  • Negotiate with potential buyers. You negotiate the price and terms yourself.

Note: Selling yourself can take time and energy. Consider carefully whether this suits you and whether you have sufficient knowledge of the sales process.

4. Save immediately: sell your home for free through homeup

Why pay for a real estate agent when you can do it for free? With homeup, you sell your home at no cost. This means you pay no brokerage fee, start-up costs and hidden fees. These are the advantages of using homeup as a sales broker:

  • Quick sale. Settled within two weeks.
  • Full service real estate agent. From home presentation to sales contract.
  • Financially screened buyers. No risk of failed financing.

Engage homeup as sales broker and save thousands of dollars when selling your home!

Saving money on brokerage fees selling home

homeup free sales broker

Want to sell your home without thousands of dollars in brokerage fees? Traditional and local real estate agents charge a brokerage fee (percentage or flat rate). This can amount to €5000 or more. With homeup, you pay nothing at all. But how exactly does that work and what are the benefits?

Why is homeup a free sales broker?

Traditional real estate agents charge fees for their services, such as home presentation, negotiations and legal processing. homeup works differently. Instead of charging sellers, homeup makes the buyer absorb the costs.

What does this mean to you?

As a seller, you pay no brokerage, start-up and hidden costs. This saves you hundreds to thousands of euros without compromising on service.

The differences between homeup and traditional sales agents

When selling your home, you have a choice between a traditional real estate agent or homeup as a free sales agent. Below you can see the main differences:

Cost to seller:

  • Traditional broker: average €4500 - €7500 in brokerage fees.
  • homeup: €0, completely free for sellers.

Court fee:

  • Traditional broker: 1% - 1.5% of the sales price, which can amount to thousands of euros.
  • homeup: no brokerage fee, you save immediately.

Start-up costs:

  • Traditional real estate agent: €300 - €750 for photography, advertising and home presentation.
  • homeup: €0, all included.

Sales Strategy:

  • Traditional broker: standard home presentation without active promotion.
  • homeup: active promotion & screening of buyers for faster sales.

Duration of the sales process:

  • Traditional broker: average of 4 - 6 weeks.
  • homeup: settled within 2 weeks.

Guidance:

  • Traditional broker: depending on the brokerage package.
  • homeup: complete guidance from A to Z.

Why pay thousands of dollars when you can sell for free? Engage homeup as a sales broker and they will handle the sale of your home without you paying.

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Frequently asked questions brokerage fees

There are several costs involved in selling a home. Many sellers wonder exactly what a real estate agent costs and what costs they have to pay themselves. In this FAQ we answer the most frequently asked questions about realtor fees, deductibility and saving tips. That way you'll know exactly where you stand!

What are the costs to the seller of a house?

The cost to the seller of a home usually consists of realtor fees, notary fees and any selling costs.

These are the main cost items:
✔ Brokerage fees: brokerage fee as a percentage (1% - 1.5%) or a fixed amount.
✔ Notary fees: costs for the deed of transfer, often €500 - €1500.
✔ Energy label: mandatory when selling, costs around €100 - €300.
✔ Possible residual debt: if your house yields less than your mortgage.

Don't want to pay real estate agent fees? Engage homeup as a sales broker and sell your home 100% free.

What should you pay to a real estate agent?

What you pay a real estate agent depends on the fee structure. Most brokers charge:

  • Commission as a percentage of the sales price (1% - 1.5%).
  • Fixed rate, often between €3000 - €5000.
  • Start-up costs: additional costs for photography, advertising and home presentation.

Note that some real estate agents charge withdrawal fees if you decide not to sell the home after all.

How much percent do you pay when selling a house?

When selling a home, the average brokerage fee is 1% to 1.5% of the selling price of your home. You pay this amount to the real estate agent

For a sales price of €400,000, this means an amount between €4000 and €6000. Some brokers use a flat rate rather than a percentage. This can be more advantageous.

Don't want to pay a percentage or fixed fees? homeup sells your property completely free.

Are brokerage fees deductible?

Brokerage fees when selling a home are not deductible. This applies to brokerage, start-up and advertising fees. There are a few exceptions:

  1. Appraisal fees for a mortgage are deductible.
  2. Consulting fees for a new mortgage may be deducted on your tax return.

What is included in brokerage fees when selling a home?

Brokerage fees consist of different cost items, depending on the broker chosen. Here are the most common costs:

  • Commission: a percentage of the sales price or a fixed amount.
  • Start-up costs: costs for photography, floor plans and advertisements.
  • Advertising costs: placement on Funda and other sales channels.
  • Withdrawal fees: if you decide not to sell the home.

With traditional real estate agents, these costs can reach thousands of dollars. Engage homeup as a sales broker and sell your home for free and save yourself all these costs!

brokerage fees agreed sales amount comes out

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The key to your own front door starts with us.

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Selling your house for free?

Realtor fees often run into the thousands of dollars. With homeup, you sell your home completely free, with no brokerage or hidden fees.

Questions or interest?

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Sake van der Oord